Is God winning football games?/ Ryan W

Note from Dave: This post was written before Sunday's game between the Broncos and the Patriots (whom I like to think of as "God's team").

“Seriously, there’s more going on here than just football.  This is God’s plan.”

“Of course [the Denver Broncos] are going to win; they have Jesus on their side.”

“How can you tell me that Jesus Christ isn’t winning these games.  How else can you explain it?”

These are only a fraction of the quotes that I’ve heard in the past days, following what has been the most improbable comeback win of a series of improbable comeback wins for the National Football League’s Denver Broncos, this season.

The Denver Broncos started the season with a very disappointing 1 win, 4 loss record, were last in their division and the season looked as if it was in the garbage.  After six weeks of intense fan pressure for a quarterback (QB) change, the Denver coaching staff relented and named the third string QB, Tim Tebow, as the team’s starter.  Since Tebow took the reins in week 7, the Broncos are 7-1, lead their division and are highly likely to make the NFL playoffs.  The turnaround has been incredible, but even more amazing is that each win has been characterized by Tebow playing horribly in the first three quarters, posting what are likely the worst quarterback statistics in the league and the Broncos trailing their opponent.  Then, in the fourth quarter (often with only a few minutes to play) Tebow and the Broncos do a complete 180; Tebow post statistics that are superior to nearly every quarterback in the NFL and the Broncos pull out a come-from-behind, heart stopping victory.

A brief background on Tebow - he grew-up as a son of missionaries and throughout his success as a quarterback, which includes winning an NCAA National Championship and Heisman Trophy at the University of Florida, he has always professed a strong faith in Jesus as Lord.  Tebow is very public about his faith, including praying on the sideline, writing Bible verse references on his eye black in college, and of course, thanking Jesus for his blessings after every football game. 

Tebow’s outspoken faith has garnered a lot of reaction, both positive and negative, as you might assume.  All season long, Tebow has been an extremely divisive figure, even amongst Bronco fans.  There is a pro-Tebow group who love his outspoken and honest profession of faith, find no fault in him, and support his every move (even when playing poorly).  And, there is the anti-Tebow group who hate his flaunting of faith, ridicule his ability as a quarterback (even when playing well) and rabidly discredit anything good about him.

The Broncos’ turnaround and the astonishing manner in which each game has been won is vexing the national sports media and sports fans, alike. Interestingly, I’ve observed a sort of transformation of most sports media in the anti-Tebow group that seems to be taking place.  What began as outright anger and contempt for Tebow, has mostly melded into a favorable regard for the Denver QB.  Televised proclamations about Tebow have transitioned, week-by-week, with statements trending from  “Tebow’s enthusiasm helps the team, but he still stinks.” to “Tebow is actually playing ok.” to “Maybe he is, indeed, the reason for this team’s success.”

The latest comments from sports fans (I’m finally getting to the point of this post…) have been most intriguing, to me.  This past week has shown evidence of outright questioning whether God is actually helping Tebow and the Broncos win football games.  What began as sarcastic jokes about God winning football games, weeks ago, have taken a more serious tone with some honest and sincere reflection. 

Here is a written excerpt (or watch the clip above) from NBC host Bob Costas’ sentiments, following NBC’s Sunday night football game:

And the truth is, there’s nobody else quite like Tebow. No fewer than five of his seven victories have featured late fourth quarter comebacks. Approaching — okay, we’ll say it — the miraculous.

Again today, Tebow did next to nothing until the waning moments, and then, down 10-0 with two minutes left, he throws a touchdown pass, and the Broncos tie it at the gun on a 59-yard field goal. And then win it in overtime on a 51 yarder. The combination of Denver’s continuing late heroics, and today, the Bears otherwise unexplainable errors, is enough to have some at least suspect divine intervention. Except that Tebow, whose sincere faith cannot be questioned, and should be respected, also has the good sense, and good grace, to make it clear he does not believe God takes a hand in the outcome of games.

Most of us are good with that. Otherwise, how to explain what happens when there are equal numbers of believers on either side. Or why so many of those same believers came up empty facing Sandy Koufax. Or hit the deck against Muhammad Ali. Or why the almighty wouldn’t have better things to do.

The quote from Costas, along with literally hours of Tebow discussion that I’ve been involved in this past week, has revealed that the whole Tebow frenzy has people thinking in new ways.  The phenomenon has also bled outside of American football and is the topic of conversation around the world and in non-sports venues.

What’s been most intriguing to me, about all of this, is that each of the quotes that started this post came from people who would not describe themselves as religious types.  Two of the quotes are from people who would certainly not describe themselves as “Christian” or “followers of Jesus” and in fact, if I had to guess, I’d say that they’d describe themselves as anti all of that Jesus stuff. 

 Regardless of what is going on in Denver, and whatever may or may not be true about God winning football games, I find it great that the amount of God chatter has increased and that people from all walks of life are talking about, what boils down to, God’s role and activity in the world.  Very cool stuff, from my perspective.

So, that brings me to my questions for you all:

1. Is God intervening in football games?
   
   
2. What are your thoughts on the increased fan/media discussion of faith and God?

Request: let’s not turn this into a Tebow debate, please ☺

And, if you haven’t taken a pic of yourself “Tebow-ing” you should really try – it’s a ton of fun.  Go Broncos!

 

Comments

[steven hamilton]

What is intriguing to me is that it seems to be the people and sportswriters who get to interact with Tebow (and develop some sort of relationship with him) that are turning opinion to such a positive stance on how he lives his profession, not just the technicalities of what his profession of faith is...and it's the people who don't know him that take pot-shots at him. I think this excerpt from peter King's MMQB is right to the point:

I think NFL.com writer Jeff Darlington's piece out of Denver last night gives you a good view into Tim Tebow that you may have heard about but didn't know how it worked. Each game, home and road, Tebow has as his guest a young person who has gone through some medical or personal struggle, and win or lose, he spends 15 to 30 minutes with the person and his/her family afterward. On Sunday, after the loss to New England, Tebow met with brain-tumor victim Kelly Faughnan and her family. While Tebow and Kelly spoke, her father said to Darlington: "I can't begin to tell you the impact he's had on my daughter. She's very positive, and she tries so hard, but she's had a struggle. Tim Tebow has built her self-confidence up so much -- taught her to believe in herself -- that when I see people criticize him, I'm just dumbfounded. I don't get it. It's almost incomprehensible to me. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to see an athlete use his position and platform to do good for people." And that's Tebow. Forget his religion, forget his politics (if he has any). He's a good person who does good things. He's not the only one, and we in the media are remiss pointing out what other players do. But that shouldn't be a criticism of Tebow. I've found him genuine, as the dad says.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/12/19/Week15/index.html#ixzz1h0TXEXtz

[Jeff]

Here's what I like about the Tebow thing. It's fascinating, befuddling, and doesn't make any sense, and yet it can't help but make you smile (unless you are a Bears fan, I suppose). There's no simple way to interpret it. So, if only in that sense, it sounds kind of like a God thing.

And, it would be typically East-Coast elitist for the Patriots to douse the whole thing in grim reality.

j

[Dave Schmelzer]

Last week some of you mentioned Chuck Klosterman's philosophical take on Tebow at Grantland.com. Today features a virulently negative take at Grantland by Charles P. Pierce that, perhaps, scores a few hits. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7369021/fair-game

[Prashant]

I came to post Charlie Pierce's Grantland article but Dave beat me to it. It didn't strike me as virulently negative about Tebow - more about what Pierce describes as "the great national dumbshow that is our culture war". I largely agree with Pierce.

With any publicly religious person, there's always a gap between what they believe, and what we think they believe. In so far as my perception of Tebow's beliefs hold true, I find a lot of them rather ungodly, so I tend to think God would be unlikely to advance his cause. But what do I know.

I'm generally uninterested in even considering if God intervenes in sports, because it seems obvious that none of us will know the answer any time soon. A more interesting question to me is whether sports teams eventually come to reflect the prevailing spiritual dynamic in their city/country/college/club. Was there some sort of spiritual shift in New England in 2004, or in the years leading up?

Oh, and GO PATS!!!!!

[Prashant]

I meant to add a paragraph where I agree with Steven's point about Tebow working with sick kids. Religion apart, that is great to hear about.

[Brandt Gillespie]

Reading the thoughts on God's interest / non-interest in sporting activity made me think of a little video I shot with Gary Stratton back in 2002. The only thing that I could find left on my old computer was this grainy copy compressed when video compression was sort of starting, emphasis on "sort of." But I thought that this little story / vision / dream voices quite well how God can use different ways to gain our attention. Check it out, if you want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96RhoVpS8yA

[steven hamilton]

I'm sure you all have seen the SNL skit with tebow and Jesus, turns out Jesus is waay cooler (and thinks about stretching before a game just as much as praying before the game) than most people thought:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/311565/saturday-night-live-tebow

[Joe]

In response to the first question: Is God intervening in football games? My first thought: Why not? :)

Ok, I'm being a little facetious but at the same time, if I believe God is actively "doing" stuff all over the world even in my personal life, why not in sports just like in arts or media or any other sphere of life? While I wouldn't say: "God is helping Tebow to win football games," is it out of the realm of possibility that God is involved in some way?

"Tebow-mania" is generating so much intense, passionate talk about Jesus, spirituality, the line between private vs. public faith, etc. which I personally find to be a good thing.

There have been other sports figures who have expressed their faith publicly before but none (as far as I remember) have generated the amount of passionate debate as Tebow. Is it the fact that he was never supposed to make it at the pro-level as a quarterback yet seems to defy the odds and his critics? Is it all his miraculous comebacks which have an almost storybook/movie quality to it? Is it because he actually seems pretty genuine in his beliefs (whether or not you agree with them) and there's actually no black mark on his character that seems to draw out both passionate support and criticism? Maybe it's a combination of all those?

I personally think it's hilarious that a Jewish person started a website called tebowing.com which shows pictures of people all over the world kneeling down in prayer. Whether or not they're sincere or mocking, I tend to think it's a good thing to bring attention to prayer.

Maybe the simple explanation is that God is using the whole Tebow thing to bring attention to Jesus, and He's doing it in an unusual, out of the box way.

[Joe]

BTW, I'm still a Pats fan and was rooting for the Pats when they played the broncos! Although in my heart, I did want Tebow to do well, but I wanted to the Pats to win!

[Wayde]

A referee was giving a couple of tough boxers the pre match speech, “Now the good Lord does not care who wins this fight,” he told them in a gruff authoritative voice, “but he does want to see a good one, so let’s get it on. No eye gouging, fish hooking or blows below the belt!”
I tell this story often as this is not the first time we have prayed for our football team. “Oh God don’t let the Broncos get into another Super Bowl, I can’t handle another loss like that.” That one from the pre Super Bowl win years.
Where I run into problems with this conversation is with the idea of ‘Who is blessed’. As a pastor with personal hospice experience counseling a family in hospice about the will of God,(while in lighter moments wondering what the score is) the question is sometimes the elephant in the room. Why does one guy get to run around playing a game and be a millionaire, while one kid after a tough illness has to go to heaven early? Or, To load down a kid in a wheelchair with a bunch of NFL gear and send him home seem short of the mark. What he dreams of is to run around and be a normal kid. I know it is a buzz kill to think like this but here is where I go with it. To the parents I say, ‘ It is ours to bear this with as much grace and dignity as we can, thereby showing faith in what we believe, that we will see them in the next life and they will be whole.’ To the kid I usually tell them that in the next life you get to run around and be a millionaire quarterback and the other guy gets to own a wheelchair. (sorry Tim) This usually get a chuckle out of the kid, not sure why.
We all have to try and be the best we can be. That’s all, connect and find out what it is that you are supposed to do and be with the talents that you have been given. Is it all together possible that Tim Tebow was supposed to ‘pass’ on the millionaire quarterback gig and be a minster of some sort. Now that would be a different sort of witness,,,,,,, “I want to thank the NFL for their interest in me but I have decided to pass on becoming a professional football player and follow a dream I have of serving the people of South Florida, thank you and God bless.”

[Brent]

Late to the convo here, but I have to chime in since there's a bronze statue of Tim Tebow about a hundred yards from my office (I'm a Univ of Florida professor). We watched the guy for four years here before he went to the NFL. Pretty much nothing has changed. Tim has always been (i) a completely sincere guy who stands on his convictions (which happen to be evangelical Christianity), (ii) extremely strong physically and strong-willed mentally, and (iii) lacking in technical skill. There's a reason why his bronze statue is running the ball while the two next to him (Spurrier and Weurffel) are in passing stance.

The NFL, I think, is not as used to seeing this kind of quarterback - one who relies more on his physical strength than skill and who actually prefers to run the ball - and that surprise is probably more responsible than anything for his moderate success. (it is also his chief limitation - he really does throw like a junior varsity middle schooler)

As for his public faith - that has always been there as well. But it has always gone beyond his specific Christian beliefs to something more personal. For example, in his senior year, I recall a CBS sportcaster saying sincerely on national TV that 'just spending a little time with him makes you a better person.' This is not an uncommon sentiment amongst those who know him. I do think its awful he's gotten pulled into the culture wars (and he never should have done that FF ad), but hey, its a dark world and we need our heros and as long as he's not shoving his faith down our throats, I think we could do a good bit worse than Tebow.