After Tebow’s Denver Broncos lost to the Bills on Saturday, the ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ host tweeted: “Wow, Jesus just f----- #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler ‘Hey, Buffalo’s killing them’”
Maher’s tweet led some to call for a boycott of HBO and is the latest --and perhaps most crude --in a stream of criticism about the religious quarterback.
Tebow, who was raised by missionary parents and readily shares his Christian beliefs on and off the field, has been on the receiving end of considerable criticism for wearing his faith on his uniform sleeve. In a recent Saturday Night Live skit, Jesus, (played by Jason Sudeikis) suggested that Tebow “take it down a notch” on the religious fervor. Former NFL MVP and Christian Kurt Warner also suggested that Tebow demonstrate his faith less in words, and more in actions. Even on the field, Tebow has been satirized, with several Detroit Lions players mocking his “Tebowing” prayer pose during an October game.
While Tebow’s success and outspoken Christianity have sparked some criticisms, others have credited his success to the Second Coming. As Sally Quinn explained:
There are a lot of fans out there who believe that Tim Tebow may be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I’m serious.
What if they’re right?
The idea of Tebow being the Messiah was already out there when the inexperienced Denver Broncos quarterback began winning for his team in the fourth quarter. Before anyone knew it, the football phenomenon — who openly prayed on the field — had led the team to win six out of seven games. It was only last weekend that the Broncos finally lost to the New England Patriots. Even so, Tebow had scored a touchdown in the first quarter.
People are wearing jerseys with his number and “Jesus” on the back. They are calling him “The Chosen One.” They say that if Christ is to return to Earth, a well known sports figure might be the perfect incarnation. Not to mention that Tebow himself is a Christlike figure in his morals, values, and the way he lives his everyday life. Son of missionaries, he says he is a virgin. He and his parents started an orphanage in the Philippines, which he visits frequently.
His pastor, Wayne Hanson of Summit Church outside Denver, said the Broncos are winning because of God. “It’s not luck,” said Hanson. “Luck isn’t winning six games in a row. It’s favor. God’s favor. … God has blessed his hard work.”
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