Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is no stranger. Over the past year, Americans have become very familiar with his face, his style, his stats, and also, his faith. Some fans are refreshed by the character that Tebow brings to the NFL – namely, his outspoken and unforgiving belief system otherwise unfamiliar to the game. Still, others exemplify great disdain for this Evangelical, questioning the legitimacy of his faith and ridiculing his over-the-top antics. So what's apocalyptic about Tim Tebow?

For one, there's no questioning his ability to play football. Many sports fans will disagree with me, arguing that ultimately quarterback (insert name here) is better than Tebow. I don't wish to argue that and seeing as I don't know much about the NFL you're probably right. Nonetheless, Tebow is a professional at what he does, a title that cannot be stripped from his talent insofar as he continues to play. The point is, this quarterback can and is pushing his body to its limit. Throwing a ball 80 yards into the hands of another player involves a technical set of skills. As we admire Tebow's ability to QB we are offered a very unusual and unique glimpse of God's image. In addition, Tebow is very involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, spending entire days with mentally disabled fans and their families. Argue all you want, but the fact is that this celebrity hasn't completely checked out, yet. Tim Tebow is an apocalyptic figure in more ways than one.

However, that's not the end of the story. Ironically Tebow's very public attempts at spirituality are what make me less convinced of his sincerity. In fact, after all we have learned in this class, that Tebow has to nerve to thank God for defeating another team in the middle of a stadium and a career literally fueled by the empire (consumerism) seems a bit hypocritical. The Jesus of the NFL is a Jesus who doesn't care about the poor. The Jesus of the NFL is a savior of "our sponsor." The Jesus of the NFL is more concerned about signing $11 million contracts than helping the homeless man outside the stadium. If Tebow wanted to send a Kingdom message he could start by being a voice or reason during lockout season (an exceptionally terrific example of consumerism and greed). With the type of power he has, Tebow could be an incredibly influential voice and Christian example in calling the Empire into question, particularly in his job-field. I guess all we can do is keep waiting for that to happen.

Thus, with a grain of salt and a measure of grace, I have to conclude that Tim Tebow may not be as good a role model as society has dressed him up to be. While I applaud his volunteerism and commitment to the Gospel(s), it seems like he is stuck in a pickle between the Christ of the poor and the Lord of the market. In an attempt to squeeze in both he has diluted one and the expense of the other. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to watch how he continues to integrate his faith throughout the rest of his career.

Discussion Questions
1. Do you think the act of "Tebowing" (bowing your head and taking a knee in prayer) is appropriate in end zones? What does such an intentionally public act reveal about Tebow's motives (for better or worse)?
2. Do you think cultural icons of faith should announce their religion publicly? Do we need to label Tebow "Christian" in order to appreciate the good that he does?