Be praying, not pouting about the firestorm surrounding Tim Tebow. And don't start hating on the Tebow-haters out there.
Yesterday, I saw the skit Saturday Night Live did about Tim Tebow.
The Chicago Tribune reported, "The skit, which has racked up millions of online views since it aired on NBC Saturday night, depicts Jesus, in sweat socks, appearing inside the Denver Broncos' locker room via a cloud and a heavenly shaft of light. His message to Tebow? Ease up on all the Jesus stuff."
In the skit, Tebow is being encouraged to "lighten up" when it comes to Jesus. And Jesus is presented as less than an awe-inspiring, holy God.
So, how should believers' respond? Personally, I am not worried about the reputation of Tim Tebow. He seems to be the kind of person who is not particularly bothered by criticism, who doesn't take himself too seriously, and who has an ability to laugh at himself. I am even less worried about the reputation of Jesus Christ.
Tim Tebow's reputation in the eyes of the world is in good hands. The scripture says, "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17, ESV). God Himself will vindicate Tebow.
It's true that SNL gave viewers a depreciating depiction of Jesus in His humanity. But we need not be particularly bothered by that. Again, the reputation of Jesus is in good hands. The scripture says, "God has highly exalted [Jesus] and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11, ESV). The very people who minimize the reverence due to Jesus will one day bow down to Him and call Him Lord.
Why does the Father exalt Jesus and defend His reputation in this way? The scripture says, "Though [Jesus] was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, ESV). The One who died to save us from our sins deserves our highest praise. And He will indeed get the highest praise from God the Father and from everyone else.
So, what should be our response to SNL's skit about Jesus and Tim Tebow?
Pray.
My encouragement is for us to pray for Tim Tebow. He is truly a target for the enemies of our faith. When He is mocked and ridiculed, so, in a sense, are all believers. We share in one another's victories and sufferings. We "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15, ESV).
Tebow's simple, straightforward approach to faith and football inspires me. His hard work on and off the field and his hope in the Lord on and off the field are worthy of our respect and imitation. Tebow is leveraging his influence for Jesus and is doing lots of charitable work, including supporting his dad's evangelistic association and building a hospital for children in the Philippines. Let's pray that he maintains his testimony and missional living.
And let's pray for Tim Tebow detractors, too. Railing against Tebow's critics is not helpful. We can't win the people that we repel with our words. As we live on mission in our world, we should never be surprised at the subtle and the not-so-subtle forms that persecution takes.
We should not be surprised when the world takes shots at Jesus and His followers. Jesus predicted what is happening to Tebow, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me" (John 15:18-21, ESV).
We should pray for all people - even Tebow-bashers - everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Why? God Himself wants all people - even the SNL producers, writers, actors, and fans - to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4). Their eyes are now veiled to the truth.
But I truly believe that one day some of the Jesus-mockers and Tebow-detractors will see the beauty and glory of Jesus. "When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed... And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (II Corinthians 3:16, 18, ESV).
Be praying, not pouting about the firestorm surrounding Tebow.
And if you want to see a great video about the real Tim Tebow on game day, check him out with an on-field microphone against the Bears.
Related posts:
Tim Tebow's Superbowl ad
Honoring Jesus Christ: Tim Tebow's Heisman Award
Yesterday, I saw the skit Saturday Night Live did about Tim Tebow.
The Chicago Tribune reported, "The skit, which has racked up millions of online views since it aired on NBC Saturday night, depicts Jesus, in sweat socks, appearing inside the Denver Broncos' locker room via a cloud and a heavenly shaft of light. His message to Tebow? Ease up on all the Jesus stuff."
In the skit, Tebow is being encouraged to "lighten up" when it comes to Jesus. And Jesus is presented as less than an awe-inspiring, holy God.
So, how should believers' respond? Personally, I am not worried about the reputation of Tim Tebow. He seems to be the kind of person who is not particularly bothered by criticism, who doesn't take himself too seriously, and who has an ability to laugh at himself. I am even less worried about the reputation of Jesus Christ.
Tim Tebow's reputation in the eyes of the world is in good hands. The scripture says, "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17, ESV). God Himself will vindicate Tebow.
It's true that SNL gave viewers a depreciating depiction of Jesus in His humanity. But we need not be particularly bothered by that. Again, the reputation of Jesus is in good hands. The scripture says, "God has highly exalted [Jesus] and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11, ESV). The very people who minimize the reverence due to Jesus will one day bow down to Him and call Him Lord.
Why does the Father exalt Jesus and defend His reputation in this way? The scripture says, "Though [Jesus] was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, ESV). The One who died to save us from our sins deserves our highest praise. And He will indeed get the highest praise from God the Father and from everyone else.
So, what should be our response to SNL's skit about Jesus and Tim Tebow?
Pray.
My encouragement is for us to pray for Tim Tebow. He is truly a target for the enemies of our faith. When He is mocked and ridiculed, so, in a sense, are all believers. We share in one another's victories and sufferings. We "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15, ESV).
Tebow's simple, straightforward approach to faith and football inspires me. His hard work on and off the field and his hope in the Lord on and off the field are worthy of our respect and imitation. Tebow is leveraging his influence for Jesus and is doing lots of charitable work, including supporting his dad's evangelistic association and building a hospital for children in the Philippines. Let's pray that he maintains his testimony and missional living.
And let's pray for Tim Tebow detractors, too. Railing against Tebow's critics is not helpful. We can't win the people that we repel with our words. As we live on mission in our world, we should never be surprised at the subtle and the not-so-subtle forms that persecution takes.
We should not be surprised when the world takes shots at Jesus and His followers. Jesus predicted what is happening to Tebow, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me" (John 15:18-21, ESV).
We should pray for all people - even Tebow-bashers - everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Why? God Himself wants all people - even the SNL producers, writers, actors, and fans - to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4). Their eyes are now veiled to the truth.
But I truly believe that one day some of the Jesus-mockers and Tebow-detractors will see the beauty and glory of Jesus. "When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed... And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (II Corinthians 3:16, 18, ESV).
Be praying, not pouting about the firestorm surrounding Tebow.
And if you want to see a great video about the real Tim Tebow on game day, check him out with an on-field microphone against the Bears.
Related posts:
Tim Tebow's Superbowl ad
Honoring Jesus Christ: Tim Tebow's Heisman Award
1 comments:
Rick,
Yes, taking a hateful stance is not the route. We are to pray for those that don't yet know the truth. It appears Tim is quietly drawing attention to the Lord. He's been gently being himself. There is more noise from others.
Thanks.
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