Posted on 01/16/2012 11:30:17 AM PST by shortstop
Why do they mock Tebow?
And why do we let them?
In what is arguably the most religiously tolerant society in human history, how is it that, in the modern age, the religious expression of an athlete is the brunt of jokes and the target of mockery?
Why don’t we denounce that for the bigotry it is?
Because our tolerance is in name only.
And it is unevenly applied.
In America, intolerance of the minority is rejected, but intolerance of the majority is expected.
Tim Tebow is mocked not because he is religious, but because he is Christian.
Were he similarly zealous in devotion to a minority religion, his piety would be solemnly respected. If a Muslim playing in the NFL knelt in prayer, or expressed gratitude to his God for his professional success, he would be lionized for his bravery. His religious views would be treated with reverential respect.
He would be seen as a great example of his faith and the nation would honor him and his religion.
The same would be true for a Hindu or a Buddhist or a Wiccan.
But not for a Christian.
Because there is a double standard of religion in this country. Christians, particularly conservative or Bible-based Christians, are treated as inferior oddballs, as benighted Neanderthals with small minds and small views.
You can see that in the coverage of the Republican presidential race. And in the reporting on Tim Tebow.
If the snide player remarks about Tim Tebow had been made about a Muslim player, the commissioner and the league would have levied sanctions. If that same Muslim player had had his religion mocked on a late-night talk show, the nation would be aghast.
But not with Tebow.
Not with a Christian.
That is wrong, and it should be challenged. Instead of silently suffered, it should be publicly denounced.
There should be one standard of respect for religion in this country. The way we treat minority religions is closest to what is right. There should be neighborly respect and tolerance.
But what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander, and all religions – including the majority religion – should be respected.
Too often in the media, there is a condescension toward conservative Christians. That is a reflection of the philosophical prejudices of the media culture and of the liberal agenda.
That is ironic because the best virtues of American society are found in Christian teachings. In fact, American liberty could never have arisen without the seedbed of Christian faith. Not that one must be a Christian to be an American, but that the fundamental worth of the individual, and the moral freedom of the individual, are ideas which philosophically arose as outgrowths of Christian belief.
It was the reading of the Bible and faith in the Christian God which gave rise to the independence of thought necessary to conceive of and fight for liberty.
That is not to denigrate any other faith. It is simply to recognize the reality of American history.
America’s tolerance is fundamentally a product of its Christianity.
Which is why it is doubly disappointing to see American Christianity increasingly facing intolerance.
As evidenced by the mocking of Tim Tebow.
The First Amendment – like all of the Constitution – is both a reflection of and an inspiration for the American character. The First Amendment says two things about religion – that the government shall not declare an official religion, and that the government may not interfere with the practice of religion.
American culture reflects that second guarantee in the accepting attitude of its citizens.
Or at least it used to.
Increasingly, we whittle the freedom of religion down to just the freedom of worship. Yes, you can go behind closed doors on Sunday morning and worship as you please, but if you bring your religion back out with you, into the public square, you will find hostility and criticism.
Especially if you are Christian.
And that must end.
Because a nation is better if its people are religious. Not just on their holy days and in their places of worship, but every day, and in every part of their lives.
Tim Tebow merely attempts to do that.
He is a Christian, and he has chosen to live a Christ-centered life.
And in the land of the free, he should be allowed to.
Without being laughed at.
That second verse, "They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour* is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God." Reminds me of that "muslim yell" allahu akbar!. Scary.
“OTOH, what is the importance of a football game in God’s mind? I would guess it’s really the conduct of the players that matters. Thanks be to God for letting us play games - but football is only a game.”
Amen! And conduct both on the field and off. I pray Tim’s conduct is stellar in both places. I hate to see a good man fall, but the world loves it.
I am not a football fan, so I don’t quite understand the problem with a man taking a knee for a quick silent prayer of thanks. It certainly, IMO, beats being cocky and dancing around the field.
Shame and guilt, projected. It’s a very old story.
“OTOH, what is the importance of a football game in God’s mind? I would guess it’s really the conduct of the players that matters. Thanks be to God for letting us play games - but football is only a game.”
Amen! And conduct both on the field and off. I pray Tim’s conduct is stellar in both places. I hate to see a good man fall, but the world loves it.
I am not a football fan, so I don’t quite understand the problem with a man taking a knee for a quick silent prayer of thanks. It certainly, IMO, beats being cocky and dancing around the field.
Truly excellent article, shortstop. Thank you so much for posting it!
A major takeaway for me: Thus reduction to doctrinaire rules ever obscures any consideration of the moral worth of various religions in terms of (1) the soundness of their self-declared universal precepts; and (2) their impact on civil societies. I mean, that question cannot even arise under such rules.
Which is probably why the doctrinaire out there (read: folks of atheist, materialist, darwinist mind) detest Tebow.
Tebow doesn't "reduce" to a doctrine. He is a man who actually lives his Faith.
And for the Progressive Left, I gather, that is the one and only "Unforgivable Sin."
And they react as vampires react to garlic and crucifixes when publicly confronted by a genuine Man of Faith....
But back to an earlier point, that all considerations of the relative worth of various different religions are proscribed from the Public Square. To even bring the subject up is to become the target of General Public Opprobrium.
Since I don't worry much about such matters, I have been trying to imagine "what kind of God?" can explain the total social dysfunction within the Islamic sphere of influence, and between the states and peoples thereof, in our times?
I started by wondering what kind of God could explain the way the more "activist branch" of Islam is behaving in the world today. One is attempting to do this, in light of the following observations:
(1) The fundamental self-identity of a Muslim man is as a "slave" to/of Allah. For it is Allah alone who can write "in the book of Life"; and whatever Allah writes, IS.
In short, Allah is the "moving finger, which [forever] moves on" of Omar Khayyam....
Giving no man not one LEAST of a clue as to "his purpose in writing."
Thus my trial conclusion: There is no divine–man channel of communication in Islam. There is only obedience to an absolute Master, who determines/controls absolutely every aspect of one's personal being, constantly, from eternity.
(2) Which probably helps explain what, from a Western viewpoint at least, looks like severe degeneracy/dysfunction in the relations of the sexes in virtually every country, or even community, as a constant theme within the Islamic sphere.
Good grief, Muslim men are evidently so helpless that they cannot resist the allure of a female, a temptress evidently employing some kind of magical powers. And since they cannot resist, they blame the female for what they cannot avoid, committing (by Western standards) rape in the process. Whereupon the rape is alleged. And then the poor female victim's family has to kill her, for the sake of family "honor." Indeed, in all likelihood, it would be the unfortunate female's own mother who turns her over to "family justice"....
(3) But just as long as Allah's "warriors" submit their necks to his divine yoke, and do what their mullahs tell them to do, then they can expect to have sexual intercourse with 72 virgins, instantly upon their arrival in heaven. Presumably not having to kill them after the fact, like down here on Earth. And then a forever more — of what???
(4) This last observation is particularly disagreeable: History tells us standard Islamic belief holds that anyplace the big-toe of a Muslim has ever made an imprint on the soil anyplace on Earth, that "territory" instantly becomes, and remains forever after, "Allah's."
So the Imperialists in Iran are not conducting warfare against their neighbors; they are merely recovering their own proper territories.
Must stop for now. Thank you ever so much, dear shortstop, for posting this wonderfully thought-provocative article by Bob Lonsberry!
Squeaky clean people tend to get mocked, because regular people just don’t understand them. It’s more so if they’re famous because they’re passing up on what regular folks consider the best part of fame (groupies). Being different gets you mocked, it’s one of the ways society enforces its norms.
Luke 23:40-43,KJV:
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you are dying? 41 We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
He was going there because he believed in and confessed Jesus not because he was in any way good. Jesus' goodness substitutes for all of our sinfulness, including that of the thief.
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 7:21
Obviously, not only do you have to put Jesus as your Lord of your life, you actually HAVE TO OBEY Him.
I am so thankful, however, that even though none can obey Him perfectly, He forgives those who believe on Him and ask for forgiveness.
Yes, Denver was got beat. Brady showed he is a skilled quarterback. The guy with the big hands showed he can catch a football. One guy- cant remember his name- showed he can really take down his opponents.
HOWEVER, Brady also showed he is a jerk.
Don’t believe for a second that a punt at 3rd down was anything but an insult to Denver...and Brady never shook Tebow’s hand.
Tebow is a good kid and a great role model. I hope he is traded away from Denver.
I miss the guy with the “rainbow hair” that held up the John 3:16 sign at every game.
Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. 44 Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? 45 Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. 46 And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- << Matthew 25 >>
Looks like Tim is breathing the fresher air.
If he could keep his Quarterback Rating over 85, almost no one would mock him.
Thank you for the use of those two passages which come from the same sermon of Jesus: the Sermon on the Mount.
Regarding praying in a public place versus private closet, if Tim does not have a private time of prayer than this display is hypocrisy. But I have no reason to doubt his private time with his Creator and Savior.
Praying in the public square, in the time of Christ, would have brought the praise of men. I am not sure that is true today.
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