I don’t root for Tim Tebow**. It has been suggested that I ought to since he is an ‘outspoken Christian’ playing quarterback in the NFL. But I believe that rooting for an athlete simply because he or she is a christian is as odd as supporting politicians for the same reason; as if a common faith trumps job performance and competency. I would suggest that faithfulness to and excellence in one’s job is at least as Christian an endeavor as wearing Bible verses on ones’ face or doing charitable work apart one’s primary vocation.
As a Christian, I don’t feel a need to root for members of my tribe simply because they are members of my tribe. I want to support athletes, artists, writers, politicians etc.. who are good at what they do.
That said (and speaking of tribes), I am a fan of the Oakland Raiders because they’re local and because citizenship in the Raider Nation is McRoberts family tradition. Beyond that, my support of an athlete in the NFL (or in any sport for that matter) generally has more to do with the way that athlete contributes to their sport; I believe excellence in a person’s work, regardless of his or her faith, brings glory to God.
Supporting Christians in any industry simply because they are Christians strikes me as a kind of tribalism that pits “our” tribe against “theirs” and that makes me uncomfortable. It grates against the Biblical image of being salt in the world; salt enhances the flavor of whatever it is added to rather than serving to enhance its own. Christian hope for the world ought not to be a Christian conquering of it but it’s completion, redemption and fullness; that is a vision much larger than Christians doing well in the world. Tribalism detracts from the larger hope.
**This is especially true today when the Denver Broncos play my beloved Raiders in Oakland.
Amen. Couldn’t agree more.
P. S. Go Broncos
But CAN you find any politicians who are good at what they do?
Tony,
I think I find them pretty often, actually. For example, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier is excellent.
John 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Tim Tebow knows he is a child of God. God is with him at all times. He can call on God at any time. He never leaves him nor forsakes him. Tim Tebow is not ashamed to bow down to God before the whole wide world to see. In doing this Tibow is giving God all the Glory and all the Honor.
Praise God that Tim Tebow is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!
VIvian,
Thank you for your post. Are you implying that other NFL players who are also christians but do not display their devotion in the same way are “ashamed” ? Do you think, perhaps, there is another way to look at it?
Justin,
A picture was shown on my site of Tim Tebow and both teams on their knees praying before the game started. Not all Christians bow down and pray before the whole wide world to see. God knows our hearts. But there are those who do say, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. Romans 1:16
Some people display their beliefs in God in silence behind closed doors. God knows our hearts. But when you love someone and believe in them deeply, you don’t want to stay quiet about it. You don’t want to hide that person from the whole wide world. You want that person to know how much you love and respect that that person.
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work.
Romans 1:16
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8
Seems to me that what guys like Tebow does is in direct violation of what your savior very specifically told you to do.
Yeah, that always kind of bugs me, too.
I’ve been wrestling with this post for for nearly a month now. I usually jump right on with what you say about different things, but I need you to clarify several things before I am on board with this thought…
Are you referring to Tim Tebow as a person, with thoughts, feelings, ideas, opinions? Or are you referring to him as simply #15 for the Broncos? If it’s the latter, fine I agree. If he plays my Browns, I don’t care who his god is, I’m rooting for the Browns. But if it’s the former, I have to disagree with you.
As brothers/sisters in Christ, shouldn’t we all root for each other to do well? I have an older brother. If he got drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, why would I NOT root for him? I’m a Browns fan, but I would still root for my brother to do well… because he’s my brother. Is that tribalism? Choosing to root for my brother? Why is Tim Tebow any different? Tribalism? It’s football! You don’t have to be a Broncos fan to root for him. From a football fan aspect, yes I hope my brother’s team would lose to the Browns (though not likely!) but I would still root for my brother.
You compare athletes and politicians. I think you’re talking apples and oranges… or even apples and potatoes. Athletes are little more than items of entertainment, or commodities. We pay them to amuse us and entertain, like jesters. They’re nice to watch and forget about my stressful day, but beyond that, they don’t affect me personally. Politicians, however, actually affect change. Politicians affect my stressful day. So I may vote for an atheist whose views more closely align with my own than his Christian opponent. Mike Huckabee was a pastor. I didn’t vote for him. I don’t think I’m less a Christian because of it. But as a brother in Christ, I’d have been happy for him if he won the election.
You said, “As a Christian, I don’t feel a need to root for members of my tribe simply because they are members of my tribe. I want to support athletes, artists, writers, politicians etc.. who are good at what they do. “ Were you still rooting for the Raiders when they went 2-14 a few years ago? I bet you were. Why? They weren’t good at what they did. Richard Dawkins is a very intellectual scientist/writer. He’s good at what he does. Do you root for him, though at his core, he seeks to abolish theistic thought?
I think if people are seeking Truth, and using their professions to do it, then yes, it glorifies God regardless of their religious stance. I may even agree with some things Richard Dawkins says as long as it aligns with Truth.
This is getting way too long. Forgive my ramblings…
But I love you Justin, and I will continue to support you as long as you put out good music…
To pick a nit here – atheists like Richard Dawkins (and myself) do not wish to “abolish” theistic thought. That word implies that we’d want to see laws passed against theism.
While I hate speaking for somebody else, that’s not the impression that I get from Dawkins. I don’t think that I’d admire his work as much as I do if he did. Atheists like us want theism to go away, but we want it to happen because everybody has made that choice for themselves to abandon it.
Lance! It’s good to hear from you again.
I didn’t mean that Dawkins wished for laws to be passed against freedom of religion, but he’s clear about wanting athiests to speak out for evolution & atheism to support an end to theism. I meant abolish as simply ‘do away with’ which from every interview or speech I’ve seen, he’s pretty clear about wanting an end to theism.
My apologies as this post is straying from the original topic of Christian Tribalism…
I figured – like I said, I was picking nits.