By Dr. DAN ERICKSON
If you follow college or professional football -- and even if you don't -- you certainly have heard of Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He is regarded as one of the most talented college football players that has ever played the game. He won both a Heisman Trophy and led the Florida Gators to two National Championships while being an outspoken believer in Jesus Christ.
Since he has become a professional, he has been highly criticized for whether he has the skills to be a quarterback in the NFL and even more so for his outspoken faith. He would be better thought of by many in the sports media if he would simply shut up about Jesus and just fit in. Many are dreaming of the day when Tebow would have some kind of moral failure so they can say, “Look see, I told you, he is no better than we are.”
Tim Tebow understands something these elitists do not: He was not re-created in Christ to blend in but to stand out. The best way to stand out is to give credit where credit is due whether you win or lose. In football and in life he has been a winner.
The criticism intensified on Oct. 23 of this year. Tim publicly took a knee after Denver completed a comeback victory against the Miami Dolphins in overtime. The justification for the criticism was based on the premise that one’s religion or personal views should be kept to one’s self and not be spoken about or put on display in one’s public life.
You may not be aware of this, but Global Language Monitor, which has become a keeper of modern usage of the English language, is now recognizing a new word they call “tebowing.” They define it as “the act of taking a knee in prayer during an athletic contest.” Tebowing.com defines it as “to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.” You can now send you own photo of you or others “tebowing” to www.tebowing.com.
I don’t think that Tim Tebow ever intended or thought that what he was doing out of his own personal expression of love and gratitude to Jesus Christ would become a movement of God. Would it not be great if true and outspoken believers of Jesus Christ would just start “tebowing” everywhere we go? Not just during or after a sporting contest but anytime. It would demonstrate our allegiance to the one and only awesome Lord!
What would happen if after a big sale, at a graduation of a son or daughter, landing a new account or completing a surgery on a patient, we would all just take the time to bend the knee where we are and express our love and gratitude to Jesus Christ. Without him we can do or be nothing. Why not make “tebowing” a way of life for all believers wherever we work, live or play?
Maybe if we did we would all have more comebacks in overtime. Imagine the possibilities!
