Treb's Blog Stop: 2012

On my last two posts I kind of railed hard on some people, and maybe I should not have. I have tried to make it a point in the last few years not to judge others, and try to give people the benefit of a doubt. Some things do however require discernment. Recently to a Bronco fan, I was sort of critical about the Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow. There is a new word out there “Tebowing” and it has been most of the time the subject of ridicule and comic relief. Tebow will go down on one knee and pray, visible to all including NFL cameramen. He has taken fire from comedians and colleagues alike, and people mock him openly. He continues to do this… Tebowing (Praying). My words about it were simple, but I was making a different point. I just quoted Matthew 6:5-6

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

I was not mocking him or making light of his faith, I thought I was going by the idea of WWJD, but there is more than one principle going on here. Tebow is showing that he practices a set of principles that involves prayer. He was raised by parents who were devout missionaries, and worked with many people. He was trained up in the ways he should go, and lives it in ALL of the things that he does. He shows that he is not ashamed, and practices his faith openly. He prays at football games, but has stated that he does not believe that Jesus cares about sporting events, that there are Christians on both sides of the playing field, and he wouldn’t take sides. He simply prays, and what he prays for is between himself and God. Like it is supposed to be.

Tebow being mocked by someone who tackled him

His example is Jesus Christ, when he was instructing people how to pray. Jesus told his disciples to pray in secret, and then prayed in front of them giving them an example on how they should pray. I don’t think I will be critical of Jesus Christ. Tim Tebow is setting an example. He knows he is seen by many including impressionable young people, he knows he is being made fun of and being mocked (or at least he ought to), and he does it anyway. He does not care what people say, and continues to practice his faith. What is wrong with someone who believes what they say? I think it speaks volumes about the character of that individual. I don’t think he is a hypocrite, but I think he is setting an example.

Blasphemy on Saturday Night Live

Being made to look like an idiot is something that Tebow faces undauntedly. All Christians are being held up in that light now days. Bill Maher even made a movie called Religulous (mixing religion with ridiculous) just for the purpose of making fun of people who believe in God, and even mocking God himself. Maher is a self proclaimed atheist, and does not believe in a God. That is fine, but in his disbelief he is seeking to spread his ideas to other by mocking God. God however will not be mocked. Maher is using his celebrity status like Tebow, only to the other extreme. Like Tebow, God allows this mocking to continue, but in mocking God, Maher may be forfeiting any claim to blessings in this life and the hereafter, but that is for God to decide, I will not judge Bill either.

Bill Maher mocks Tebow

Guys being idiots mocking Tebow

We need look at Tim Tebow as an example to the young, as someone who follows his principles no matter what and sticks to his guns even when he is under fire. The people will point from their high places and laugh. They will mock him and others, and call them fools. Many may fall away from their faith being ashamed, some will not, but don't worry it will all be worked out in the end.