Image by Jeffrey Beall via Flickr
I am sitting at home watching the NFL playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. My daughter is watching with me while keeping an eye on her Twitter feed. I am amazed at how much is being said about Tim Tebow. Not because he has not been a lighting rod this year but because the people with the most negative comments start their visceral by saying that they are Christians too, but …..
Now think about it with me. What has Tim Tebow really done? He has done three things that seem to bring all the ire of these Christians. (1) He talks openly about his faith. (2) He prays before, during, and after games. (3) He wins more than he looses. And for this he is spoken of as if he is the devil himself. Most of those who are quick to criticize him do so with no knowledge of him, no relationship with him, and no real understanding of who he is in his life or what is really important to him.
Adam Wainright, St. Louis Cardinal star pitcher, has a different view. He was recently quoted as saying, “I am obsessed with Tim Tebow. I’m not afraid to say it. It’s almost embarrassing to us athletes that this much emphasis is put on Tim Tebow because that means we aren’t living our lives as we should. If we did that more often, the way he is living wouldn’t be as big a story. I’m so proud of him for living out his faith.”
I think that it would be good if Christians across America would understand that Tim is just trying to live his life in a way he feels honors God. It doesn’t have to be the way any others live theirs. And more than anything I wish Christian people would not be sucked into attacking a believer, not for his skills as a player, but for his desire to live to the glory of God.
Maybe we should read and re-read Wainright’s assessment and realize that Tim wouldn’t appear to be so unique if we all lived our lives for the glory of God.
Just my thoughts!
