The Trouble with Tebow

All right, I hadn't planned to get involved in the whole football-and-religion thing. I personally believe that God is not a Republican (or a Democrat), and God is not a Bronco fan (or even a Steeler fan).

But I do have a God-and-Football story. Years ago, probably in the early 1980s, the rector of my mother's church was invited to be the chaplain for the visiting team at Three Rivers Stadium: the Denver Broncos. His staff teased him, saying that if Denver won, they would know he had prayed for them to. He replied that he planned to pray that they played well and without injury, which is exactly what happened.

Nobody seriously believed that the prayers of the visiting team's chaplain would or did change the outcome of the game. So why do so many people believe that Tebow's Tebowing affects his success on the field? After all, there are many players who acknowledge God on the gridiron - how can God possibly make all publicly-praying athletes equally successful? The very human system insists that some win and many more lose.

I also wonder if we've all forgotten Matthew 6:6, which says:

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. (NIV)

It may not be as well-known as John 3:16, and it might not have the same coincidental statistices related to it, but it is the complete opposite of Tebowing.

And while I'm on the 316 thing, check out The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's hilarious editorial on the subject. (At least I think it's hilarious, but I'll bet some irony-challenged readers are offended!)

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