Tebow’s Religion, and Ours

National Review Online ^ | December 3, 2011 | Daniel Foster

[wmfights]

When the Detroit Lions’ Stephen Tulloch sacked Tim Tebow in the first quarter of their week eight matchup, the linebacker immediately kneeled next to the prone Denver quarterback, in a mockery of Tebow’s habit of praying on-field, most recently seen after his miraculous fourth-quarter comeback against the Dolphins the week before.

The insult coincided with and reinforced the explosion of “Tebowing” as an Internet meme, complete with a Twitter account and web-site. There you can see an act of communion with one’s creator rendered as a bit of pop-cultural ephemera, and you can scroll through pictures of folks striking the pose everywhere from Oxford to Istanbul, with that muddle of irony and enthusiasm that has become my generation’s trademark.

But there isn’t an ironic bone in Tim Tebow’s body. That’s what makes him conspicuous. That’s what makes the fact that he’s managed to stay squeaky clean, in a sport that notoriously is not, conspicuous. And it’s why the power of Tebow’s evangelical-Christian faith, and the earnestness with which he professes it, seems to annoy so many people.

[RobbyS]

A saint in the Catholic sense as well as the Presbyterian: a man of heroic virtue. A man for the ages.

[RobbyS]

Don’t hide the lamp of your faith under a basket. So long as it for for the Lord not him, he is on the right path. But he has a long race to run yet. Pray for him.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Providing a living testimony to your faith, in this case.

[Revolting cat!]

I will pray.

But I always have so many questions.

[smalltownslick]

No, I think it’s wonderful! On the other hand, are we really to believe Jesus cares who scores a touchdown?

[editor-surveyor]

>> “I still feel an ambiguity for players’ exhibitions of faith.” <<

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“In all thy ways acknowledge him...”

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>> “and Sabbath breaking” <<

The NFL rarely plays on the sabbath, so the sabbath breaking doesn’t likely have much to do with NFL football.

Most sabbath breaking is out of ignorance of what the sabbath is, and why it is, or due to misplaced priorities.

[murron]

The Detroit Lions are a nasty team. My team, the Saints, played them last night on TV, and there were at least penalties related to personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct. One Detroit player even threw a punch at a Saints player with the referee standing between the two of them.

[murron]

The Detroit Lions are a nasty team. My team, the Saints, played them last night on TV, and there were at least 3 penalties related to personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct. One Detroit player even threw a punch at a Saints player with the referee standing between the two of them.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Christ is the end of the law to them that believe.” <<

Not to those that believe his words:

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

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And there is much remaining to be fulfilled.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “One Detroit player even threw a punch at a Saints player with the referee standing between the two of them.” <<

.
I saw that, but it isn’t unique.

A similar event happened in the final quarter of the 49ers/Rams game. Rams’ ball carrier was dropped well behind the line of scrimmage, and as he was getting up he threw a punch at the 49er that tackled him. The BF judge just looked away.

[editor-surveyor]

Pittsburg and Cincinnati, probably no sweat, but Baltimore is solidifying, and may be an obstacle, but Denver is improving rapidly.

For now, I’ll stick with my prediction.

[Quix]

WELL PUT.

AMEN.

[RobbyS]

Well, we have been been so often disillusioned by the behavior of our heroes. Clay feet and all that.

[RichInOC]

The last being (with apologies to H.L. Mencken) the very definition of the modern secular puritan.

[dfwgator]

They’ve played very undisciplined all year, I liked Schwartz at the beginning of the year, but I now think he’s got to go.

[Fledermaus]

Volunteer to do work in Africa during the NFL off season. That’s where you’ll find him.

[metmom]

When the Detroit Lions’ Stephen Tulloch sacked Tim Tebow in the first quarter of their week eight matchup, the linebacker immediately kneeled next to the prone Denver quarterback, in a mockery of Tebow’s habit of praying on-field, most recently seen after his miraculous fourth-quarter comeback against the Dolphins the week before.

Philippians 1:15-18 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

[metmom]

I always thought that Tebow was a Catholic because his mother chose not to abort him. Evidently that is not the case.

Just wow........

What a blinded and bigoted viewpoint.

[metmom]

Romans 14:5-9 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

[Biggirl]

But maybe by bowing down to pray after each football game, does Mr. Tebow not witness for the Lord to many, many viewers watching tv or from viewing stands?