re: “Matthew 6:5 ¶And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
I assume, Bodleian Girl, that your out of context quoting of the two passages above are meant to say that Tebow is “hypocritical” in his faith because he happens to bow a knee in prayer during a game. I suppose, if we take that to it’s logical conclusion, that the same would be true for anyone who prays a silent prayer of thanks over their food in a public restruraunt.
What you are missing is context. The context of the Matthew 6 passeages are set up in verse one of that same chapter, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others TO BE SEEN BY THEM”.
In other words - if one’s MOTIVE is to be SEEN, i.e. to receive praise of men, when practicing one’s faith - that IS hypocritical. However, you and I don’t know the heart of Mr. Tebow. We do not know the motives he has for bowing.
In fact, in the very same book of Matthew, chapter 10:27-32, we read what I think is more appropriate for the “controversy” surrounding Mr. Tebow’s acknowledgement of Christ in his life:
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
Now, I could be wrong - if Tebow is doing what he is doing to get “recognition” of men, then that would be hypocritical. But you and I do not see into his heart - only God does that. So, let’s be a bit more slow to accuse someone of being a hypocrite or we may be guilty of spreading a false witness regarding another brother.
I think it is far more likely that Mr. Tebow is refusing to let fear of the world’s reaction keep him from practicing his faith openly.
Remember the example of Daniel who refused to stop praying publicly to God - even though it was against the law and got him thrown into the lion’s den. I think Tebow is being thrown into the proverbial lion’s den now.
If we pray for Tebow, it should be that he keep close to God publicly and privately because the world is after him to slip up - they would love to tear him down for some moral failure.
Nevadan posted - “”I think it is far more likely that Mr. Tebow is refusing to let fear of the world’s reaction keep him from practicing his faith openly.
Remember the example of Daniel who refused to stop praying publicly to God - even though it was against the law and got him thrown into the lion’s den. I think Tebow is being thrown into the proverbial lion’s den now.
If we pray for Tebow, it should be that he keep close to God publicly and privately because the world is after him to slip up - they would love to tear him down for some moral failure.””
Amen. Stay strong in your faith Tim, and know that in it, you strengthen many.
May God guide our course.
Tatt
My dear Nevadan, I suspect that your note doesn't quite put Tim Tebow's posture or Bodleian_Girl's objection in the center of your cross-hairs. Let me suggest that if there is hypocrisy involved, it is not the (hopefully sincere) bowing pose after a little moment of personal success in a game. The hypocrisy would be in serving the appetites of worldlings on the day reserved by Christians for rest and worshipping the Lord.
The evidence of spiritual maturity is the denial of self, denial of sin as a master, and denial of dedication to worldly temporal pursuits at the wrong time. Whatever you think of the evangelist Billy Sunday, he abandoned a successful National League baseball career because of its worldly associations and scheduling of games on The Lord's Day. This was a clear (and costly) example of obedience to the Holy Spirit.
In comparison, Tim Tebow obviously can not yet be attributed with the quality of placing the Lord over his own wealth and the world's infatuation. It calls into question his regard of the Lord by dishonoring the Day of rest, worship, study, and true prayer. In an occupation that is not one that demands employment activity in service to The God and man on the Lord's Day, one may well ask as to whether The God hears such a "prayer" in activities that oppose His determined Will.
Tim has yet to shed his profane pursuits to quietly exhibit a mature attitude, and it seems that your (mis)application of the Holy Scripture likewise misses the mark.
Still, with sincere respect for your last point --
If we pray for Tebow, it should be that he keep close to God publicly and privately because the world is after him to slip up - they would love to tear him down for some moral failure.
The worldlings do, and are, showing that they correctly perceive a spiritual (not a moral) poor example by showing in his disobedience to The God's set of values and behavior. It sets a poor example to both (1) older "Christians" who will abandon the Lord's Day assembly in order to watch the Sunday game, and (2) the younger set who take their cue from their seniors. If Tim wants to play ball in opposition to the designated purpose for the first day of the week, at least let him do it without ostentation.
Well actually.....
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed,
he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.