Tim Tebow is not the messiah

Gregg Doyel, who writes a sports column for CBS Online, says that Florida QB Tim Tebow might be the greatest college football player ever, but that Tebow's Christianity is not part of his greatness. Excerpt:

This one is really going to hurt, because I'm going to attack two institutions that have impressed me greatly over the years: Christianity ... and [Florida head coach] Urban Meyer. My thoughts on Meyer were made clear a few paragraphs ago (perhaps the greatest coach, etc.). And as for Christianity? Not to get too deep into things, but church has been a huge part of my life over the years. Done the baptism (twice). Done the tithing. Done the small groups and the volunteering and so forth.

But there's a quote from Meyer celebrating Tebow's return to college for his senior season that turns my stomach. Here it comes:

"There's the functional football player part of it, but we all know it's much deeper than that," he said. "He is so good for college football. He is unbelievable. When my daughter texts me in the morning the Bible verse he has under his eyes it's good for college football, it's good for young people, it's good for everything."

Sorry. Wrong. If Tebow were a Muslim or a Mormon, and Meyer's daughter texted him with Tebow's chosen verse from the Koran or from the Book of Mormon, would that be "good for college football, good for young people, good for everything?"

Of course not.

Tebow's religion is seen as good because it is the religion of the majority. But it's not the religion of everybody. It's exclusionary, and just because you share Tebow's faith, that doesn't mean you're right. I don't expect you, or Meyer, or Tebow, or your pastor, to agree with me.

But you're still dead wrong.

So forgive me, please, if I'm not ready to anoint Tebow as anything more than a great college football player. He is that. And he's a great young man, too. I'll anoint him that as well.

But the idolatry of Tim Tebow has crossed the line. You ask me, the whole thing is blasphemous.

Blasphemous? That's harsh. Tebow would be just as good a quarterback if he were not religious, I'm sure, but I find it impressive that at a time when lots of young college men his age are out, um, sowing their wild oats (I know whereof I speak), he's serious about practicing his faith, and open about it. From what I know about him, his character is admirable, and his faith is part of that. Given how difficult it is to stay on the moral straight and narrow in college, I'd be impressed if Tebow were a faithful Jew, Mormon, Muslim or whatever -- as long, of course, as he wasn't part of some radical faction (jihad, multiple wives, whatever). I think this isn't as big a deal as Doyel makes it out to be.

That said, I too cringe when faith is marketed as part of a Success-N-Life lifestyle package. Maybe that's what's got Doyel so worked up. He's got a good point. What do you think?