Jonathon Goldsmith plays the most interesting man in the world in a very popular television commercial. It has fascinating features that capture the world’s attention. This article is about a man who may not be the most interesting man in the world, but he is undoubtedly one of the most polarizing figures in American culture.
Tim Tebow was the miracle baby of his mother, Pam. In 2010, the Tebows coordinated with Focus On The Family to sponsor a Super Bowl commercial to tell their story. When Pam was pregnant with Tim, doctors told her to abort her baby to avoid life-threatening complications. She refused and now, like it or not, the world has Tim Tebow.
George Weigel asks why Tim Tebow is so controversial in his article for First Things. Tim Tebow is “more polarizing than the trash-talking NBA giants; more polarizing than the foul-mouthed Serena Williams; more polarizing than the NFL stars who father numerous children of numerous women, all out of wedlock. Why Tebow, and only Tebow, arouse those passions? Why is it Tebow who the “comedians” say they would like to film? “
ESPN ran a Sunday morning special in September 2011 exploring the division of Tim Tebow, who started the season as the third quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Urban Meyer, coach of the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, said he felt cautious when Tebow arrived at the University of Florida. Here is a sensitive, sincere and handsome boy who has exposed his heart to America. Would you set yourself up for failure? Would your image crumble due to sex, drugs, or steroids? Meyer was on a mission to find hypocrisy in Tim Tebow. It came empty. Tebow was the real deal.
Tim Tebow has become the model for evangelical Christianity. Some love and admire him because he has shown that he has the gut strength to stand up for Christ and endure the ridicule that is sure to follow. Others hate him because they interpret his evangelical message as exclusive and offensive. Nobody wants to be told that they are wrong or that their names are not written in the Book of Life. Tim Tebow finds himself in the eye of the storm because of his biblical beliefs regarding sin. Society is hypersensitive regarding issues such as homosexuality and the choice of abortion. Tebow finds himself in the crossfire between those people who categorize such problems as sin, that they deserve God’s judgment, and those who believe that these people are arrogant and critical.
The haters are many and varied. Just Google “I hate Tim Tebow” and browse the nearly 4,000,000 views to find out just how vehement this hatred is. One commentator scoffed at Tebow’s Christian testimony and the Bible verses inscribed on his black eye patches. “Hey, look at me! I’m a Christian! I read the Bible! God doesn’t care who wins the game, I know, she told me,” he wrote.
Comedian John Oliver blurted out “I Hate Tim Tebow” in one of his performances. He explained that if he had Bin Laden and Tim Tebow in the same room and he had a gun with two bullets, he would shoot Tebow first. Bill Maher refers to Tebow as an idiot. Facebook and Twitter are overloaded with enemies of Tebow. It doesn’t take a trained psychologist to understand why they hate Tebow.
In January 2005, the Vikings were playing the Packers at Lambeau Field. Randy Moss caught a touchdown pass and then proceeded to entertain millions of fans by simulating the act of playing in the end zone. Commenters appeared to react differently. Chris Collinsworth tried to stifle a chuckle as Joe Buck expressed his outrage: “It’s a disgusting act by Randy Moss and it’s a shame we streamed it live.” Rather, Tim Tebow kneels down and prays to his God. Guess what act sparks outrage around the water cooler on Monday morning?
Tebow’s custom of kneeling and putting his fist to his forehead has given rise to a cultural phenomenon called ‘Tebowing’. Visit the Tebowing website to find out how ‘Tebowing’ has become all the rage. They are Tebowing in Haiti, in China and in the Vatican. They are doing it in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Both grooms and brides are tebowing before getting married. Young children are tebowing. Soldiers and airline pilots are tebowing. A miner in New Zealand Tebows underground and a mountaineer in Austria Tebows on top of the world.
Some are not so excited about Tebowing. The administration of Riverhead High School on Long Island suspended four children for Tebowing in the school hallways. One of those suspended was Conner Carroll. When asked on ESPN’s Sports Center if his suspension was worth it, he replied, “I did this to pay tribute to Tim Tebow. He’s a winner, he’s a leader, he’s got great faith, you know, he’s a perfect guy to. follow … after … he’s not a guy who takes steroids or drugs or anything like that. He’s an ideal role model. People should look up to him. “
The list of athletes with criminal records is too long to add to this discussion. Recently, a Chicago Bears player was arrested for establishing a drug distribution network in the city of Chicago. College coaches (from Penn State and Syracuse) have been accused of sexually abusing minors. Why do so many spend so much energy hating a man who is one of the few decent role models left for American youth?
Doug Giles put this riddle well in an article he wrote for Townhall: “Let me see if I get it right: a sex-worshiping, multi-tattooed bully with three illegitimate children from three different women scores a touchdown and then proceeds to simulate a sex act in the end zone, in front of our kids and the millions watching on TV, and that’s okay? Why safe? Who are we to judge? In fact, let’s give that future inmate a Nike ad and increase his contract. a few million because it brings spices (and crabs) to the game. Ah … sweet progress. “
Why do they hate Tebow? It is not because it is disgusting, it is not because it is rude or depraved. It is not because of his soccer skills or lack thereof. They hate him because he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and because he really believes that it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. (Romans 1:16)
Jeffrey Kuhner, in an article for the Washington Times writes: “Christianity is gradually being purged from the public square. The Christmas celebrations have become offensive.” Merry Christmas “is now considered politically incorrect; the proper greeting is” happy holidays. “The Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in court or in class. Prayer has been banned from public schools. Christians are mocked with regularity in movies and television. ” Kuhner describes this cultural deconstruction of Christianity in our society as cristofobia. He continues: “Christophobia forms the basis of modern liberalism. Left progressives are determined to destroy traditional America and its fundamental institutions: the Constitution, capitalism, national sovereignty, and the family. That is why they have declared war on Christianity. “.
If Tim Tebow omitted the name of Christ, he would not be criticized so harshly. There is great power in the name of Christ. True salvation comes to the heart through the name of Jesus Christ. (John 3:18) Christians are baptized in his name (Acts 8: 16-17), pray in his name (John 14: 13-14) and eternal life is granted in his name. (1 John 5:13) Why do people use the name of Christ in vain but not use the name of Buddha, Muhammad or Allah? It is because no man is threatened by any other name than Jesus Christ. Their name has a mysterious power associated with it and they fear that power. Fear breeds hatred.
Why do they hate Tim Tebow? He is hated for the same reason that Christ was hated. People run from the truth because it is too painful to face. They hate what they fear. They are not afraid of Tim Tebow, they are afraid of the message he carries. His message clearly states that everyone will be accountable to God for their decisions and behavior. It was the message of John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 2) and they cut off his head for spreading it. It was the message of Jesus (Matthew 4:17) and they crucified him on the cross for preaching it. It’s Tim Tebow’s message and that’s why they hate it. Jesus Christ predicted it: “If the world hates you, remember that it first hated me.” (John 15:18) But Christ also promised eternal life for those who stood firm to the end: “All men will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13)
Stand your ground, Tim Tebow. Please don’t let us down. Christians will be encouraged by your witness, and our young people desperately need a godly role model.
