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Evangelical Football Star Tim Tebow of Denver Broncos Targeted for His Faith?
Christian Post ^ | 08/13/2011 | By Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 08/14/2011 8:08:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has come under attack from sports analysts for being vocal about the role his Christian faith plays in his National Football League career.

Before his second professional season has even begun, naysayers are questioning his confidence that relies on his Christian beliefs.

CBSSports.com national columnist Gregg Doyel recently analyzed Tebow’s interview with Denver Post and said the way he equated his love for God in heaven with tangible rewards on earth amounted to blasphemy. The interview was prompted by reports that Tebow might not begin the season as Denver’s starting quarterback.

Doyel’s analysis angered Tebow’s fans. “Dude, your article bothers me. You know dang well that you painted Tebow as a religious nut-job,” complained one Daniel Liebman. Doyel Friday responded to what he described as “hate mails” from “Tebow fanatics.”

“I didn’t paint him as a religious nut-job. Tebow’s the one holding the brush. I just hung his art on the wall and asked you folks to take a look,” the columnist said.

“Your article on Christian faith is extremely offensive,” wrote another fan, Chance Jones. “I have forwarded my thoughts to many individuals at CBS Sports and will no longer be a customer.” Doyel listed the responses sent by Tebow’s fans followed by a statement defending his analysis.

While Tebow is not known to have responded to criticism, he posted “Joshua 1:19” on his Facebook page Friday. The verse, which reads, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go,” alluded to the charge.

Debi Albritton, a fan commented, saying, “Your faith and your continued show of faith even against all the naysayers is a testament to all Christians. May God bless you and continue to strengthen you against all the adversity you receive!”

Doyel’s article juxtaposed views that suggest “Tebow will never be a good NFL quarterback,” with his confidence in God for his success. “He doesn’t believe it. Which is fine… But check out the reason why he doesn’t believe it,” the sports columnist continued.

Then Doyel quoted Tebow as saying, “Others who say I won’t make it are wrong. They don’t know what I’m capable of and what’s inside me. My family and my friends have been bothered by what’s gone on, and I tell them to pay no attention to it. I’m relying as always on my faith.”

“He’ll make it in this league – for the Bible tells him so,” Doyel remarked. “From the outside it looks like Tebow equates his love for God in heaven with tangible rewards here on earth. And that’s more than wrong. It’s blasphemy.” However, Doyel claimed he had nothing against Tebow or his God and that he considered him the nicest person he had ever met.

Collin Hansen, editorial director of The Gospel Coalition, in a blog Friday, commented on the controversy involving Doyel and Tebow.

“I’m not sure if Doyel knows what blasphemy is, or the seriousness of the charge he’s leveling against Tebow,” Hansen commented. “Tebow could be saying he relies on his faith to withstand criticism and pressure, not that he finds assurance in his future as a starting quarterback because God loves him.”

However, Doyel agrees Tebow’s life has been “grandiose.”

“He was the best high school player in America. The best college player in America, and one of the most accomplished players – one Heisman, two national titles – in history. A first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2010.”

At college in Florida, Tebow frequently wore biblical verses on his eye black. In the 2009 Bowl Championship Series, he wore “John 3:16” on his eye paint, reportedly causing 92 million people to search the verse on Google. Later, Tebow switched to “Proverbs 3:5-6,” again causing 3.43 million searches of the verse together with “Tim Tebow.”


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: evangelical; football; tebow; timtebow
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To: FlingWingFlyer
I don't know which are worse, the girlymen who cover politics or the girlymen who cover sports. I do know that they are all loud-mouthed freaks who can't make it doing a real job.

This one tried both:

olb

41 posted on 08/14/2011 2:58:21 PM PDT by zzeeman ("We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality.")
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To: don-o
Has “pearls before swine” ever been more aptly illustrated?

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matthew 7:6

Tebow's a class act. The lamestream media will never understand those of faith, period. Tebow proved it in one brief interview.

42 posted on 08/14/2011 3:06:24 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: Alberta's Child; Common Sense 101
My point is that he's not cut out to be an NFL quarterback -- or at least not an NFL quarterback who would warrant such a high draft selection.

It all depends on the system. If a team is looking for a classic drop back passer Tim Tebow doesn't fit, but if they are looking for a QB that rolls out, or run a west coast style offense he might fit. Knowing that he is a Born Again Christian who works hard and doesn't run around with the wrong crowd makes him a better choice than a Ryan Mallet, even though Mallet is taller and throws harder.

The lack of NFL star QB's on your list just illustrates that the Heisman Trophy is not based on who is the best fit for the NFL.

The criticism that Tim Tebow gets from the secular sports media is no different then what happened to Kurt Warner. Instead of raising these fine men up as examples to young boys and girls they seek to mock them and if they stumble make sure everyone knows. It just shows how far we've fallen.

43 posted on 08/14/2011 5:44:03 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: SeekAndFind

Yeah I seriously doubt this writer knows what blasphemy is. He apparently regards ANY criticism of him to be “hate emails” which tells us know thin skinned he is. This is another example that we often see from the celebrity media where they seem to know just enough about the Bibel to be dangerous.


44 posted on 08/14/2011 7:14:09 PM PDT by fkabuckeyesrule
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To: SeekAndFind
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (2 Timothy 2:12-14)

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. (John 15:18-21)

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. (1Peter 3:13-17)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

The reality is this: it does not matter if you are a star NFL player or a person on the lowest rung of society's ladder. If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believed upon Him; if you are living for Christ and sharing your faith... God's Word is clear: you will be a target of Satan's attacks and you will be persecuted and attacked by "the world": those who are lost and controled by Satan and the Satanic world system which hates the Lord Jesus Christ and ALL OF THOSE WHO BELONG TO Him: See Ephesians 2:1-2

45 posted on 08/14/2011 7:39:11 PM PDT by Jmouse007 (Lord deliver us from evil and from those perpetuating it, in Jesus name, amen.)
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To: RoadTest

You´re right. So sorry.

It´s even on my ¨Shields Of Strength¨ keyring, and one would think I´d have at least looked at it...which means I really should more often anyway.

Thanks.

God´s blessings on You and Yours....


46 posted on 08/14/2011 9:40:40 PM PDT by onedoug (SARAH!)
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To: onedoug

“God´s blessings on You and Yours....”

And you and yours!


47 posted on 08/15/2011 4:50:00 AM PDT by RoadTest (Organized religion is no substitute for the relationship the living God wants with you.)
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