A recent
article in the New York Times entitled "Tim Tebow’s Gospel of Optimism" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/bruni-tim-tebows-gospel-of-optimism.html and the
response to it, has really forced me to go deep about my feelings about the
Tebow situation and evangelicalism in general. So here are the facts. His team was losing
when he took over, and they are winning when he became the starter. With the
exception of Green Bay, the quality of the teams they were playing at the
beginning of the year were the same as after he became starter. The facts that his stats are not good doesn’t
interest me. I have often said, “stats
are for losers.” Results are what
matters, but even more so than results are how we relate to others, are we taking
right actions in our professions. I
think Tim Tebow scores well in both of these areas. Now I have to say that not being a big
college football fan and living in Central Florida during the Tim Tebow era,
his followers and supporters can be insufferable for their god like praise of
him. It may be deserved, but that doesn’t
make it any less annoying to a non college football fan. But now he is in the pros, and even thought
he beat my Jets, and he often wins in unorthodox fashion, I have to say I
actually looked forward to watching the game last Sunday against the Bears to
see how it would turn out. I have to
respect the way he handles himself on and off the field, his competitiveness, his
optimism, and his wins (although for all you conspiracy theorist, do we really
believe that no offensive lineman on Denver held opponents the whole game vs.
the Bears). So as far as football goes,
I am glad Tebow is playing and winning. I don’t know if it will last. All I know is that it is fun to watch and it makes
for good entertainment (which let us remember is what football is)
It is how Tebow
handles himself off the field though that seems to bother more people, and I
admit that I have had to reflect on why that is. On the one hand, every interview I have seen
of him, he seems like a likable guy, with a good sense of humor, and a deep
faith. I am not opposed to someone with
a deep faith. He speaks to his faith, and how it has helped him throughout his
life achieve what he has, and he gives credit to God for all his success. Again, I would hope everyone’s faith could
provide that for them. I haven’t heard
him say that God is causing the Broncos to win, but rather his beliefs and belief in God
allows him to do his best and gives him resiliency and optimism in all that he
does. Again giving ones all, having resiliency and
optimism are all good things. I think it is important to note these
traits can be obtained in ways other than the Christian Faith, but if that is
what creates it for Tebow good for him. If
we don’t believe something is possible, then it more than likely it will never
happen, or we will not even attempt it. Optimism
doesn’t mean we should be naïve, and cant be realistic. (So I hope Tebow works on his throwing motion
and practices more with his receivers) Yes,
Tebow’s success (as the author points to) goes against conventional wisdom and
even logic. But we can learn something
from that. I often have values that lead
me in directions that others would consider illogical. Yet internally they create a wholeness within
me and my relation to the universe.
The thing I
struggle with in this story though is the exclusivism. The article states that Tebow has said that
heaven is reserved for devout Christians.
I have never heard Tebow say this, although it is something I have heard
many evangelicals say. When people do say
this I often ask them if they believe that Ghandi or the Dali Lama (clearly
holy people) are not going to heaven?
Some say they are not, and some do religious gymnastics and say, that
even if they don’t profess it, somehow, the spirit of Jesus is within
them. My religious beliefs lead me to
accept the right of others to believe differently than I do. I try to inform others about my religion as
well, as it has helped me transform my life and helps me lead my life in
accordance with my values. Due to this, I do not object to Tebow sharing his
beliefs. (Are there any Unitarian Professional Athletes though) So I guess the thing that I struggle with is
do I have to accept someone whose beliefs are, that due to my beliefs I am
going to hell. This exclusivism leads some Christians to cause others (even in
their own religion) extreme pain. So I must stand up and speak truth when
people of any religion use their religion to cause others pain. I cant control what others think, but I can
control how I think, and how I act towards others.
I recently
read a quote/poem by Edwin Markham in Eboo Patel’s book Acts of Faith which was
“He drew a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout,
But love and I had the wit to win
We drew a circle that took him in!”
So in
addition to optimism, I will preach the gospel of love, love even for those
whose beliefs are different than mine. I hope Tebow does well, and gives all
underdogs in the world a reason to believe.
But if Denver faces the Jets again in the playoffs, I will be rooting
against Tebow.
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