Tebowgetics
I’m a cynic and a pessimist by nature. Usually, if “everybody is doing it,” I don’t. I can’t tell you whether it’s my sin nature, my metacultural bent, or a regenerate distrust of fads and mania in general. And maybe in this case it’s my affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers (who, after all, have the immaculate reception against those ungodly Oakland Raiders in their repertoire).
So anyway, I’m a bit disillusioned with Tebowmania, and especially the idea of connecting Tebow’s success with apologetics and miracles. Can God do miracles? Of course. But he usually operates through (1) secondary causation and (2) providence. As we all can attest, God sometimes sends a frowning providence (i.e., the good guys lose and the bad guys win). And as for secondary causation, well, let’s just say that the Patriots, Ravens, Packers, and Saints all seem to have a lot more secondary causation in their lineup than the Broncos. Just sayin’.
As to tying Tebow’s success to apologetics? One word: DON’T. If the fact that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has revealed himself inerrantly in the Protestant Canon rests on a football miracle, then the Christian faith may very well end on Saturday.
For another (mostly) sound theological assessment from a rather surprising source go here.
One of the most powerful statements by Tebow on his reason for playing in the NFL:
“Here you are, about to play a game that the world says is the most important thing in the world. Win and they praise you. Lose and they crush you. And here I have a chance to talk to the coolest, most courageous people. It puts it all into perspective. The game doesn’t really matter. I mean, I’ll give 100 percent of my heart to win it, but in the end, the thing I most want to do is not win championships or make a lot of money, it’s to invest in people’s lives, to make a difference.”
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow