pianogonzology: evangelical

. . . By Howard Bess

   In recent weeks, much has been written about Tim Tebow, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Until this past season, Tebow had been a back-up quarterback and did not draw much public notice. When he was in college he had led the University of Florida to two national championships and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. He was drafted by the Broncos in the late first round of the 2010 draft. Most NFL teams had passed over Tebow because there was doubt that his talents were of NFL standards. This past season, Tebow got his chance, when the Broncos started the season with a 1-4 record. Tebow started the next eight games, winning seven out of eight, and the Broncos rose to first place in their division.
   Tim Tebow started receiving a lot of attention. He received a higher that usual level of attention partly because of the way he brought his religion into the spotlight of the playing field. Tim identifies himself as a born-again Evangelical Christian, and in the best of Evangelical tradition, he wants the whole world to know that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. After key events in a ballgame, Tebow bends down on his left knee, bows his head, and raises his right hand to his forehead. It is Tebow’s chosen way to witness to all those watching that Jesus Christ is the Lord of life.
   Because of his forthright display of his religion, he has become the idol of millions of born-again Evangelical Christians. His practice of bending knee and bowing head has become the rage in some circles and is now referred to as “Tebowing.” Many Evangelical Christians adore him, but many others have responses that range from mild discomfort to outrage.
   I can identify with Tim Tebow, because I too am a born-again Evangelical Christian. I too was an athlete. Since I was a young boy, it has been important for me to identify myself as a Christian. I too confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. After being a very successful high school football player, I enrolled at Illinois State University and became a two-way Freshman starter on a Conference Championship football team. While I was never involved in anything like Tebowing, I found ways to use my status as an athlete at a State University to let people know that Jesus is Lord. After a year at Illinois State and an Army enlistment, I returned to college at Wheaton College, a leading center of Evangelical Christianity. I played football for Wheaton for three years. The college motto “For Christ and His Kingdom” was the team motto. The team members were the finest group of teammates I ever had. The Wheaton teams on which I played were championship teams, and excellence was a part of our Christian witness. There was never a prayer to win, but we all knew that the way we played the game was a part of our witness for Christ the Lord.
   Vigorously sharing with the world that Jesus Christ is Lord is at the very heart of Evangelical Christianity. When a highly committed Evangelical Christian walks onto the football field, he does not leave his Jesus behind. From everything that I have read, Tim Tebow is a very fine young man. He lives an exemplary life. No one works harder at refining his football skills than does Tebow. He is first on the practice field and the last to leave.
   Tebow’s religious display on the playing field ought to be respected because it is a part of who he is. We do not call into question the practice of Albert Pujols making the sign of the cross as he walks to the plate. Neither should we call into question the religious display of Tim Tebow on the football field. It is as closely tied to his identity as the yarmulke worn by an Orthodox Jew. We need to be reminded that Sandy Koufax, possibly the greatest left-handed pitcher in history, refused to pitch the opening game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.
   There is a problem that Tim Tebow has given himself. He is making his confession of faith very public. How will he now live his life.   For the rest of his life the world will demand a life that lives up to his confession.
   Some years back, a leading American politician became the darling of Evangelical Christians. He confessed that he had been born-again. He was pro-life and opposed gay rights. He joined one of the right churches. He was a man of wealth. In the context of an important campaign, he was pressured to release information about his personal finances. He did so. According to his federal income tax return, he had not given a single penny to the church of his membership. He lived in opulence, but his record of being charitable was almost non-existent.
Jesus is quoted as saying “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
   From the day of the revelation of his finances, I knew that the politician was a fraud, and even worse. He had used Evangelical Christianity for political purposes.
   When Tim Tebow says “Jesus is Lord,” that means that all the millions he is making as a football player belong to Jesus. What will he do with the millions of Jesus money that is being placed under his stewardship? I want Tim Tebow to be the real thing. We need devoutly religious people in the public square. Tim Tebow is needed just now on the football field. I truly hope he will always be what he says he is.
                   THE END
The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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