Before I begin this post, I must clarify my position:

1. I am not a sports fan. For the most part, I think it's a ridiculous waste of time, money, and energy. Why someone should be paid $6 million to PLAY football while our soldiers, firemen, and policemen scrape along on wages that are scarcely above poverty levels ... in my opinion there's something wrong with that. That's my personal opinion, and I'm just as entitled to it as you are entitled to bedeck yourself in the colors of your favorite team, wave flags, yell and scream, and spend hundreds, if not thousands, of your hard-earned dollars on merchandise and game tickets and overpriced hot dogs. To each their own.

photo by gtmcknight	via PhotoRee

2. I am a Christian. I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to earth in the form of a man and ransomed humanity from eternal death and destruction through his death, burial, and resurrection. He made the way for us to be restored to eternal life and relationship with God the Father. All that is required of us is to believe in Him, to acknowledge and receive Him as our Savior and as Lord. 

That said...

Football fan or not, living in Colorado this year means we are bombarded with news and commentary about Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow, you may recall, first came under fire in 2010 for making a pro-life commercial that aired during those million-dollar milliseconds we refer to as "Super Bowl halftime."


He hasn't pulled back, either. His pregame prayer sessions on the sidelines have generated a viral movement known as "Tebowing." Yeah, there's no question about Tim Tebow's religious position, and his open profession of faith has generated the usual deluge of praise and criticism.

While most limit their wrath to Tebow's ability to lead an NFL team to victory as a quarterback, others have gone on the attack about his outspoken religious views. Even fellow Christian footballers like Kurt Warner have suggested Tebow tone down the religious rhetoric. Others have jumped to Tebow's defense, attacking the media attackers and declaring the young player the victim of an evil, left-wing, liberal, Christ-hating, socialist media agenda seeking to destroy our country's Judeo-Christian foundation.


*sigh*

I question how quickly the same right-wing, First Amendment professing, free-country-declaring individuals would be to leap to the defense of an equally vocal Muslim or a Jew or a Buddhist, or, {GASP} a homosexual football player? Or a thrice-divorced adulterer with questionable personal ethics ... oh, wait... stick with football, we're not talking about GOP presidential candidates.

On the other hand, would the Tebow haters be as swift to lash out against a non-believer? Would there be any notice taken at all?


Honestly, can we not come up with anything better to argue about? Do we REALLY believe God gives a flip about who wins or loses a football game as though it was an Old Testament battle  between the Hebrews and the Philistines?

As for Tim Tebow, in my opinion he has every right to continue to speak from his heart, to pray on the sidelines, and to give honor and praise to God whenever and wherever he feels like it. Dude, go for it. And if you can keep up the winning streak, more power to ya ... Coloradans are noticeably happier when the Broncos aren't making asses er, donkeys, out of themselves.

For all the Christian armchair quarterbacks out there wielding your righteous indignation: Is persecution not to be expected for those who take a stand for Christ?

"If you are reproached (insulted or reviled) for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified." 1 Peter 4:14

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven ..." Matthew 5:11-12

Let's quit whining about the media being mean to Tebow and rejoice with him! 
Just a thought.