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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Kudos to the Kid
By webmaster @ 12:01 AM :: 354 Views :: 3 Comments :: Dr. Michael Brown

Okay, I admit it. I like Tim Tebow. He seems authentic to me. Perhaps he expresses his faith a bit more enthusiastically than some, and many of us who are not fundamentalists can find that a bit uncomfortable. But from what I hear, he’s sincere. And, I much prefer someone who is sincerely faith-filled (even if a bit over the top) than sincerely cynical.

After the miracle finish against Pittsburgh, Tebow was asked what was the most rewarding part of the day. He answered that it was having met a young girl who had suffered through seventy-three surgical procedures and sensing that it brought her a bit of happiness to meet a pro football player. Earlier in the year a defender who sacked him quickly knelt in a faux-prayer pose, openly mocking Tebow’s devotion to praying. Asked later if he were offended, Tim said, “No. He didn’t mean to be offensive. He was just excited. He made a great play.” More than once he has been asked if he prays that God will let his team win. His consistent response is, “No. I pray to do my best, but I doubt if God cares who wins a football game.” I hope he’s sincere. Those who have known him all his life say he is. If so, I’m impressed.

Tim Tebow has been the object of a lot of criticism and the butt of a lot of jokes this season, all due to his enthusiasm for his faith. In an insightful article in The New York Times, a writer observed that he felt many of the detractors are simply dubious. They have become jaded, expecting the worst behavior from high salaried athletes who often display a sense of moral license and, nowadays, from coaches who have taken advantage of their positions of authority. So, the author suggested, we simply don’t know how to handle goodness when it comes along. It makes us uncomfortable and suspicious. Selfishness and immorality we’re used to. But goodness? We don’t know how to handle it, so in the end it is often crucified.

There are probably better quarterbacks around: Rodgers, both the Mannings, Brees, Vick, Brady, Rivers. But this season I have found it kind of refreshing to see a new kid on the block get his name added to that gifted group. Tim Tebow may not yet have the same arm as the greats of the game, but I like his heart. And, though he expresses it a bit more fervently than some, I admire his faith and the fact that he is not shy about confessing Whose he is. Kudos to the kid.

Comments

By follis @ Thursday, January 19, 2012 12:31 AM

Well said.

By BillMarty @ Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Your comments about Tim Tebow were well expressed and sum him up very well. Someone asked if God is on Tim' team and someone else replied no but Tim is on God's team. Being on God's team is the answer to all things.

By cmathison @ Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:55 AM

Tebow is a complete inspiration. Thanks for writing this Dr. Brown. It's helps me understand more about what it means to be a Christian.

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