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Evangelical Football Star Tim Tebow of Denver Broncos Targeted for His Faith?
Christian Post ^ | 08/13/2011 | By Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 08/14/2011 8:08:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has come under attack from sports analysts for being vocal about the role his Christian faith plays in his National Football League career.

Before his second professional season has even begun, naysayers are questioning his confidence that relies on his Christian beliefs.

CBSSports.com national columnist Gregg Doyel recently analyzed Tebow’s interview with Denver Post and said the way he equated his love for God in heaven with tangible rewards on earth amounted to blasphemy. The interview was prompted by reports that Tebow might not begin the season as Denver’s starting quarterback.

Doyel’s analysis angered Tebow’s fans. “Dude, your article bothers me. You know dang well that you painted Tebow as a religious nut-job,” complained one Daniel Liebman. Doyel Friday responded to what he described as “hate mails” from “Tebow fanatics.”

“I didn’t paint him as a religious nut-job. Tebow’s the one holding the brush. I just hung his art on the wall and asked you folks to take a look,” the columnist said.

“Your article on Christian faith is extremely offensive,” wrote another fan, Chance Jones. “I have forwarded my thoughts to many individuals at CBS Sports and will no longer be a customer.” Doyel listed the responses sent by Tebow’s fans followed by a statement defending his analysis.

While Tebow is not known to have responded to criticism, he posted “Joshua 1:19” on his Facebook page Friday. The verse, which reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go,” alluded to the charge.

Debi Albritton, a fan commented, saying, “Your faith and your continued show of faith even against all the naysayers is a testament to all Christians. May God bless you and continue to strengthen you against all the adversity you receive!”

Doyel’s article juxtaposed views that suggest “Tebow will never be a good NFL quarterback,” with his confidence in God for his success. “He doesn’t believe it. Which is fine… But check out the reason why he doesn’t believe it,” the sports columnist continued.

Then Doyel quoted Tebow as saying, “Others who say I won’t make it are wrong. They don’t know what I’m capable of and what’s inside me. My family and my friends have been bothered by what’s gone on, and I tell them to pay no attention to it. I’m relying as always on my faith.”

“He’ll make it in this league – for the Bible tells him so,” Doyel remarked. “From the outside it looks like Tebow equates his love for God in heaven with tangible rewards here on earth. And that’s more than wrong. It’s blasphemy.” However, Doyel claimed he had nothing against Tebow or his God and that he considered him the nicest person he had ever met.

Collin Hansen, editorial director of The Gospel Coalition, in a blog Friday, commented on the controversy involving Doyel and Tebow.

“I’m not sure if Doyel knows what blasphemy is, or the seriousness of the charge he’s leveling against Tebow,” Hansen commented. “Tebow could be saying he relies on his faith to withstand criticism and pressure, not that he finds assurance in his future as a starting quarterback because God loves him.”

However, Doyel agrees Tebow’s life has been “grandiose.”

“He was the best high school player in America. The best college player in America, and one of the most accomplished players – one Heisman, two national titles – in history. A first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2010.”

At college in Florida, Tebow frequently wore biblical verses on his eye black. In the 2009 Bowl Championship Series, he wore “John 3:16” on his eye paint, reportedly causing 92 million people to search the verse on Google. Later, Tebow switched to “Proverbs 3:5-6,” again causing 3.43 million searches of the verse together with “Tim Tebow.”


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: evangelical; football; tebow; timtebow
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1 posted on 08/14/2011 8:09:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Has “pearls before swine” ever been more aptly illustrated?


2 posted on 08/14/2011 8:13:39 AM PDT by don-o (Abolish FReepathons. Be a monthly donor.)
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To: SeekAndFind

>>>>>>I didn’t paint him as a religious nut-job.

liberal progressives are nut jobs.


3 posted on 08/14/2011 8:17:36 AM PDT by ken21 (ruling class dem + rino progressives -- destroying america for 150 years.)
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To: SeekAndFind

a jackass like this reproter might look at another beliving QB - Kurt Warner, he did OK as a man with faith who came back again and again.


4 posted on 08/14/2011 8:19:06 AM PDT by q_an_a (a)
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To: don-o
Personally, I think a lot of the criticism of Tebow is justified. Not so much the criticism of his faith, but the criticism of the way his religious presence seems to have completely masked his lack of talent as an NFL quarterback.

The Denver Broncos didn't draft him in the first round a couple of years ago to be the team minister . . . they drafted him to be their future starting quarterback. And that just ain't happening, folks.

5 posted on 08/14/2011 8:20:37 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested.")
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To: SeekAndFind; 4everontheRight; ABG(anybody but Gore); Abbeville Conservative; akorahil; albee; ...
I think most of the criticism of Teebow has been fair. However, I think he will get better.
6 posted on 08/14/2011 8:20:37 AM PDT by Perdogg (0bama got 0sama?? Really, was 0sama on the golf course?)
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To: SeekAndFind
“He’ll make it in this league – for the Bible tells him so,” Doyel remarked. “From the outside it looks like Tebow equates his love for God in heaven with tangible rewards here on earth. And that’s more than wrong. It’s blasphemy.”

Is anyone really shocked to find an unbeliever thinking and acting like an unbeliever?

7 posted on 08/14/2011 8:20:57 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta ("....in the last days, mockers will come with their mocking...." (2 Peter 3:3))
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To: SeekAndFind

He has the wrong skin color to receive religious tolerance from the paparazzi press.


8 posted on 08/14/2011 8:29:38 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Regulation is government control of capital, and government control of capital is socialism.)
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To: SeekAndFind
The first step in this controversy is to teach these intolerant, uneducated folks 2nd grade English. The difference of

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

VERSUS

FREEDOM FROM RELIGION.

Of equals choice.

FROM equals dictatorial!

Tebow is okay ALTHOUGH he lost to the Cowboys! Hoo Hah!

9 posted on 08/14/2011 8:41:13 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae cum ita sunt" Since these things are so!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
He has the wrong skin color to receive religious tolerance from the paparazzi press.

Bingo! The girlymen in the "sports media" wouldn't dare say this crap if Tebow was "black" or "brown". I don't know which are worse, the girlymen who cover politics or the girlymen who cover sports. I do know that they are all loud-mouthed freaks who can't make it doing a real job.

10 posted on 08/14/2011 8:43:50 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Americans need to wean their government off of its dependence on foreign money.)
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To: SeekAndFind; stylecouncilor; windcliff; I Drive Too Fast

Joshua 1:19 bump....


11 posted on 08/14/2011 8:52:44 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: GiovannaNicoletta
If this columnist had said “He'll make it in this league - for the Koran tells him so” people would be crying and pleading for his resignation.
12 posted on 08/14/2011 9:04:38 AM PDT by DCrockett53
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To: DCrockett53

I’m sure the Muzzie NFL guys had a great time at Baraq’s Ramalamadingdong late night grub in.


13 posted on 08/14/2011 9:09:45 AM PDT by nascarnation
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To: SeekAndFind

That bottom-feeder Rick Reilly (spit) at ESPN has been all over Tebow’s case recently...he is so politically correct he squeaks when he walks...Reilly’s screeds are nausea-inducing.


14 posted on 08/14/2011 9:11:09 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Buncha trash. That said, either Mr. Tebow will play well, or he won’t, and that’s the only thing that matters in his occupation.


15 posted on 08/14/2011 9:12:17 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The Commie Plot Theory of Everything. Give it a try - you'll be surprised how often it makes sense.)
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To: SeekAndFind

One of the BEST NFL coaches ever, Joe Gibbs, whom I personally know is a devout Evangelical Christian.


16 posted on 08/14/2011 9:21:23 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
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To: Alberta's Child

Tebow has led teams to championships at every level he has plated, at after three games at the NFL level you have determined he lacks talent.

From everything I have seen from this kid, he has proven that he is a leader; sadly, it took a lot of guts for him to openly profess his faith, in a world where liberal agnostic and atheistic scum dominate the media. There efforts have been consistent and unrelenting primarily because of his beliefs and willingness to discuss them... compare and contrast the scum in the media’s comments regarding Jamarcus Russell, that is, if you can find them.


17 posted on 08/14/2011 9:21:47 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I don't know if that is true. Reggie White took a ton of bad press for being a spiritual athlete.
18 posted on 08/14/2011 9:23:24 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
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To: Common Sense 101

Tebow has led teams to championships at every level he has played, and after three games at the NFL level you have determined he lacks talent.

From everything I have seen from this kid, he has proven that he is a leader; sadly, it took a lot of guts for him to openly profess his faith, in a world where liberal agnostic and atheistic scum dominate the media. There efforts have been consistent and unrelenting primarily because of his beliefs and willingness to discuss them... compare and contrast the scum in the media’s comments regarding Jamarcus Russell, that is, if you can find them.


19 posted on 08/14/2011 9:23:34 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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20 posted on 08/14/2011 9:31:16 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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