Tim Tebow’s story is receiving national attention. The star quarterback for the Denver Broncos has even become a huge fascination to people with little interest in sports. His story has become one of the leading headlines this season. As you may know, Tebow is a bit of a polarizing figure. Lauded as one with great leadership skills, deep character, extraordinary athletic capabilities and the intangibles needed to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, still Tebow has many doubters. His critics question his dynamic and distinctive playing style and doubt that he will be successful long-term. Even so, the second year quarterback is 6-2 this season, which is an impressive feat for such a young quarterback.
It is not, however, solely his unique playing style that has sparked a firestorm of debates and intense dialogue. It is the collision of sports and religion that has been the impetus for intriguing conversations that have immerged in unlikely places. People in bars, cafes, online, workplaces, etc. are discussing the Tebow phenomena. You see, Tebow has expressed in many situations his love for Jesus as his personal Savior. Admirably, Tebow leverages the platform he has been given in order to exemplify his love and devotion to Christ. Some have even attributed Tebow’s late game heroics to God’s divine intervention, and they see it as a sign of God’s favor on Tebow, though Tebow has denied such claims.
Naturally this brings to the forefront numerous thought-provoking questions. Does God even care about the outcome of sports games? And does God intervene and uniquely favor His children in the sports world? If so, then what happens if there are strong believers on opposing sides? What does God do then? You see, the whole Tebow story brings up a difficult theological concept to comprehend: the idea of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. But that question perhaps is best addressed another time. For now I’ll leave you with just a few Scripture passages highlighting God’s sovereignty to help you process this concept (Matt. 10:9; 10:13, Prov. 16:33; 21:1).
My main purpose in writing about Tim Tebow is to raise awareness of the opportunity we have to naturally use his story as a conversation piece. This Christmas season, as you gather together with friends and family, perhaps Tebow’s story will open up opportunities for you to discuss matters of faith and what it means to have a relationship with God. Regardless if we discuss Tim Tebow this weekend (which seems unlikely, at least with my family!), may we seek opportunities over Christmas to bridge conversations towards spiritual matters, in order that God might use us to help share His story of redemption to our friends and family members who might be far from Jesus.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Ugly Christian
Over the years I’ve enjoyed the privilege of participating in numerous overseas missions trips. God has brought me to places literally all over the world. Every trip has been used by God to significantly shape my world-view. I have witnessed both the need for the Gospel in other nations, and I have also witnessed the transcendent nature of the Gospel to different cultures. It can be said that preparing for these trips is no small task. If you have been on a mission trip I’m sure you can relate. Training is a key part to any overseas trip. Interestingly, just about every team that I have been on discussed an idea called “The Ugly American.” Basically “The Ugly American” is a catchphrase that denotes the perceptions that many around the world have concerning Americans. Unfortunately, Americans have many negative stereotypes. Some of these stereotypes are legitimate and some are simply untrue. In fact, I have often heard from nationals how much they dislike Americans, yet how their dislike of Americans excluded the members from our team.
My primary desire in this article is not to draw attention to “The Ugly American” nor is it entirely about overseas missions. Rather, I would like for us to consider for a moment how many in our culture view Christians. As we do, we may discover some parallels to “The Ugly American” stereotype. I would like to propose that we have an ever-growing stereotype in our culture. I call it “The Ugly Christian.” Granted, some of these stereotypes are simply untrue and they are based on flawed information. Much of this is a result of the numerous negative messages about Christianity in the media. However, some of these stereotypes are self-inflicted. Even so, I understand that the message of the Gospel will always be difficult for the world to hear. In fact, Christ even warned us about being rejected by the world because of Him (John 15:18). And let us not forget that the message of the Gospel is often repulsive to those who don’t know Christ (2 Cor. 2:15-16).
Essentially this is a call for Christ-followers living in a post-Christian society to consider how we might be personally contributing to the “Ugly Christian” stereotype. Are there attitudes, decisions, passions and priorities in our lives that are contrary to the Gospel? May we find comfort if our faith repulses people in our society because the Gospel is permeating our lives. However, may the Holy Spirit challenge us if our attitudes, decisions, priorities and passions are contrary to the Gospel and thus negatively contributing to the “Ugly Christian” stereotype in our culture. And when we do fail, and we all will at some point, may God’s grace restore us to humbly walk with Him and demonstrate to the world around us God’s great and compelling compassion.
My primary desire in this article is not to draw attention to “The Ugly American” nor is it entirely about overseas missions. Rather, I would like for us to consider for a moment how many in our culture view Christians. As we do, we may discover some parallels to “The Ugly American” stereotype. I would like to propose that we have an ever-growing stereotype in our culture. I call it “The Ugly Christian.” Granted, some of these stereotypes are simply untrue and they are based on flawed information. Much of this is a result of the numerous negative messages about Christianity in the media. However, some of these stereotypes are self-inflicted. Even so, I understand that the message of the Gospel will always be difficult for the world to hear. In fact, Christ even warned us about being rejected by the world because of Him (John 15:18). And let us not forget that the message of the Gospel is often repulsive to those who don’t know Christ (2 Cor. 2:15-16).
Essentially this is a call for Christ-followers living in a post-Christian society to consider how we might be personally contributing to the “Ugly Christian” stereotype. Are there attitudes, decisions, passions and priorities in our lives that are contrary to the Gospel? May we find comfort if our faith repulses people in our society because the Gospel is permeating our lives. However, may the Holy Spirit challenge us if our attitudes, decisions, priorities and passions are contrary to the Gospel and thus negatively contributing to the “Ugly Christian” stereotype in our culture. And when we do fail, and we all will at some point, may God’s grace restore us to humbly walk with Him and demonstrate to the world around us God’s great and compelling compassion.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Fitting Response
It is hard for me to imagine what it would be like to have everything taken away, to essentially be banished from everything I cherish in this life. This is what happened to someone who was declared a leper in Biblical times. People with this devastating disease were quarantined and forced to live in leper colonies. Leprosy was a demoralizing, humiliating disease. This is the backdrop of the story we find in Luke 17:11-19. While Jesus was traveling there were ten lepers who saw Jesus and from a distance they cried out to him and asked for mercy. Having compassion, Jesus commanded all ten of them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they went on their way their bodies were miraculously healed, and they were released from the prison of decaying flesh and physical disfigurement. In that moment they knew that their lives had been returned. They had been given a second chance. Shockingly only one leper stops and returns to Christ. As this leper approaches Christ he is overwhelmed, and Luke describes how the leper threw himself at the feet of Christ giving thanks and praising God in a loud voice. No doubt this was a fitting response. Seeing only one healed leper Jesus responds with this poignant question, “Were not all 10 cleansed?”
Similarly, in a spiritual sense, I too have been given a second chance at life. Where I once was banished from fellowship with God and eternal life with him on account of my sin, Christ redeemed me. He paid my dept, took my sin, forgave me, and gave me new life. How can I not return thanks to Him? A fitting response is for me to throw myself at the feet of Christ, praise Him in a loud voice, and weep and rejoice over the new life God has granted me.
My prayer for the church is that we would always remember the significance of our salvation and new life in Christ, and that our response would be fitting to that reality. May we be like the one leper and not the nine! Imagine for a moment what our congregational worship gatherings would look like if we all came together with a deeper sense of our salvation in Christ!
Similarly, in a spiritual sense, I too have been given a second chance at life. Where I once was banished from fellowship with God and eternal life with him on account of my sin, Christ redeemed me. He paid my dept, took my sin, forgave me, and gave me new life. How can I not return thanks to Him? A fitting response is for me to throw myself at the feet of Christ, praise Him in a loud voice, and weep and rejoice over the new life God has granted me.
My prayer for the church is that we would always remember the significance of our salvation and new life in Christ, and that our response would be fitting to that reality. May we be like the one leper and not the nine! Imagine for a moment what our congregational worship gatherings would look like if we all came together with a deeper sense of our salvation in Christ!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Christmas Reflections...
Christmas is a season of joy, celebration, thanksgiving, and fond memories. Now that Christmas is over and all of the wonderful decorations are starting to come down, I have intentionally spent some time reflecting on the last few weeks. As I have done so I’ve become more aware of just how much Christmas has become a holiday associated with celebrating God’s blessings, and rightly so. It is indeed a season of great joy and celebration. As I process it more, though, I have realized that if we solely focus on joy and blessing during the holidays that it can subtly skew and almost overshadow the fullness of the Christmas message. You see, Christmas is not just a time for people who have been blessed and enjoyed a good year. It isn’t a time for only the perfect family to enjoy. It isn’t solely for the person who has everything. The message of Christmas is for those who are downcast, depressed, abandoned and lonely. It’s for people who are barely making it through each day. It’s for those who have been kicked while already down. The message of Christmas is for the dirty, poor, hurting, rejected, and for those who are grieving. In other words, Christmas is for all of us.
Perhaps over Christmas you did not have the luxury of celebrating with such joy. Instead you entered into the holiday season with real hurt and pain. The beauty of all the Christmas lights was overshadowed by the darkness of your pain. May I gently offer a reminder that Christ, who became God among us, did not come simply to offer you nostalgic Christmas memories of joyous times with family and friends. Rather He came with a far greater purpose in mind. He came that you might receive healing for your wounded heart. He came to fulfill your deepest longings. He came to offer you hope. He came to save you from the darkness of sin. He came to ultimately bring restoration between you and God. He came to be your Savior. Let us remember Christ’s words when He said, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).
Perhaps over Christmas you did not have the luxury of celebrating with such joy. Instead you entered into the holiday season with real hurt and pain. The beauty of all the Christmas lights was overshadowed by the darkness of your pain. May I gently offer a reminder that Christ, who became God among us, did not come simply to offer you nostalgic Christmas memories of joyous times with family and friends. Rather He came with a far greater purpose in mind. He came that you might receive healing for your wounded heart. He came to fulfill your deepest longings. He came to offer you hope. He came to save you from the darkness of sin. He came to ultimately bring restoration between you and God. He came to be your Savior. Let us remember Christ’s words when He said, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).
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