God’s quarterbacks: What Tebow and Roethlisberger reveal about evangelical politics

[madinmaryland]

The political world is once again buzzing about evangelical Christians. Former senator Rick Santorum’s near-victory in the Iowa caucuses and his ascent in the ranks of Republican presidential contenders have fueled this new fervor, which is leading to the same tired debates and conversations that we’ve heard about evangelicals for a generation now.

..snip

If you really want to understand evangelicals in America today, fix your eyes on Mile High Stadium in Denver this Sunday afternoon, when the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. The game will feature two star quarterbacks whose contrasting stories — one of zeal, one of redemption — reveal more about the nature, power and persistence of American evangelicalism than a caucus or primary ever could.

One of these stories is familiar by now — that of Tim Tebow, the evangelizing signal-caller for the Broncos. Tebow is a missionary’s kid, and he has a missionary’s zeal. The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida has been preaching since his dad put him on a stage in the Philippines when he was 15 years old. That’s why he can’t stop thanking Jesus in every post-game interview, win or lose, and why he’s happy to pray even when the cameras are trained on him. His name has become a verb, fans wear Broncos jerseys with Tebow’s number and the name “Jesus” on the back, and his string of fourth-quarter comebacks this season seemed, well, miraculous.

But lost amid this season’s Tebow obsession has been an even more compelling tale: the deepening evangelical faith of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The last time Roethlisberger’s off-field actions and attitude came under scrutiny was in early 2010, when sexual assault allegations surfaced in Georgia around the two-time Super Bowl winner. Although no charges were filed, he was suspended for four games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Read More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/who-is-gods-quarterback-tebow-roethlisberger-and-american-evangelicalism/2012/01/05/gIQAS6VcfP_story.html

Hmmm. So does this mean that Tebow is actually Roethlisbergering??

[Scuba]

1. Why am I always so skeptical about the sincerity of these guys? I must be a cynic.

[joeybee12]

4. Then I'm one, too...nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Those who wear their religion on their sleeve, for all to see, shouldn't be trusted.

Anyone who would want to get in my face about this should go back and read the parable of the Good Samaritan. It's one of the only lifelong lessons I took away from the church when I left.

[Condem]

2. Tebow's is authentic.

Roethlisberger is a phony.

[HuckleB]

5. To clarify.

Tebow is an authentic phony.

Roethlisberger is a phony phony.

[Condem]

7. LOL!!

Well put.

[Upton]

3. Roethlisberger is just trying to clean up his image..

while Tebow, like him or not, is the real deal...

[HuckleB]

6. Actually, Roethlisberger used to get in trouble with the NFL for putting PFJ on his shoes.

PFJ = Play For Jesus.

This was back in his rookie and sophomore seasons.

Tebow may not have found himself in trouble, and he may never go there, but there are no guarantees with individuals who go to such extremes in their belief systems.

At this age, they were both in the same place, it appears, however.

[1gobluedem]

8. Surprised to see the article state that Tebow is "beloved by his teammates"

Because after the game Sunday what I saw was him celebrating with coaches. Maybe one or two players came up to him but that was it. And when he's on the sidelines, he's usually alone. Whenever I've watched, anyway.

Not that I blame his teammates. I can't stand the guy or anyone else who is constantly proseletyzing or evangelizing in my face.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. In post game interviews they all seem to "praise" him (pun intended).

However, if he continues to get credit for everything, I am sure that will change.

[HuckleB]

12. They know their job in terms of PR well.

They're coached on that, just as much as they are on the field.

[KamaAina]

11. WWJR?

Who Would Jesus Rape?

Pity they couldn't both lose.