When my clock radio alarm went off this morning, the DJs were discussing yetsterday's 11 am Eastern edition of ESPN's Sportscenter which was dedicated to Tim Tebow. During the show, the word "Tebow" was mentioned 160 times.
In 48 minutes.
The Web site Deadspin figured out this is one "Tebow" mention every 18 seconds. Go here to watch a clip. Warning: It's the most obnoxious thing you'll ever hear.
Then the DJs played a clip.
"Tebow, Tebow, Tebow, Tim Tebow, Tebow, Tebow, Tebowing..."
You get the drift.
Does it go without saying that this was an extremely annoying way to wake up at 5:30 am?
I hit the snooze button and immediately started plotting the murder of Tim Tebow.
Just kidding. I'm sure the man is perfectly nice. I don't want him to die. But I do want one thing to die:
TEBOWING.
This is in the top ten list of things pissing me off lately.
Why?
Because it's so hypocritical.
To take the act of praying and name it for a man seems to me to speak against all the things you "Tebowing" idiots claim to believe.
I'm not saying I live by the bible. If I did, I'd have been stoned to death more than 20 years ago.
"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20, 21)
"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20, 21)
My son would not be allowed in church.
And I'm not easily offended by anything, but, for some reason, "Tebowing" offends me greatly. Perhaps it's the hypocrisy on full display.
When you have a friend take a photo of you "Tebowing", when you pose and then say, "Did you get it? Does it look good?", when you rush to post it online, do you even recognize what you are doing? You are worshipping the actions of a man. In all that posing and boasting about your faith and documenting your love for a football player, you have left absolutely no room for this guy named Jesus who you claim to worship.
All I hear is you glorifying a quarterback. All I see is you posing for the camera so you can show off.
Celebratory prayer? No.
Celebrating yourself? Yep.
Celebrating a football player? Yep.
Matthew 6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Matthew 6:5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on the street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will get."
In other words, your reward is here on earth and that reward is a playoff win by the Broncos. Wow, your God sure is a good God to give you that win. That sure makes me want to go to church.
In other words, your reward is here on earth and that reward is a playoff win by the Broncos. Wow, your God sure is a good God to give you that win. That sure makes me want to go to church.
It reminds me of one of Shakespeare's sonnets in which he claims to make the subject of the poem immortal through this "living record of your memory." Marble will not outlast his words of praise for his love who will "live in this."
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death, and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes.
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death, and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes.
While you are busy "Tebowing" and pretending that you are praising Jesus, your Lord and Savior, you are sending a message about what you really love, too. The message is coming through loud and clear.
Note: The word "Tebow" was mentioned 16 times in this blog post.
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