Does God 'Tebow'?

Why do we talk so much about tim Tebow? Why do so many people hate him? Would it be better if we were talking about another athlete beating their wife? Is it better that we are talking about a politician who has cheated on his wife? Or, would we rather be talking about another musician on drugs?  


God has used a person in every generation. Sometimes we say that the next move of God is not going to have personality attached to it or that it will be a grass roots revival. I get that concept. But, I don’t completely believe that. Because the scriptures do not give us a pattern that looks like that. God has used a person in every generation. He certainly doesn't 'Tebow', but, He is at the center of this phenomenon. 

One of the most popular conversations right now in America is the discussion about the Denver Broncos’  quarterback, Tim Tebow.  Tebow is a devout Christian and the quarterback who was called upon to lead the Broncos team after a terrible start to the season. The second year quarterback has now led his team into the second round of the playoffs. After several come from behind victories and a personality that is infectious, to say the least, Tebow has become the most ‘tweeted’ person on the planet and the most popular athlete in America.  

I’m sure that most of us understands what ‘tebow-mania’ and ‘tebowing’ is at this point in the story. And so, I thought that a blog upon this topic would be great timing. And polarizing as well.

I've come to believe in Tim Tebow not simply for what he brings to the football field, but, for what he represents. He stands for something that all of us deep down inside wish to be. Genuine and admirable, he is the guy that we all want our daughters to see. Spiritual and dynamic, he is the person that represents the faith that so many of us talk about but few of us practice. With the latest stats saying that 83% of Americans are Christian, you would almost think that we have created this persona because he is the object of the American Dream.

Let me give you an example about who Tim Tebow really is. Every week of the NFL season, home or away, he chooses a family who is suffering, dying, or injured, and flies them to a Broncos game. He places them in a hotel, will rent them a car, and pay for their meals. They attend the game and have a personal meeting with him and are often introduced to other team members. It becomes the weekend of someone’s life as they leave after being treated like royalty in the midst of their pain. Now, you probably haven’t even heard about that. No pictures or press.

One of the fortunate people who was a recipient of a Tebow weekend was 16-year-old Bailey Knaub from Loveland, CO. She has had about 73 surgeries so far and for a few short hours she and her family were guests of Tim Tebow.

"He had just played the game of his life," recalls Bailey's mother, Kathy, speaking of the OT win against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. She goes on to say, “The first thing he does after his press conference is come find Bailey and ask, 'Did you get anything to eat?' He acted like what he'd just done wasn't anything, like it was all about Bailey."

But, we know that Tebow isn’t perfect. And when we find out about a failure or disappointing moment in his life I’m sure the alarms will sound. Tebow certainly has been drinking the kool-ade that he is America’s top athlete and part of the American Dream.


"What does all this tell me?" Tebow said Thursday. "It tells me they have a lot of crazy polls out there. I hope people see I'm real and genuine. I hope they see that I make a ton of mistakes but that I always get back up and try again.


What I want to call to your attention is that we should all be praying for Tim Tebow. That God would continue to use him for the kingdom. And that we would all keep our eyes on Christ and not the created. Just remember that God uses people in every generation and He is using Tebow right now. But, the people God often uses are not perfect. They are all just people.