Separation of Sports and Faith?
Posted by David Wheaton | Saturday, October 31, 2009 | 9:00 am CT
Podcast: Download (8.9MB)
Tim Tebow, a Heisman trophy winner and two-time national champion quarterback for the Florida Gators football team, is a committed follower of Jesus Christ. The son of missionary parents, Tebow wears his faith literally on his face, writing Scripture references like John 3:16 on the glare-tape under his eyes. His works give evidence to his faith: he preaches in prisons, helps the poor in the Philippines, and is committed to celibacy until marriage.
What a great young man, right? Not so fast. Two recent articles, one in USA Today and the other in the Fort Myers News-Press, criticize Tebow and other Christian athletes like him who use their athletic platform to proclaim their faith.
Tom Krattenmaker wrote in USA Today: “Certainly, Tim Tebow must be applauded for the good he does working on his father’s missions, but he should be seen, too, as one who promotes a form of belief that makes unwelcome judgments about everyone else’s religion.”
Sam Cook wrote in the Fort Myers News-Press: “I don’t know how many more ‘God bless’ comments I can stand from the 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback … Somehow, we’ll survive without him displaying a ‘John 3:16′ Bible verse under his eyes … we separate church and state. Why not church and sports?”
In Hour 2 of The Christian Worldview this Saturday, we’ll discuss the “separation of sports and faith” and find out the real reason why these columnists criticize Christian athletes.
