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God’s quarterbacks: What Tebow and Roethlisberger reveal about evangelical politics
Washington Post ^ | January 6,2012 | David Kuo and Patton Dodd

Posted on 01/07/2012 10:10:58 AM PST by Hojczyk

One of these stories is familiar by now — that of Tim Tebow, the evangelizing signal-caller for the Broncos. Tebow is a missionary’s kid, and he has a missionary’s zeal. The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida has been preaching since his dad put him on a stage in the Philippines when he was 15 years old. That’s why he can’t stop thanking Jesus in every post-game interview, win or lose, and why he’s happy to pray even when the cameras are trained on him. His name has become a verb, fans wear Broncos jerseys with Tebow’s number and the name “Jesus” on the back, and his string of fourth-quarter comebacks this season seemed, well, miraculous.

But lost amid this season’s Tebow obsession has been an even more compelling tale: the deepening evangelical faith of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The last time Roethlisberger’s off-field actions and attitude came under scrutiny was in early 2010, when sexual assault allegations surfaced in Georgia around the two-time Super Bowl winner. Although no charges were filed, he was suspended for four games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

This was a far cry from the player whose first brush with NFL enforcers was over the “PFJ” (“Play for Jesus”) he painted on his cleats in his rookie year, and who in a pre-Super Bowl interview in 2005 said, “You don’t have to listen to what I have to say, but I will always have the opportunity to glorify God in all that I do.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: evangelizing; timtebow
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1 posted on 01/07/2012 10:11:01 AM PST by Hojczyk
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To: Hojczyk

I’m glad to see Roethlisberger has turned himself around off the field, but as a Browns fan, I still can’t root for him on the field.


2 posted on 01/07/2012 10:19:36 AM PST by conservativebuckeye
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To: conservativebuckeye

I’m a Steeler fan and a Miami Hurricane fan and I would still rather my children look up to Tebow than Rothlisburger.


3 posted on 01/07/2012 10:23:05 AM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: Hojczyk

Liberals are real idiots when it comes to religion

A little display of faith and they lose their minds, and write articles about who God will choose in the playoffs...


4 posted on 01/07/2012 10:23:37 AM PST by Mr. K (Physically unable to profreed <--- oops, see?)
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To: Hojczyk
In the Bizzaro world of the leftist media, none are more politically correct than sportswriters. They despise Christian athletes and their public expressions of faith, particularly before, during, and after sports events.

Tebow likely will not become a Joe Montana, Dan Marino, or Drew Brees as a passing quarterback, but he certainly can be a successful throwback like a Joe Kapp. The sports (dead)beat writers and “color” men hate Tebow because he — gasp! — gives glory to the Author of our lives.

5 posted on 01/07/2012 10:29:46 AM PST by twister881
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To: Hojczyk

Its a wise rule of thumb to ignore what athletes, musicians and actors say and do.


6 posted on 01/07/2012 10:32:06 AM PST by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: Hojczyk

Why do I keep getting a picture in my head of God yawning?


7 posted on 01/07/2012 10:36:09 AM PST by morphing libertarian
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To: KantianBurke

It is even wiser to pray for those in the spotlight who have the courage to proclaim their faith, knowing that all the powers of Hell will be gunning to bring them down. Those kinds of personalized attacks can be more dangerous than football, or even war itself.


8 posted on 01/07/2012 10:44:31 AM PST by Always A Marine
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To: Hojczyk

Man, I really despise the liberal media.

Why can’t they just leave people alone?

In the world of the liberal media, they paint professional athletes as out of control social degenerates or religious kooks.

How about just reporting on sports and if they are good, they are good, and if they suck, they suck?


9 posted on 01/07/2012 10:46:34 AM PST by radpolis (Liberals: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy)
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To: Always A Marine

I don’t waste time dwelling on the activities of celebrities. No one should.


10 posted on 01/07/2012 10:49:23 AM PST by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: Hojczyk

We must all pray for Tebow and Benro... Can’t wait for the game! (Go Broncos)

And I’m also adding a prayer that the Wash Compost aka the White House’s In the Tank Newsletter would stop being linked as we get further into the election season. ; )


11 posted on 01/07/2012 10:54:54 AM PST by CainConservative (Newt/Santorum 2012 with Cain, Huck, Bolton, Perry, Watts, Duncan, & Bachmann in Newt's Cabinet)
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To: Hojczyk

Let’s not forget a lot of the original Americans came here for religious freedom. Our country is founded upon the Judeo/Christian value system.


12 posted on 01/07/2012 10:55:03 AM PST by yldstrk ( My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Hojczyk

Not what I expected.

It turned out to be a well written and interesting story.

Thanks for posting it!


13 posted on 01/07/2012 10:57:12 AM PST by airborne (Paratroopers! Good to the last drop!)
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To: CainConservative

With half the Steelers team either out or injured, including one of the coaches (burned in a house fire last night) the Broncos have a fighting chance tomorrow.


14 posted on 01/07/2012 11:00:19 AM PST by airborne (Paratroopers! Good to the last drop!)
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To: KantianBurke
I don’t waste time dwelling on the activities of celebrities. No one should.

I couldn't agree more, and could not care less about the outcome of a Denver or Pittsburgh football game. But when I see a fellow Christian ridiculed because of his public profession of faith, it is my duty and privilege to pray for his protection.

15 posted on 01/07/2012 11:01:14 AM PST by Always A Marine
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To: twister881

What has made me laugh are the hateful comments following just about every Tebow story accusing him of being a hypocrite. Apparently, to some people, being a Christian somehow automatically makes one a hypocrite. The real H8rs out there are the liberals and brainwashed masses.


16 posted on 01/07/2012 11:03:55 AM PST by ChocChipCookie
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To: Hojczyk

“...fans wear Broncos jerseys with Tebow’s number and the name “Jesus” on the back...”

A tiny percentage of fans have done this, and it has not been very well received by a lot of other Broncos fans, Christians and non. As for Tebow, his position is that Jesus is not interested in football games, but rather in people and their souls.

His head is on straight. And we should all be used to a few “out there” football fans by now.


17 posted on 01/07/2012 11:07:08 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (....The days are long, but the years are short.....)
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To: Hojczyk

Thanks for posting. It’s so great to read about a high profile Christian who gets back on track after making some mistakes.


18 posted on 01/07/2012 11:13:53 AM PST by wmfights (PERRY 2012)
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To: Hojczyk

Big Ben is me, or I was Big Ben. Go Steelers!


19 posted on 01/07/2012 11:28:32 AM PST by vpintheak (Occupy your Brain!)
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To: airborne

Wow, sorry about the coach.


20 posted on 01/07/2012 11:29:50 AM PST by CainConservative (Newt/Santorum 2012 with Cain, Huck, Bolton, Perry, Watts, Duncan, & Bachmann in Newt's Cabinet)
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