All Tebowed Out

I guess I am missing out on something here. What is the BFD with Tim Tebow?

Yes, he is an outstanding football player. And yes, he is a devout Christian. But people are acting like he’s the second coming of Christ. If he is, oops. My bad!

Seriously though, people are making an idol out of this celebrity athlete. The media is especially guilty of perpetuating the Tebow cult of personality. And he doesn’t seem to mind. That certainly doesn’t say “Christian” to me.

Which brings me to the practice of Tebowing. Come on, it’s just genuflecting. Catholics have been doing it for centuries -- and no one has rushed to imitate them. It has become such a phenomenon that kids of all ages are doing it everywhere. My question is, are they actually praying when they kneel, or are they just emulating their idol, Tim Tebow? If they are praying, fine. Pray away! But if you are assuming this attitude of reverence for no other reason than you admire a professional athlete who does the same thing, you’re gonna be in big trouble. You are engaging in idol worship. Don’t know about you, but I was taught that is a BIG NO-NO. In fact, it’s in God’s Top Ten -- as in Commandments.

Recently, when Tim was criticized by the supposed Jeebus-Haters, a preacher actually claimed from his pulpit that to “hate Tim is to hate Jesus”. Whoa, back that bus up a minute! This supposed “man of God” believes Tim equals Jesus? Isn’t that a blasphemy? And where do they get this shit? Wouldn’t this man serve his flock better by providing spiritual guidance than by talking about Tebow and the Jeebus-Haters? (Wait, let me write that down because that sounds like a good title for a book.)

Tim bows to pray every time he does anything. That’s fine, but that’s your business Tim, not the whole damn world’s. If you want to thank God for the talent he gave you, go right ahead, but do it on your own time, not ESPN’s and mine.

And while you’re at it, contemplate this. Your talent may be God-given, but you have worked your ass off to become the outstanding athlete you are. God didn’t make that touchdown for you. You, your hard work, your coaches and your team mates did. So give credit where it’s due. Besides, I really don’t think God has time to watch football on Sundays. He’s too busy checking all the prayer requests from the other Christians who don’t bother to think for themselves.

Now praying is fine, if that’s your thing. Lately though, it seems to have gotten out of hand. We’re praying to God for good crops, rain, winning the World Series, wealth and power, death to liberals, death to gays, death to anyone who isn’t an evangelical, Pentecostal, apostolic, full-gospel, Jesus-lovin’ American. First, praying for the end of those different from us doesn’t quite sound like the message Christ gave us. Second, praying for God to take care of everything under the sun is something you stole from the pantheists and pagans. “Athena grant me wisdom.” “Ares, bring me victory in battle.” “Demeter, grow these damn crops.” You just traded multiple gods for one, but you’re still abdicating responsibility.

I’m no theology student, but I seem to remember something in the Bible about God giving man free will. That means you think for yourself and don’t expect God to give you the answer to everything. He already gave you a brain. For God’s sake, use it!

And stop with the “Tebowing”. Get up off of your knees, start thinking for yourself with your God-given brain, and actually accomplish something.