Community of Joy

Tim Tebow - Quarterback of the Denver Broncos

Second year NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow, is leading his Denver Broncos into town this weekend with a 4-game winning streak to face the  hapless Minnesota Vikings. Denver is in the AFC playoff hunt, but the same cannot be said for our Vikings in the NFC.  However, what may make this game the most interesting of the season for us is whether or not the Vikings will break Denver’s win streak and interrupt Tebow’s magical run as the hottest starting quarterback in the NFL.

What makes Tim Tebow such a captivating, if not controversial,  football player?  For starters, his stellar college career, including a Heisman trophy and two national championships at the University of Florida, captured the sports world’s attention.  But then, most football analysts felt that being picked in the first-round of the 2010 NFL draft was vastly undeserved and that his skills at quarterback wouldn’t translate well to the pro game.  To be sure, his style of play is unorthodox by today’s NFL standards.  His accuracy as a passer is inconsistent and his completion percentage is substandard.  Furthermore, his speed is not exceptional and his running style is not particularly deceptive.  But in 6 games as a starter this season, his record is 5-1.  His success on the field is inspiring his teammates, satisfying his supporters, and mystifying  his critics.  What is it about Tim Tebow that has led to his early success?    Is it his leadership?  His passion for the game?  His faith?  Likely it’s a combination of all these qualities, which some refer to as “the intangibles.”  Make no mistake, having an excellent defense has certainly helped him as well.

Time will tell as to Tebow’s long term football success, but winning in the NFL as a quarterback has created a public platform from which he speaks freely and passionately about the thing that matters most to him – his relationship with Jesus Christ. Tebow is certainly not the only sincere believer in professional sports, but he is likely one of, if not the most outspoken regarding his faith.  How do you feel on the subject of athletes or celebrities (or Christians in general) being outspoken about their faith? Feel free to comment below.  Also, may I recommend Vikings announcer Paul Allen’s podcast from his Tuesday, November 29th “Love Covenant” talk show on KFAN at  this link. P.A. is out of his element as a theologian (he makes no claim to be one) but the tenor of his commentary about the place of faith based communication in the public square is well balanced and surprisingly refreshing.

- MAJ

The public is outraged these days over the scandal that erupted in State College, Pennsylvania, on November 4^th, a place which ironically is called “Happy Valley.” A former assistant football coach at Penn State University was arrested on 40 counts related to allegations of sexual abuse against 8 young boys over a 15 year period, with at least 20 counts taking place while he was still a coach at Penn State.  These allegations are devastating enough, but the fact that one of these incidents was allegedly witnessed taking place on the Penn State campus by a graduate assistant of the football program in 2002,  reported to the head football coach, and then apparently dropped until an investigation was opened in 2009, if proven true, is mind-boggling.  How could such heinous activity be ignored?  It appears that the reputation of an institution, the legacy of a legendary head football coach, and a multi-million dollar revenue stream from a sports program were deemed more important to the university than defending the rights of a child whose well being was put at risk.  The University president and head football coach were fired on November 9th, presumably to stem the tide of public outrage over this situation.  In spite of Grand Jury testimony to the contrary, the accused assistant coach publicly denied any wrong doing on November 15th.

Let’s reflect for a moment.  We cry out when wrong asserts itself, particularly against the innocent and helpless, such as what has been alleged in the Penn State incident, and rightly so.  But in our outcry against the sins of others, are we blind to the areas of darkness and sin in our own hearts? Our sins may not be as scandalous or widely known, but have we ever made a poor decision that has impacted the life of another?  Have we ever compromised our own deeply held values out of expediency?  Has our Christian testimony ever been called into question by the appearance of evil?  Have the hymnist’s words “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love:” ever echoed in our own hearts?   We don’t have to answer out loud, do we?  Our hearts tell us what is true.

How do we, who at least on occasion exhibit backslider tendencies, find traction on the slippery slope of life?  Scripture is clear.  Simply repent and believe the gospel. Jesus came into this world and gave his life for sinners, people with backslider tendencies like you and me.  In Christ, we’ve been granted a status of righteousness, yet, we’re prone to wander off the path, view life through worldly eyes, make decisions from a self-centered perspective, compromise our values, and walk in wicked ways.  Yet, the good news is that God welcomes us back.  As we confess our sins, He forgives, based on the finished work of Christ on the Cross.  He invites us to stop moving away from Him and to turn toward Him and receive the grace of forgiveness.  I’m reminded of King David’s prayer of confession in Psalm 51, with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba in view.  In Psalm 51:10 he writes – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” As God performs His cleansing work in our hearts, He provides the traction we need to navigate the slippery slope of life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  May we ever praise Him for this great truth.  – MAJ

The year was 1100 B.C. and Israel had high hopes for Samson whose story is recorded in Judges 13-16. Oppressed by the enemy Philistines, the nation needed a deliverer and Samson seemed to have all the right stuff. A “freak of nature,” he possessed uncommon physical strength and the courage to go with it. His heroics are legendary. Samson’s bold, free-wheeling style captures our fancy. Movies have been made depicting his exploits.

However, Samson also had a glaring weakness. He looked for love in all the wrong places. His marriage to a young Philistine bride lasted less than a week. He consorted with a Philistine prostitute. He ultimately sold his soul, along with the secret of his strength to Delilah, a Philistine seductress. Subsequently, he was captured, blinded, and incarcerated in a Philistine prison. He became the object of their ridicule and scorn. So much for fulfilling his potential and living up to the expectations of his parents and the nation.

But just when all seemed lost, God, the real hero of this story, gets involved. Samson prays for one final burst of strength and God redeems his squandered life.  Samson heaves against the pillars of the Philistine temple of Dagon, their false god, and the entire structure collapses on the 3,000 jeering spectators and Samson himself, killing them all. In spite of his recklessness and moral failure, Hebrews 11, the faith chapter of the NT, in v. 32, mentions Samson as a person of faith, “whose weakness was turned to strength” (v. 34). This is a testimonial to the grace of God, who didn’t give up on Samson or His people, and who, according to the prophet, Joel, “restores the years that the locusts have eaten.” Isn’t it just like God, to surprise us with His mercy and grace?

Sometimes we view our failures and shortcomings as the final word in our lives. We think, “With everything I had going for myself, how could I have blown it so badly?” We beat ourselves up with guilt and hopelessness takes over. If the story of Samson teaches us anything it’s this: Before we gaze too intently inward, we must first look outside ourselves, to the cross, to what Jesus has done for us in shedding His blood for our sins. As we focus on the cross and remember Jesus’ finished work on our behalf, our weakness is turned to strength. God gives us what we need to live for His glory. It’s not about us fulfilling expectations or living up to our potential. Jesus has done that for us. Our strength is in Him.  Jesus is enough.