The Right Scoop
Evangelicalism is all a bunch of poofy emotionalism that will die out soon. Soon, "real" Christians will no longer hide in their houses. Christianity is not about saving souls, or making money, or fueling Western idealism. It is about clearing out the "Father's house" (Walmart, maybe), taking all the clothes out of every store, giving five outfits to every child and adult in every country in every continent in the world, giving each of them a strong, objective education, giving enough nourishment and shelter for each of them so that they can put roots down and everybody in the world can become a helpful member of Earth. I denied "Christ" by denying my own flighty emotions for years, and now I am starting to become free.
You have really disappointed your fans in the Lord. We felt you would never cave to secular opinion. You were a bright star that our children could look up to. Finally a Christian athlete that stood firm for Jesus Christ, unwavering in that stance. You have failed these children and the many parents who finally had an athlete that they could point to as a true hero.It is so sad that you chose the world over the Lord, Tim. I hope you won't live to regret this weighty decision.
I don't think it's necessarily our business why he decided not to go. Sounds like a personal choice to me.
"I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those..." Why did you cancel then? just not to whom?
RS, before you throw Tebow under the bus are you sure you understand why he canceled? I mean what did he mean by "due to new information that has been brought to my attention"? In your post you admit that you don't know for sure what his reasons are so, perhaps he has a good reason, no?
Mr. Tebow, follow your heart, not the news media. McCain disavowed John Hagee in 2008, and look where that got him.
I love Tim Tebow for what he did at Florida, but I am confused as to how he has been persecuted. He was a great college player but he is a below average NFL quarterback. I've always found his popularity strange, because most Christians in our culture are ridiculed. What Tim Tebow just did was undermine the ministry of Pastor Jeffries. As Christians, we have to stick together when the world comes against us. You don't abandon your own when the going gets tough.
What if Pastor Jeffries had done that, ie, told the media nothing or that Tim and he were in private discussions about some changes in plan, instead of making a public spectacle about Tim's private conflicts? What if Jeffries had said to the media, "This is a personal matter and I can't disclose anything due to pastor confidentiality?" thereby not abansdoning his own?
and as I point out a lot on here Christ said "when they hate you remember that they hated me first". God wants us to be strong in our faith in the face of ridicule and evil. There is another verse, which I can't remember exactly, that basically states every time someone stands up to persecution with their faith, all of heaven rejoices. (something to that effect). It bothers me so much to see people of faith cower to media hype or peer pressure or what have you. No one is going to kill you. There are Christians in other parts of the world that are facing true persecution, and people over here back down if they think they will hurt someones feelings or be called names. There are people in other countries that face death because of their faith, yet they remain true to God. It's just like all those "cultural catholics" who claim to be Catholic yet they are ok with gays getting married, and abortion and all that crap.
What is the Lord teaching Tim Tebow today, now that he is washing out of the NFL? Will he go on the traveling evangelist circuit like his parents? He really doesn't have the IQ to be a QB in the NFL, much less learn to throw. Sorry, but he should be able to play humility into a large bankroll.
"Tebow did not elaborate on what that “new information” might have been.
But sources close to First Baptist Church tell Fox News the NFL quarterback cancelled his appearance in part over the uproar surrounding the church’s position on traditional marriage.
Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church, has been an outspoken leader in the nation’s culture wars – affirming from the pulpit traditional marriage and salvation through Jesus Christ.
The national media labeled Jeffress as anti-gay and anti-Semitic – charges that were vehemently denied by the pastor, the church and many national religious leaders.
Tebow’s decision has been met with praise among the nation’s gay and lesbian community.
“He was smart to cancel,” wrote Wayne Self, a prominent blogger of LGBT issues. “Tebow has never been a serious theologian or moral arbiter, but instead a popular evangelical Christian. But being associated with such a virulently anti-gay pastor would only tarnish his image.”
Jeffress told Fox News that he received a telephone call from Tebow last night informing him of the decision.
“He explained to me that because of things going on in his personal life and his professional career – that he really needed to avoid controversy right now,” Jeffress said. “We are disappointed.”
Afterwards, Tebow sent the pastor a text message saying that he wanted to pray about the decision before making it final and would contact him Thursday morning.
Instead, Tebow tweeted news of his decision without notifying the church – a move that caught the pastor off-guard.
“To me, the real issue here is the controversy this has generated,” Jeffress said. “It’s amazing that a church that believes faith alone in Christ is what saves a person and that sex should be between a man and a woman in a marriage relationship – that somehow those beliefs are considered hate speech? That is historic Christian doctrine for the past 2,000 years.”
So did Tebow cave in to pressure from gay activists?"
IF Tebow has gone soft on 'gay' 'marriage' his Christian witness is going down the tube worse than his football career. - BUT keep in mind, this is the media - FOX news and a LBGTXYZ activist talking.
“He was smart to cancel,” wrote Wayne Self, a prominent blogger of LGBT issues. “Tebow has never been a serious theologian or moral arbiter, but instead a popular evangelical Christian. But being associated with such a virulently anti-gay pastor would only tarnish his image.”
I would love to ask that guy "In who's eyes would it tarnish his image?" Because yours and the rest of the people out there don't matter. I'm sure God would have smiled if Tim Tebow stood up to the hate and persecution of him going there to help advance the Kingdom.
Yeah I read that but it seems people would rather attack me personally about my religion and whether I have been saved or not, and whether I have read the bible or not, instead of reading the information. That is why I posted the link! That was my effort to avoid a flame war as K-Bob puts it.
My conclusions were drawn from the reporting and Todd Starnes is usually pretty reliable but I did leave the door open for Tebow to fix it for me in my mind's eye. I hope he does. In all probability if I want to give the benefit of the doubt it could be he isn't for gay marriage but just doesn't feel like fighting that fight at this moment. Sometimes one does need to take one step back to get two steps ahead. That I can totally understand on his part.
There is no question that churches across this country and Europe for the last decade at least have been splitting in large part due to the issues of gays. I simply questioned whether he was a part of that. Many are and I think it is a legitimate question. This is a blog...don't we blog to discuss issues from all angles?
With this new info(if true!) I am indeed disappointed and saddened, having said that, what do we expect...when you are in that culture you adapt to that culture..that is why Jesus warned be in the world but not like it. I hope the news reports are wrong!
Let's not criticize. Tim you are going to have many chances, just keepp praying. We lift you up for prayer for whatever you need today, Amen.
I think it is not the criticism that is dangerous as is the fact that two Christians have backed out of commitments publicly due to media attention instead of the facts. Please read Dr. Mohler's insightful article regarding this issue.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/february-web-only/tebows-big-fumble.html?paging=off
I just read some of it. I don't know enough about that First Baptist church. I need to learn more before I feel I understand this. I did make one comment to Grtjag earlier that I feel strongly about. Thx P.
I've seen him mention and honor Jesus Christ countless times, I'm not mad at Tim Tebow, he had his reasons to cancel and for whatever they are I don't really care.
That's called idol worship. Remember the 10 Commandments? Thou shalt have no other God before me.
Looks like Tebow is your golden calf.
how is he raising TT up as a god before Christ by saying he's not angry with TT for his decision? Is it disappointing? Sure.....am I angry? No. I don't think Christ would want us to be angry with TT about it either. In the end of it it doesn't matter to me one way or the other as I don't even live in Texas and am not a fan of the Jets. Does that make me have idol worship?
Well it sure looks like something, and that explanation is just as good as any. She sure had an obsession with Tim Tebow, that much was evident.
Wrong. Jesus Christ is my lord and savior, not Tim Tebow, not even close, but go ahead judge me however you want, really ain't my problem.
After looking at granny Alice's Disqus profile, here's was my response to her:
Unitarian eh! No surprise there. Delightful to pick and choose whatever the "real Christian" smorgasbord is serving up.
And btw there Grandma Alice, when you come out of your basement long enough to feed all those grandkids you've got, do you serve them up the same liberal "political activist" sludge you're dishing out here? You might want to worry, however, when little Suzie says, I wanna grow up to be just like Grandma.
Go burp your acid elsewhere... Huffpo perhaps. That crowd will eagerly lick at whatever bile froth you're heaving up.
American "liberalism" truly is a mental pathology. For people who just love to talk about "hate", they certainly marinate themselves in it.
So it's come to this. Too young to do his own due diligence I guess. Got to listen to his handlers/promotion people/agent instead. Nothing controversial about Robert Jeffress and First Baptist, except maybe that he preaches the Word and is not ashamed to do so. That's controversial these days. Not a member of his church but I listen to him every morning on my way to work. I expect secular society to hammer on the good preacher but now it looks like that his fellow brothers/sisters are giving them a hand. Good grief. He messed up and I lost some respect for the kid.
Good point - possibly Tebow made a choice between a product endorsement (to bring money in for his family and ministries) and sticking by what Scripture teaches on marriage (if the FOX story is accurate).
If this is true, it's a bad decision on his part. Gay and abortion activists, like all other leftists, are intolerant, spiteful, punitive bullies. They will force him to ruin his witness then turn and attack him behind his back.
When are people going to realize more is at stake than playing a game. Tebow has been black listed plain and simple. His career in the NFL is probably over. The country is on the verge of collapse and people are worried more about an NFL player than Benghazi. People are more worried about perception than truth.
When the NFL started letting these narcissistic players strut around after every tackle I knew the old NFL was gone for good. The NFL that stood for integrity, team work and the love for the game is fading fast, if not gone already.
I want to know what information was brought to his attention. Was it something really bad about the Church? Until I know more, I will hold off on forming my complete opinion.
Only Tebow can make his own decisions and has to live with them.
Everyone needs to keep in mind the POPE himself backed down from criticism and apologized for telling the truth, so why put so much on the shoulders of Tebow?
To an extent I agree but Tebow chose the limelight and celebrity status so he has to take all that goes with it. He publicly proclaimed his religion and 'Tebowing' did advance his celebrity which equates to money.
If the decision was made because something personal came up then he just needs to say so. Right now the LGBT is running with his decision and using it for personal gain on their part so a clarification would be good. If he has a non-answer then that is an answer isn't it?
Why does he have to explain beyond the fact that he has changed his mind? This guy is an athlete that loves God. To have journalists or even nosey peers asking any further questions about this would cause me to ask them about their followup questions to 0 regarding Benghazi.
oooooo, and what pray tell would those consequences be, unfounded rumors? Until he decides if its anyone elses business, anything said relative to his motives is pure speculation and not worth paying attention to. Its a non story to me.
I don't know his reasoning but if it's to avoid criticism it won't work. As long he glorifies God he'll be attacked relentlessly.
Tebow is trying to hold Jesus in one hand and the world in the other. The Bible says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Tebow is a perfect example of a compromising, worldly Christian. From what I know about this particular church they are still pretty straight and still stand for sound doctrine and some Biblical standards. Tebow is caving from the pressure of the WORLD. The Bible tells us that in the last days some will turn their ears from sound doctrine. This is what we are seeing here.
I really don't doubt Tebow is a born again Chritian. He is just your typical, worldly, compromising Christian of today.
Some won't agree with me on here, but then again I'm used to it because I am a pastor of a Baptist Church that doesn't compromise the TRUTH. I hear it all the time.
I always try to remember the passage, and perhaps you can quote it directly for me, where Jesus said "when they hate you, remember that they hated me first."
I always try to remember that when I hear people blast God, Jesus and the Bible. One of my favorite passages.
Joh 15:18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
thanks, however He beat you to it. After I got up from the computer I was just thumbing through my bible and happened to flip right to it. Even His smallest works still amaze me.
Sorry Scoop, I have a different 'take' on this.
Tebow has appeared at this church before to speak. He says that he has some new information that has caused him to reconsider.
Unless he wants to tell us what that information is, I am inclined to believe that it has nothing to do with "politics" and everything to do with truth and honesty. Pastor Jeffress has run headlong into the political spectrum and with mixed results and mixed messages.
If I don't trust Jeffress to be the man of he says that he is, and I do not trust him, what would a relatively naive youngster like Tebow have to hear to change his mind.
Please keep in mind, that Tebows advisors are his parents and his older brothers. His circle of confidants is even smaller then Sarah Palins'!
Seriously, does anyone truely believe his pastor father, his mother and his siblings are going to LIE to him for some nefarious reason? They brought him up to be the exceptional young man that he is!
This young man goes out of his way to aid and assist others, and most often does so out of his own pocket.
Sometimes we see the ugly specter of politics where none exist.
Agreed, however it would be nice to hear from him that the reason he cancelled was not because of the LGBT community. They are using it for their agenda so to counter it by saying it's not because of them and his perceived "image" would be nice. He doesn't have to say exactly why either, just not because of them.
I agree with everything you say, VG. I have followed Tim's career since he was at UF. We've never seen him behave in any way other than what you would expect of a follower of Christ. If Tim is compromising his christian believes to please his secular followers, it is not up to anyone to pass judgement. God will take care of it.
I find it disturbing that a simple questioning of Tebows motives should generate, personal attacks on him here in this forum milady. Perhaps some here may do some indepth research on the "uncompromising Dr. Jeffress".
Scoop in his opening wrote," I'm not sure what his reasons are". That would have been the best way to leave it, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HIS REASONS ARE!
I do think Dr. Mohler's article may help clear up some things as well as the danger that may be right around the corner.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/february-web-only/tebows-big-fumble.html?paging=off
Hey Gent, I'm with ya on this one. From what I've seen of Tebow I tend to think he "has some new information" relative to his appearance and/or something relative to his hosts present position. To say this is a backdown on Tebows part is a stretch. Tebow knows how to take heat and knows which situations are worth being in the frying pan for. Appaerently he feels this situation isn't to his liking and I respect him for it, simply because I like the way he has faced his detratctors for the past years. Hey Tim, I'm a Tebow juice drinker. Haven't seen you back from any beliefs yet and I doubt you are now
I see where you are coming from but your scenario is based on the premise that his parents/advisers have good information.
I sincerely hope his brand of Christianity isn't of the kind that looks away and excuses what the word of God has clearly stated as wrong. Moral relativism is spreading like a cancer in this country and churches are not immune.
BRAND OF CHRISTIANITY?!!!!!
There is only one "BRAND" to my knowledge, Laurel, either you FOLLOW Christs teachings or you do not!
The rest that you refer to is either church theology, church doctrine, or some churchs dogma!
Jesus was quite good at speaking for Himself! Are you saved? Do you have trouble reading Christs words?
A church's 'teachings' add nothing at all to what the Master Himself has said.
You can only KNOW Christs teachings by reading them for yourself and by being saved in His name. An honest pastor will tell you that himself.
And P.S. virginiagentleman1 is not the only one allowed to stand on his convictions. If he is then that Constitution and Bill of Rights everyone so proudly claims to stand by are nothing more than rhetoric and empty words.
Nope. I did take a second look. He went too far and has no business questioning my religion and making that his personal mission because I questioned Tebow's position.
I don't care how long he has been around here, and most of the time I agree with him, but he crossed a line here and if he is the gentleman he claims to be he will apologize. I understand sticking up for Tebow, I like Tebow and stick up for him myself constantly! However there is some serious evil infiltrating religion in America and since Tebow didn't elaborate on why he cancelled he opened the door to speculation and questioning.
And yes in these times I question everything including those that deem themselves religious. How many of the so called pillars of the church have to fall in disgrace before people learn that?
Whoaaaa Laurel, don't take offense! virginiagentleman1 is beloved around here because he is gentle but firm and stands on his convictions. Please reread what he says and take a kinder look at it. I always appreciate what you post and appreciate your point of view, but that was too harsh and I stand with my Sounthern Gentleman.
And I pointed out that it is none of your business whether I am saved or not, what I read or don't read, etc. What next? Personal hygiene questions? Sex life questions? Are you going to ask for my medical records? I don't know you from the man in the moon so personal questions about my religion or personal questions of any kind are off limits and quite frankly rude.
Questions can be put forth as an attack...you know this because that is exactly what you did. I didn't call you a progressive but I did say that is a progressive move.
Many churches in this country have been perverted, Christianity included. Social justice movement is but one form of perversion along with many others. Have you missed all of the splits? What I was questioning, since I don't know, if whether Tebow belongs to a branch of this religious trend or not. If Jeffress did indeed do what he is accused of in the eyes of Tebow, and Tebow belongs to this type of religious movement, then that might be what he was referring to.
For the record I don't think Jeffress is guilty of anything except not being good at playing politics. My thoughts on Tebow are speculation only since I don't know what his deeply held personal beliefs are and where they meet up in the political arena. Or maybe he is just keeping this low key and putting the kabash on this due to politics and his career.
Unless Tebow tells me himself I can only speculate and since he is a public figure it is within bounds to do so.
Attacking you? Asking you questions is attacking you?
I am attempting to reason with you, make a point, not attack nor scream at you.
You say that questioning your religion is a progressive move, that it is unworthy of me! So, you think I am a progressive? Seriously?
I asked you if you are saved. Is that attacking you Laurel?
I think you know exactly what I am referring to. And if you don't then all of the screaming at me in the world won't change that you are devoid of what is going on in the realm of religion.
And attacking me personally by questioning my religion is a progressive move. It really isn't worthy of you.
And P.S. What I read in regards to Christ and the Bible is flat none of your business.
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