I am not a Florida Gators fan. Honestly, I have not enjoyed many things college football related as much has I enjoy watching the Gators lose, especially to Alabama. But I have a confession. I really like Tim Tebow.
His whole career at Florida I had to not like him, but I was torn. I really liked the idea of someone in the public eye who was strong in their faith and was not ashamed of it in any way. I have heard and read many stories of him being criticized and made fun of for his faith. The reason I like him is that he never let any of that get in the way of it.
It seemed that for the last few years, people had come to terms with the fact that Tebow was a Christian. He has not been in the news recently and for the most part, people had left him alone. Until Saturday.
Fast forward past what happened to today and read the comments sections on videos or pictures of Him. You will think he must have posted a video condemning everyone to Hell or something super extremely extreme. People have began talking about how ignorant and dumb he must be and cannot believe he is shoving his faith down everyones throat. Apparently, what he has done this time is one of the biggest and worst things he could have ever done. What did he do? He said a prayer.
It was not televised and as far as I know, it was not posted on any official social media sites. Someone snapped a picture of him holding hands with the other guys on set of the SEC Network pregame show and leading them in prayer. Simple, right?
Why is it that those that demand tolerance seem to be the least tolerant? He should not be allowed to lead a prayer but all of the following would have probably been acceptable: He could have toasted the other guys with a beer, he could have talked about his love for doing illegal drugs and in some states smoked marijuana during the show, he could have stripped down to nothing and balanced a wine glass on his backside, he could have even gone on a profanity filled rant (all of which would have been offensive to many Christians). These things would have been perfectly acceptable by many of those who think what he did was so offensive.
So, where is tolerance? Why is there little or no backlash for the example Kim Kardashian and so many others set by posing nude and calling it glamorous, why can rappers, rockers, and most other musicians use such profane lyrics and win awards and make millions for doing it, why can someone make a mockery of Christianity and be glorified for it, but Tim Tebow leads one prayer with the guys and is made out to be a monster? Perhaps those who demand so much tolerance need to learn a little more about tolerance.
Thank you, Tim Tebow. Thank you for standing firm in your faith. Thank you for being an example to so many, young and old, of how someone can be a Christian in the media. Thank you for being a light in the world around you. Thank you for not hiding your faith when you know that it might “offend” someone.
I hope that Christians everywhere will learn something from Tim. More than likely what we do will never be blown up as big as the things he does, yet he is able to stand strong through it. He is a great example to me and I hope you will learn something from his example as well.
P.S. I’m sorry I laughed so much at those pictures of you crying on the sidelines...
His whole career at Florida I had to not like him, but I was torn. I really liked the idea of someone in the public eye who was strong in their faith and was not ashamed of it in any way. I have heard and read many stories of him being criticized and made fun of for his faith. The reason I like him is that he never let any of that get in the way of it.
It seemed that for the last few years, people had come to terms with the fact that Tebow was a Christian. He has not been in the news recently and for the most part, people had left him alone. Until Saturday.
Fast forward past what happened to today and read the comments sections on videos or pictures of Him. You will think he must have posted a video condemning everyone to Hell or something super extremely extreme. People have began talking about how ignorant and dumb he must be and cannot believe he is shoving his faith down everyones throat. Apparently, what he has done this time is one of the biggest and worst things he could have ever done. What did he do? He said a prayer.
It was not televised and as far as I know, it was not posted on any official social media sites. Someone snapped a picture of him holding hands with the other guys on set of the SEC Network pregame show and leading them in prayer. Simple, right?
Why is it that those that demand tolerance seem to be the least tolerant? He should not be allowed to lead a prayer but all of the following would have probably been acceptable: He could have toasted the other guys with a beer, he could have talked about his love for doing illegal drugs and in some states smoked marijuana during the show, he could have stripped down to nothing and balanced a wine glass on his backside, he could have even gone on a profanity filled rant (all of which would have been offensive to many Christians). These things would have been perfectly acceptable by many of those who think what he did was so offensive.
So, where is tolerance? Why is there little or no backlash for the example Kim Kardashian and so many others set by posing nude and calling it glamorous, why can rappers, rockers, and most other musicians use such profane lyrics and win awards and make millions for doing it, why can someone make a mockery of Christianity and be glorified for it, but Tim Tebow leads one prayer with the guys and is made out to be a monster? Perhaps those who demand so much tolerance need to learn a little more about tolerance.
Thank you, Tim Tebow. Thank you for standing firm in your faith. Thank you for being an example to so many, young and old, of how someone can be a Christian in the media. Thank you for being a light in the world around you. Thank you for not hiding your faith when you know that it might “offend” someone.
I hope that Christians everywhere will learn something from Tim. More than likely what we do will never be blown up as big as the things he does, yet he is able to stand strong through it. He is a great example to me and I hope you will learn something from his example as well.
P.S. I’m sorry I laughed so much at those pictures of you crying on the sidelines...