Tebow-liever?

I’ve really tried to hold off on posting about Tim Tebow. Yes, I included him in my Not a Fan series, and I titled a post after him when he was still in college, but I have tried hard not to feed the hype. Part of it is because I’m just not that big of a fan. I’m no Monday-morning quarterback critiquing his mechanics, nor am I rooting for him to fail. I just don’t think his faith, his throwing motion, and the way he conducts himself off the field is that big of a deal. And I think he’d agree. Yet I am a Denver Bronco fan so I hope he succeeds. And I did draft him for my fantasy football team this year, because I had a hunch he would be starting by mid-season… at fullback. Ok, I was half-right.

But instead of honest debate over the outcome of next week’s playoff game or analysis of Pittsburgh’s decision to stuff the box in overtime, we hear non-stop about his time with a girl suffering from granulomatosis, how Katy Perry’s Evangelical parents want to hook their “heartbroken” daughter up with him- even to the point of inviting him to their church, and of course the Internet explosion when Evangelicals realized that he threw for 316 yards last week. OMG (gosh, for the record) Tebow threw for 316 yards. 3 16, as in John 3:16, get it? OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!

Simply put, we are running the risk of turning Tim Tebow into an idol. (a must-read IMHO)

But isn’t it interesting he threw for 316 yards last week? That phenomenon lead to Google searches of John 3:16 to skyrocket, just as they did when he wore the scripture in eyeblack during his BCS title game a couple of years ago. But does it mean anything? Does it mean God’s hand is miraculously holding up the lame ducks Tim Tebow throws 50 yards downfield? Does it mean God is rooting for Tebow to succeed? (And before you point out his three game losing streak, let me point out that Jesus rose from the dead after three days. I’m not sayin’, just sayin’)

I think it just means God has a sense of humor.

First up, the infamous Saturday Night Live skit, which I think is hilarious:

Then this spoof on Hitler’s reaction to Tebow’s win (ironically the first time I saw this re-subtitled was after a Steeler win, and proof that every Internet argument eventually ends with someone invoking Hitler.)

Like I said, I think God has a sense of humor and Tebow 316 is proof of that. Also consider that he completed ten passes out of twenty one, or 10/21. Let’s look into what seems to be Tim Tebow’s favorite Gospel, John: “But others said, ‘These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?‘” (John 10:21) Or to paraphrase, “These are not the wins of a bad quarterback, can a bad quarterback pass for over 300 yards against the league’s best defense?”

So what does this all mean? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! No go in peace to watch football objectively, loving and serving the Lord. Thanks be to God.