LOOKING AT IT ALL REDEMPTIVELY
One of the ongoing themes we see in the Bible is that God has redemptive purposes in trouble. A greater good that could come from Tim Tebow’s trouble is that all who call themselves Christian and Jews (not just athletes and politicians) might pause to reflect on their own self-righteous, religious behaviors. This would be good for people and for God.
When we look at the situation from God’s perspective, is really a good thing that Tebow attracts adverse media attention for his public displays of religiosity. He has become a poster boy for how not to be like Jesus. It is a sad commentary on the state of religion when people who make no claims to religiosity have more sense about acceptable behavior than people who do make such claims.
Christians who take offense at the scolding Tebow has received in the media would do well to pay attention to their own displays of religiosity. Church and ministry leaders in particular have a great responsibility for evaluating their public behaviors with respect to Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. They may not be targeted for public ridicule like Tebow, but as leaders they have contributed to the creation of the environment in which Tebow was trained, and encouraged, to show off his spirituality. He was a good student, but he should not be the only one taking hits for doing what is pervasive in Christianity and Judaism.
And after other Jews and Christians have removed the logs from their own eyes, they can make their apologies to Tim Tebow and begin teaching others how to rightly apply Jesus’ words to their lives.
Perhaps a more fitting redemptive outcome would be if Tim Tebow got real religion about his public displays of righteousness. For example, after privately repenting to God for being a spiritual show-off, he could use the forum he has to make a public confession and teach others about taking God’s name in vain. This seems appropriate since the scope of his sin has been very public. It would not need to be a big deal, just a few words on his personal website and Facebook. Citing Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:1-7 would be a good idea so people would know why he has changed. If he would then shut up, play sports, and do his praying and righteous deeds without drawing attention to himself, God would do what needs to be done to effect the redemptive possibilities he has in mind for Jim Tebow and other religious people.