Tim Tebow 316

The Denver Broncos were the underdogs in their wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Broncos won, in miraculous fashion.

It was an overtime victory made in heaven.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

From the Washington Post:

The Denver Broncos’ playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night was unlikely enough, but Tim Tebow’s passing yardage — the Christian quarterback threw 316 yards — sent commentators over the edge. The Associated Press reported that he also averaged 31.6 yards per completion. The religious connotations to John 3:16, a famous Bible verse, were too much for many to chalk up to chance.

For the true believers, it was no coincidence.

Tebow has said previously that the Bible verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” is his favorite.

...The Christian athlete has faced repeated criticism during this NFL season for wearing his faith on his sleeve. Bill Maher criticized Tebow (and Jesus) in a controversial Tweet after a Denver loss, and “Saturday Night Live” mocked the quarterback in a skit in which Jesus suggested that the quarterback “take it down a notch.”

I'm a Christian. I'm Catholic.

I believe that Tim Tebow's stats on Sunday were a coincidence.

It's a remarkable coincidence, but a coincidence nonetheless.

I don't think God delivered the victory to the Broncos. I don't think God went out of his way to send a message to the world by having Tebow throw for 316 yards and an average of 31.6 yards per completion.

Stuff like this happens. It's fun when it does, but it stops there.

Tim Tebow didn't win the game. God didn't win it, and God didn't arrange for the stats to proclaim John 3:16.

I believe God loves the Steelers as much as the Broncos.

The Denver TEAM won the game. They, as a team, managed to stay alive in the playoffs, a wonderful accomplishment.

I do find the stats an interesting twist, an amusing bit of trivia. I don't think they're a sign from God.

If others find their faith in God strengthened by Denver's victory and Tebow's stats, I don't see anything wrong with that. People should believe what they want to believe. I may not agree, but I'm not going to mock one's religious beliefs or one's relationship with God.

I have no problem with Tebow's expressions of faith on the field. Lots of NFL players take a moment to thank God after they carry out a successful play. It's a personal thing.

If given the choice, I prefer professional athletes displaying expressions of faith to professional athletes behaving like thugs and acting like jerks.