I have to say, I have loved the Tim Tebow story this year. As a football fan, I've enjoyed seeing an offense that you usually don't get to see in the NFL. As an American, I love to see a guy succeed that has been told he has no chance. (C'mon, you had to like watching the talking heads scratch their heads trying to figure out how this kid was doing it) As a father, I like having a guy I can point to that is doing things the right way for the right reasons. It's good for my boys to see a guy doing a manly thing like football and loving Jesus because It breaks the stereotype that you have to be a guy in a sweater and talk softly to be a man of God.

I don't have any problem with having heroes. The bible is full of men and women who did great things for God. Some led nations, battles and even revolutions. Of course the bible is all about Jesus, our true hero. But other then Jesus, all the other heroes in the bible are flawed. As you read their accounts, nothing is hidden. There is no marketing campaign in the bible, only truth. We actually learn allot about these men and women and God through their failures that are recorded in scripture.

I have been a Christian many years now and I have seen "Christian" heroes come and go. Many with lots of fanfare in the beginning, and then many slide away as time goes. Sometimes they just aren't popular anymore, sometimes it's because they messed up. What I have noticed is that as a whole, Christians love their heroes until they show themselves to be human, then we turn on them and find another new and improved one.

Like I said, I don't have a problem having heroes. It is a problem when we turn from cheering them to worshiping them. When we worship them and they fail....we often turn on them. We get afraid to be associated with weakness or failure. From what I know about Jesus, nothing could be more opposite of Jesus then turning from someone in their lowest moments.

Everything I have seen about Tim Tebow suggests that he is a good quality young man, an extraordinary athlete, skilled leader and a guy who loves Jesus with his whole heart. At some point he will disappoint. He might say the wrong thing someday, have a bad day and not be perfect, disagree with our theology..who knows. But he is just a guy that God is working through in a mighty way right now.

I'm not afraid to call Tim Tebow a brother right now, I'm not afraid to call him brother 5 yrs from now. If he loves Jesus, we are in it together, good bad or ugly. Maybe if the world saw us treat our heroes with compassion when they fail, they wouldn't treat them with so much contempt when they are succeeding? So I will cheer Tim Tebow and I will worship God.

Skipp Phipps

http://skippphipps.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-if-tebow-failed.html

Amen to what both of y'all had to say. I am a big supporter of Tebow myself. Like Skipp, I'm very very much into football and while I do find Tebow's style... a bit unorthodox, I cheer him on with everything in me. I hope and pray that his success continues. He is a fine example of what a man of God should be. He not only talks the talk but walks it both on and off the football field. It is my understanding that his work ethic is through the roof, which I have found is truly a great witness to those around us! Truly actions do speak louder than words.

Now on another note, Brady Quinn, who was Tebow's backup after Tebow became the starter, claims to be Christian and probably is but came out in an interview and bashed him kind of hard. It was rather shocking and the jealousy was clearly shining through and rearing it's ugly head. I have noticed this to be the case with many Christians, not just athletes. We can see a brother or sister in Christ get an opportunity we were hoping for and we get jealous rather than being happy for them and putting our own "fate" in God's hands. Humility my friends... that's where it's at. When we are humble, we will be the greatest. When we are not... well...

Quote:

Matthew 18: 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Quote:

1 Corinthians 10: 23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Amen! Henry