Tebow 'Jesus' Jerseys: Good Faith Promotion or Blasphemous?
What would Tebow do?
A new Tebow replica jersey is the latest fan item, CBS News affiliate in Montana, KTVQ, reported. But others are calling the controversial jersey, with the name “Jesus” on the back in place of “Tebow,” blasphemous.
Jason Homer, a native Coloradan currently serving in the missions field in Lima, Peru, said the shirt is “ridiculous.”
“I think it is ridiculous that people are creating Jesus jerseys with Tebow´s number. I like Tebow but that is just wrong,” Homer told The Christian Post. “I do not agree with the way they are using the name of Jesus.”
“It is just disrespectful using his name on a jersey with Tebow’s number.”
Chris Gaudreau of Golden, Colo., agreed.
“It's making Tebow out to be a god instead of an athlete. I'm happy he's a Christian and isn't afraid to demonstrate that, but for fans to hold him up in such high regard, perhaps comparing him to Jesus, is going too far,” Gaudreau said. “There are plenty of athletes who are Christians. Maybe they don't freely pray on the sidelines or use Bible verses on their FB pages, but he is being held in a regard that is probably embarrassing to him, as he seems very humble.”
However, other Christian fans think it’s a good promotion of their faith.
“I think it’s a good idea because it gets Jesus’ name out there,” said Sondra Simmons, a member of Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo. “I would think most Christians would be ok with it.”
"To me it just shows a cultural bias against Christ and Christianity," the Rev. Marcus Buckley of Riverside Baptist Church in Greer, Colo., told KTVQ. "It's not saying that he is Christ, it's saying he's trying to demonstrate and live that out and as Christians that's what were supposed to do," Buckley said.
The jerseys are just the latest buzz about the Christian quarterback who has been open about his faith.
Gaudreau said Tebow’s faith is admirable but the jerseys are not.
“I personally like him and the way he conducts himself, and he is a great role model. But, the jersey goes too far,” said Gaudreau.
