After reading article after article written by partisans who neither understand football nor understand Tim Tebow, I’m taking a shot at it. Being that I’m a former conservative, a current liberal, live in Denver, and am a Broncos fan, I think I can offer some fairly unbiased perspective.
First there was this article from Sojourners in which author Joshua Witchger describes himself as “not a football fan” yet proceeds to write an article on football. http://www.sojo.net/blogs/2011/12/12/tim-tebow-gods-fantasy-football-team
Then there’s conservative Fox News pundit Todd Starnes complaining about all the “anti-Christian bigotry” coming Tebow’s way. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/12/12/why-are-anti-christian-bigots-so-eager-to-prey-on-tim-tebow/ Cry me a river Todd.
So here it is, straight up, for conservatives and liberals alike:
Conservatives:
Quit getting upset that people don’t like Tim Tebow’s evangelical message; in case you didn’t realize this, it’s pretty polarizing. I know conservatives agree with it, and that’s fine, but telling people who don’t agree with you that they will be tortured forever after they die just for not agreeing with you isn’t a good way to make friends. “We can agree to disagree, but you’re wrong and you’re going to burn forever.”
Liberals
Tim Tebow took some heat for “starring” in a pro-life commercial funded by Focus on the Family during the Super Bowl. Besides being completely cheesy (he tackled his mom!) the commercial really wasn’t provocative at all. Being that when Tim’s mom was pregnant with him doctors suggested that she terminate the pregnancy out of concern for her health, is it so unbelievable that he would actually be advocating against abortion? The guy wouldn’t be here if his mom had listened to the doctors.
Conservatives
Tebow isn’t being “picked on” by the sports media—it’s their job to say something interesting, that’s what they are paid to do. It’s like Rush Limbaugh, do you really think people would tune into his show if he said something to the effect of “Obama is a nice guy, but I don’t agree with his policies, but I imagine he’s doing what he thinks is best, even if I disagree. “ NOPE! Instead it’s something like, “Obama is a leftist, socialist intent on destroying the fabric of America and I hope he fails.” These sports media folks are, like Rush, entertainers first and foremost, it’s their job to say something interesting, and if it garners more attention, all the better.
Liberals
Tim Tebow hasn’t been pushing himself into the spotlight; he hasn’t sought out attention for himself. He turns down countless interview requests every week. He didn’t ask for all the attention, so cut him some slack. It’s not like he’s Lamar Odom starring in a reality TV show or Terrell Owens taking of his shirt and doing crunches in his driveway for the media.
Conservatives
Yes, it is annoying that he says “first and foremost I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior…” EVERY TIME he is interviewed! But it’d also being annoying if he said, “first and foremost I’d like to thank Zeus.” It’s not so much what he says; just that he says it OVER and OVER again. We got it Tim!
Liberals
Just a reminder, that EVERY time he starts off with that “Lord and Savior” stuff, before talking about himself he immediately thereafter thanks his teammates. And it’s not like he’s trying to go through the whole “Romans Road” with the interviewer (okay, only conservatives probably get that reference). Then at the end of the interview he tells the interviewer “God bless you.” Whatever you think about Jesus or God, this guy wishing divine favor upon someone seems like an okay thing.
Conservatives
No, God isn’t rewarding Tim with wins because of his “great faith.” Tebow admitted such after the latest “miraculous” come-back. Despite what his dad thinks.
Liberals
No, God isn’t rewarding Tim with wins because of his “great faith.” Tebow admitted such after the latest “miraculous” come-back. Despite what his dad thinks.
Conservatives
Tim’s a big boy, there’s no need to rally to his defense or assume he’s some persecuted martyr. He’s mentally tough enough to keep on going after being told his entire sports career that he’s not “good enough.” He’s mentally tough enough to lead come-back after come-back despite having the odds completely stacked against him. Brian Urlacher called him a “good running back” despite the fact that Tebow actually plays quarterback. When Tebow was told about the comments, he calmly replied that “coming from a really good player (Urlacher) that means a lot.” And Jake Plummer, no one else took Jake seriously, neither should Evangelicals. In Plummer’s big shot at stardom he threw three first half interceptions in the AFC championship game then was traded away so a Rookie (Jay Cutler) could start. He’s a nobody who’s trying to say something to get some attention for himself. Oh and those Lions players who “Tebowed” (Tulloch and Scheffler) have been roundly criticized for their actions (Check out Jemele Hill on ESPN.com).
Liberals
A few weeks ago Tim Tebow’s foundation broke ground on a hospital in the Philippines, where his parents served as missionaries and where he’s spent many summers. During his weekly radio show on 850 KOA, Tebow said that the hospital was “the most important thing he had done all week,” bigger than one of his comeback wins. Last week he called a sick kid and said again that it was the highlight of his week, despite yet another big win.
Conservatives
Stop anointing him as the “ideal Christian,” you’re just setting him up for failure; he’s human after all. When Christians anoint somebody, their inevitable failure just adds more fuel to the fire and makes Christianity look even more hypocritical to non-Christians. Stop anointing Tebow as the “ideal” Christian. People are not perfect, quit expecting everyone to be. You already have a Messiah, Tim Tebow isn’t it.
Liberals
Yes, he’s VERY Evangelical, but it works for him. The guy has some incredible mental toughness and apparently his faith is a big part of that. And anyway, would you rather have your kid look up to Tebow or Ben Roethlisberger? Tim Tebow or Tiger Woods?
Conservatives & Liberals
Tim is starring in a TV commercial in which he wishes everyone “Happy Holidays.” Guess he’s now a part of the “W_r on Christmas.”
I’ve heard a lot of respect for Tim Tebow on progressive talk radio stations because people recognize despite his strong beliefs he tries his hardest to be authentic and down-to-earth. Also, people appreciate all the good work he does in the community and in the world. I wonder if all the criticism of Tim Tebow for his faith is rather a criticism of Evangelical Christianity as a whole, for over and over again Christians have anointed some figure only to have the failure fall. And rather than being caring and authentic like Tebow, Evangelicals have been harsh and judgmental. Take Tim Tebow out of the conversation, the question Evangelicals should be asking is, why are liberals so “put off” by conservatives? And the question I’d ask to liberals is, what would it take for you to be more respectful of Evangelicals?
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