Give Tim Tebow Credit

Did you see the 80-yard pass by Tim Tebow against the Steelers to win the game 11 seconds into overtime? This Gator graduate who saw the boy play college football for four years in a row was stoked. After all the Tebow bashing, he just went out on the field and played the game... and won in a dramatic way.

Tebomania has struck the world of sports. The haters are all at work - "he has the wrong throwing motion," "he shouldn't be playing pro ball," "too much Jesus" - and they are harsh in their "speaking the truth." On the other hand, many fathers are looking at Tebow and saying, "finally, here is someone I really hope my son emulates in sports." No one seems to be arguing whether Tebow is sincere. He is the real deal. Of course, sports fans can't argue with the fact that he has led his team to the semi-finals of the AFC. Not too shabby for a guy many said would never get drafted, much less play.

He raises many questions. Is Tebow really able to pull out the wins because of his faith? Is God helping him win? Does God even care about who wins and who loses? I don't think God is heavily vested in the outcome of sporting events, but God does care about something in the world of sports. God cares about a person's character and heart. Christians are asked to "live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27), meaning to live honorable, sacrificial, loving, and generous lives. Christians are asked to love God and love people more than anything else in life. Christian ahletes, fans, commentators, staff, and yes, Tim Tebow, are all called to such standards. Does God care about that? Absolutely.

Give Tim Tebow credit. He is trying to actually live into that standard. He is trying to live into the prime reality of his life. More than a Heisman trophy winner with two college football national championships on his resume, and more than the starting quarterback for a professional football team, he is a follower of Jesus Christ. He is loved by God and he is trying to live accordingly.

I'd love to see him continue to win football games. I am unapologetically biased toward this particular former Gator because of the exciting years he gave us at the college level. More importantly, however, win or lose, I look forward to seeing him stay true to his calling to live worthy of Christ in public and private. In the end, that matters most for him, me, and you.