9-15-13 - Two Messages for Drew...or anyone else who wants to hear them.

This last Sunday (9-15-13), Drew texted me, telling me he couldn't make it to church. As it happened, I was doing a presentation for Sunday School that morning, and he sounded so disappointed to be missing it that I had both that Sunday School message and the evening sermon from John 16:25-33 recorded. So here they are now, Drew, just for you...I don't usually post sermon audios online, so this is one of your few chances to listen (oddly enough, it is also one of your few chances to ignore the message, too...so, there's that).

Sunday School Presentation on the Canon of the New Testament

and

Evening message on John 16:25-33

Consider this a late Birthday present, Drew, since I neglected to get one for you this year. :)

The "Holy Father" Needs to Review the Holy Scriptures

As admirable as some aspects of Pope Francis I's example are - forgoing much of the pomp and and self-exaltation of the office he holds: washing feet, living a poor life like aesthetically prior to becoming pope, taking public transportation - he is still guilty of the rank heresy approved by the Roman Catholic Church. 

Even worse, Francis has recently demonstrated a lack of understanding on Scripture in relation to salvation. 

In a conversation with Eugenio Scalfari, founder of the newspaper, La Repubblica, Francis had this to say:

"“You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience. Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.” (Emphasis mine).

He would do well to read the book of Hebrews again:

Hebrews 11:6: " 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Or,

John 14:6: "6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Story on Francis' quotes: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-assures-atheists-you-dont-have-to-believe-in-god-to-go-to-heaven-8810062.html

Tim Tebow, Worldviews, and the Cult of Celebrity

I like Tim Tebow.

I rooted for the Gators when Tebow played there, despite having zero interest in Florida football before or after Tebow.

I rooted for Denver when Tebow played there, although, admittedly I had more ties to the Broncos than I did to Florida.

I've supported Tebow throughout his career, but recently things have turned up related to him and his football decisions that bother me. (No, this isn't a belated, 'Why did Tebow sign with the Patriots?' post).

Tim Tebow has long been an icon for Christians who like football. He unapologetically wears his faith on his sleeve. He works hard to be the best player he can be. These are all things to admire.

Here's what concerns me: Over the last few weeks, since Tebow signed with the Patriots, the question came up as to whether Tebow would switch positions and no longer play quarterback. That's understandable. Tom Brady is the quarterback in New England and there is even less chance that he gets benched for Tebow than there was in New York or Denver - basically, zero. With the Patriots losing Rob Gronkowski to injury for the first third of the season and Aaron Hernandez to prison for a long time (presumably), Tebow could theoretically slot in as a tight end. This did not happen, however, and Tebow was finally cut from the roster.

Following his departure from the Patriots, Tebow released a statement on twitter thanking the Patriots for the opportunity. Near the end of the of the statement, he wrote:

"I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback."

Since then (August 31), word has eked out that Tebow has received offers from NFL teams to join them as a potential roster player - but not as a quarterback. Honestly, I'm in no way an expert. I haven't a clue how well suited Tebow would be to other positions in football at the professional level that he has never played before.

Here's the thing, though: At least some people (allegedly) think he's got a shot of remaking his career at a new position. He has opportunities. But he's turning them down because he has a particular dream, and those alternate suggestions do not fit his dream.

Now, I'm not a pastor, and I don't know Tim, but if I was his pastor, there's some things I'd want to suggest to him.

1. It doesn't matter how hard you work, not all dreams are going to come true.

As one analyst said, Tebow was an incredible college football quarterback, but he's not a very good professional quarterback. This is not a knock on Tebow or an attack on his faith, it is simply a fact. The chances at this point in time are almost nil that he will become an NFL quarterback - and you know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Psycho-quacks can blather all they want to about how you can be anything you want to be, but they are still wrong. There is a ceiling to everyone's ability in a given area, and Tebow has almost certainly hit his.

2. God's plan for your life is more important than your dream.

For believers, as Tim has repeatedly professed himself to be, our lives are not our own - we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Our goal is to seek out God's will for our lives. With Tim, perhaps God is taking him away from professional football. Or perhaps God wants him to turn the page to something new...for the glory of God.

Honestly, Tebow might have been given this opportunity in order to glorify God in a new position, whether in football as a receiver or a rusher, or in ministry.

3. Be careful to avoid pride.

There is much that Tebow might reasonably be expected to feel pride in. He was an outstanding college football quarterback, and nobody can take that away from him. For however much credit is due to him, and opinions vary, he took the Broncos to the second round of the playoffs.

But those words he chose in his statement: Relentless pursuit; my lifelong dream - That smacks of pride and self-interest. To be fair, Tebow is young, and he's had to shoulder a lot of attention. And for what it's worth, he has overall done a remarkable job of it. I can't imagine I would do as well in the same position, and I admire how he has stayed strong in the face of difficulties, despite many rooting for him to fail.


Perhaps this is reading too much into a few reports and a brief statement on twitter - but the simple fact is that I'm reading the same thing everyone else is. And whether or not Tebow is demonstrating pride here, and whether or not we're holding him to too high of a standard, it remains: People are watching.

He is a role-model. And there are young people who will seek to emulate him, both in his strengths and in his shortcomings. Unfortunately, the latter represent a much easier target, and they represent a target that most might not even realize is wrong - because Tebow does it.

So if I had the opportunity to speak to Tim, I would tell him that as a role-model for countless young believers, he might want to consider showing humility by trying a different position. It would no more be giving up than Jesus gave up by washing his disciples' feet in John 13. And it would be a solid lesson to those watching that sometimes God has another plan for us than what we might have wanted.