Tebow or not Tebow? That is the question.

God does not control the outcome of football games. I know this. I am a Cowboys fan. We have not won a playoff game since 1995 and the Cowboys are obviously God’s favorite team, as He had a hole built in the roof of Texas stadium so He could have an unobstructed view of every game.

 

I am also a rabid Florida State fan.  I’m the kind of fan that not only knows more about FSU than 99% of fans, I know more about my rivals than 99% of their fans. I watched nearly every Florida Gators game that Tim Tebow played in. Why? I wanted them to lose. I was well aware of his faith. On a purely human level I thought he was a very nice guy. On a spiritual level I respected him for his faith. I even got kind of choked up during his Heisman speech, but make no mistake…I did not want him to succeed on the field while he was wearing my rivals uniform.

 

Now that he is wearing a less repugnant orange and blue uniform my thoughts on him have changed. (When a player leaves college you are allowed to like him if he’s from a rival team) It cracks me up to see so many Christians cheering for Tim Tebow. I have become one of them. Why is it happening?

 1.    He is bold and authentic about his faith.

 

I have yet to hear someone call him a hypocrite. I don’t think anyone questions his sincerity and even many who disagree with his beliefs still respect him.

 2.    He is a hybrid between Arnold Schwarzenegger, Andy Griffith, and Billy Graham

 

It’s not often that you see a 6’ 3’’, 245 lb., muscle-bound athlete with an “aww shucks” demeanor and a succinct mission in life.

 3.    People love an underdog.

 

When Tom Brady led the Patriots to their first Superbowl, the thing that stood out was how unheralded he was. In Tim Tebow’s case he is a different kind of underdog. Most underdogs don’t have these qualities:

 

1. #1 ranked 5* high school quarterback
2. 2 national titles
3. Heisman trophy winner
4. Davey O'Brien Award winner
5. Maxwell Award winner
6. Sporting News Player of the Year
7. #1 draft pick
8. $11.5 million dollar contract (With the new rookie wage scale in 2012 only 5 million or so less than Andrew luck, the probable #1 overall pick will get)

 

The nature of Tebow’s underdog status is related to his critics, mostly members of the media who do not appreciate his unorthodox delivery and playing style because it defies all conventional wisdom about what an NFL quarterback should be. There are also critics that persecute him unfairly because of his passionate faith.

 

 4.    He loves to compete

 

It’s great to watch someone who simply won’t give up. Favre made a lot of bad plays but his fierce competitive nature and love for the game is what made people love him.

 

There are probably many more reasons for the Tebow mania that is exploding.  I think it is fun.

 

The opening sentence of this blog did not say “God can not control the outcome of football games”. I have been unable to figure out the method to get Him to answer my particular football related prayers. Once I was driving down I-75 and I was praying. As a matter of fact I had tears streaming down my face as I was worshipping God, thanking Him for His faithfulness in my life. I looked in my rear view and I saw a Florida State Trooper pulling me over. Uh oh. As he wrote me my ticket for speeding I shamelessly explained that I was praying to which he replied, “well, I guess you need to pray harder”. ZING! I did not receive the ticket because God was unpleased with my worship. I received a ticket because I was speeding.

 

I played football for 10 years and I probably can’t think of a game that I did not pray before, during, and after. Thousands of athletes pray during games. Many athletes of exceptional faith have stood boldly for God while playing on losing teams. To me it is trivializing God to suggest that He is affecting the outcome of each play.

 

The Bible says is Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” It also says in Psalm 37:23 “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

 

Knowing that our lives are pleasing to God is the most important thing. It is really great to see a young man like Tim Tebow acknowledging God and being used in so many great ways outside of football as well. To infer that God is causing all the good plays would also infer that He is either causing the bad ones or allowing them. There are victories and obstacles in any profession. What we ultimately celebrate is that our lives are pleasing to God and we are on His path.

 

If you are a Tebow fan enjoy watching someone with such a positive attitude who is in the limelight. If you are not, that’s ok too. One of my friends who is a Cowboys fan told me last night, “Well as a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan, I will say go Denver and Tebow mania only because a Cowboy rides a horse and the Bronco is the closest to it so, Denver all the way just for the rest of this season!”.

 

I lol’d.

 

 

Comments

[Mike Beck]

I like your thoughts on this Tebow mania. I am like you not a Gator fan. I wanted Tim Tebow to throw an interception on every pass play against LSU. However you have to admire him because he has stayed true to his beliefs and the values his parents taught him. It is great to have a player with his tenacity to play the game.