Tim Tebow is a past Heisman Trophy winner and arguably one of the most celebrated college football players of all time. He is the son of an evangelical pastor and spends some of his vacation time working with his father’s mission in the Philippines. He famously wore eye-black with Bible verses inked on it, and has never been reluctant to share his Christian faith in very public ways. Upon entering the NFL, however, he became the target of immense criticism. The football experts chastised the Denver Broncos for drafting him in the first round, claiming that his unconventional throwing motion and ability to make plays with his feet (rather than his arm) would simply not work in the NFL. Earlier this year, Tebow was relegated to third-string quarterback which only added fuel to the already sizzling fire of criticism surrounding his projected inability to succeed as a quarterback at the professional level. 

Fast forward a few months and a struggling team with a new coach desperate for wins decided to give Tebow a shot. 8 games later, we are here, with the rest of the world talking about how this incredible athlete and polarizing figure defies all odds and continues to win - albeit in the most unconventional ways. It has truly been an incredible progression and one that has certainly been fun to watch.

However, something very interesting has happened as a result of Tebow-Mania. NFL analysts cannot seem to explain how Tebow - predicted by nearly every expert to fail - just keeps winning. But Christians (perhaps of a certain theological slant) assume that they have the answer.

FAITH.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Tebow’s testimony is great and his faith in the Lord is giving him the strength to stand up against immense criticism and pressure. But the idea that God is blessing the Broncos with wins because of Tim Tebow’s faith is deeply troubling. According to this line of thinking, God’s blessing is based upon an equation. If we have deep faith in God, then God will bless us with worldly success. Is this not the Prosperity Gospel just hidden under a helmet and shoulder pads?

What about athletes on other teams who have a deep faith and yet are not winning? What about believers in Iran who are persecuted for standing up for Christ? What about the members of the early church who suffered and died because of their faith? What about the oppressed and impoverished believers all across the world who are without food and shelter? What about the widow? The orphan?

How selfish and narrow minded of us, as affluent Americans to think that God will bless us with worldly success if we simply have a deep faith. Not to mention that this distorted theology sees God as a means to an end rather than valuing God, himself, as the end.

As the Christmas season approaches I think we need to be reminded that the Christmas story is about Emmanuel - God with us. Not with us, on earth, as a principality or power; but with us as a baby, powerless, born in a feeding trough to a poor, marginalized, outcast family. This, therefore, is the true nature of God.

The incarnation - Christ’s appearance in a life involving suffering and death - claims that God has to be like this. He (God) did not incidentally choose this path. Therefore, a god that many claim is rewarding Tebow with victories but not responding to the cries of the oppressed is a god that I want nothing to do with because that god is not The God of the Bible.