Tim Tebow, Virgin
by Matt Kaufman on 07/27/2009 at 9:14 AM
If you pay even a little attention to sports, you know who Tim Tebow is: University of Florida quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, led his team to two straight national championships. You may also know that Tebow's very open about his Christian faith: He does missionary work (including prison ministry), and has been known to wear Scripture verses on his face. Which led a reporter at a recent press conference to ask him the sort of question people didn't used to ask. Here's one account of what happened:
You no longer need to wonder if the devoutly spiritual Tim Tebow is a virgin.
Now you know.
Responding to a question from radio reporters at SEC Media Days Thursday about whether he is saving himself for marriage, Tebow laughed initially and then said seriously, "Yes, I am."
When another reporter stumbled through and couldn't finish a follow-up question, the 21-year-old University of Florida quarterback laughed and said, "I think you're stunned right now. You can't even ask a question.... I was ready for that question, but I don't think y'all were."
Kinda makes you wish you were there, doesn't it? (You can, at least, listen to the tape.)
It's debatable whether a press conference was the place for that question. But the reporter who asked it insists that he wasn't trying to play "gotcha." On the contrary, he expected Tebow would answer that way:
Why did I believe this? Because Tebow lives his faith. And I believe that living his faith is not artificial, he's not pretending to be something he's not. Further, I don't believe that saving yourself for marriage is something to hide from. Not in the evangelical Christian faith that Tim Tebow practices in a Southern church and not in the evangelistic Southern church where I was raised.
At my Southern Baptist church, proclaiming that you were saving yourself for marriage was considered an asset, something to be proud of. Mothers bragged about their daughters or their sons public proclamation of chastity until marriage. Saving yourself for marriage wasn't something that people hid. They talked about it openly. In fact, people even wore tangible objects to reflect their purity, bracelets or rings that served as vivid evidence of their chastity pledges.
The reporter goes on to note that Tebow's response is more than just a personal choice: It's the sort of thing that can -- and maybe even (*gasp*) should -- influence other people's choices too.
I guarantee you come Sunday across the South ministers will approach their pulpits and use Tebow's virginity as an example to the flock. After all, if Tebow can resist countless girls throwing themselves at him on a regular basis, is it really valid for you or I or countless others to argue that preserving our virginity was just too difficult? Maybe. But I think it's much tougher. Like many things in life, it all comes down to a choice. And Tebow controls his own choices better than most.
That's the real story here: Tebow's willingness to be an individual in a time when it's easy to get lost in the crowd by making the popular decision. Good for him for standing up for his faith publicly, as he's done countless times before.
The only thing I can think to add is: Let's not make those Southern ministers do all the work. Let's all pitch in to spread this story -- and this message -- around.
1. Jane said the following at 10:11 AM on Jul 27:
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Regrettably, I only enjoy Tim Tebow when his awful, awful team is losing to a superior team. Like the 2008 Capital One Bowl, for instance. Or Auburn in 2007. I'm sure he's a lovely man, but I've never wanted someone's ACL to tear so badly. College football is an ugly place.
2. Courtney P. said the following at 10:21 AM on Jul 27:
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Good post, I heard the clip I thought he handled the question with grace and a little laughter, he has a way at putting people at easy. I have worn my purity ring since I was 17 and now I am 21 it is just a simple reminder of my faith and what the Bible commands, and when people ask if I am married (because I were it on my left hand), I can share my faith in Christ with them. I even meet a girl at the mall and we just starting talking and I saw she had a purity too, "Purtiy rings unite" lol:) there is strength in numbers!
3. FutureMrsLarijani said the following at 10:30 AM on Jul 27:
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"They talked about it openly. In fact, people even wore tangible objects to reflect their purity, bracelets or rings that served as vivid evidence of their chastity pledges."
It's all well and good to have "vivid evidence of . . chastity pledges", but there's a catch. Sexual purity, like all other forms of purity, is a matter of the heart. People can be wearing their purity on their sleeve, but they could simply a wolf in sheeps clothing. Just because you say you are pure, doesn't mean you are.
Just as many people profess the name of Christ and aren't really Christian.
4. Matt said the following at 11:24 AM on Jul 27:
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This was a hot topic on the local sports talk station on Friday. It was probably one of the most frustrating topics I've heard.
The host was saying that Tebow was an idiot for wasting his chance to sleep with as many girls as possible.
The callers were about split 50/50 with supporting Tebow and calling the host to task and the other half thinking Tebow was an idiot.
The host then used some of the worst reasoning I've ever heard. He said that we learn from our mistakes. So, he'd rather learn from his mistakes when he was young by choosing to make mistakes then when he is older.
Yes we learn from mistakes. But, usually we don't purposefully make mistakes so that we can learn from them.
Argh.
5. farmer Tom said the following at 12:03 PM on Jul 27:
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An absolutely awesome post.
I will admit that as a first class redneck/geek boy being a virgin at 18 wasn't all that big of a deal because no female on the known planet would even talk to me, let alone get close enough for physical contact. Even in Bible college among some very nice Christian young ladies, I had my share of difficulty getting the female of the species to give me the time of day. So I was a virgin at that age as well. But, I never had opportunity to do anything to change that either. (Praise the Lord for his protection!)
But this guy, is famous, (I'm not a good judge of what constitutes an attractive guy), but he appears to be normal looking, he works in an environment(college sports) which is literally overrun with attractive available females, and he is public with his faith.
That makes him a target, for those who oppose the cause of Jesus Christ, they want to see him fail. As well as for those females who would like to hook up with a guy that is famous and may very likely be fabulously wealthy some day. I'm sure he's even a target of some unscrupulous types who would be willing to bribe Tim with wine, women and fortune if he would endorse their product, go to their team, or join their organization.
Way to go Tim Tebow, keep doing what is right.
6. Louise from Chicago said the following at 12:32 PM on Jul 27:
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That question was inappropriate for a sports press conference.
But once the reporter asked it Mr. Tebow had a right to answer (another option would be to politely decline to give an answer.)
And...I personally don't believe the nosy reporter wasn't "trying to play 'gotcha!'".
I know the type.
7. Darren said the following at 1:06 PM on Jul 27:
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Tim Tebow seems like the real deal. Both on the field and in his Christian life. I hesitate to call him a role model, since personally, I am not sure if athletes should be role models. Nevertheless, as a sports fan and a brother in Christ, Tebow is someone that I can root for.
I am thankful that he was willing to express his convictions openly and honestly with others. As the reporter states, it is a powerful testimony. I also like the fact that Tebow was not sticking the issue of his virginity in people's faces, as in "I'm so spiritual, look at me." He was humbly stating who he was and what he valued.
The only thing I find somewhat sad, is that we've gotten to the point, as a culture, where people can be shocked and surprised by this. Moreoever, its troubling to me that our culture so easily talks about something (ie. sex and a person's virginity) that should be private and personal. Once upon a time, it was just assumed that people were chaste before marriage. People who were not, kept silent about their indiscretions, because they understood that it was something shameful. Now the reverse is almost true.
This is also a reminder to me that in this world we live in, its too easy for us to simply slam the current generation and criticize them for not being spiritual enough. But, Tim Tebow shows me that while the world and the culture are hardly in good shape spiritually, there are still many Christian young men and women who are staying true to Christ.
8. Simon said the following at 2:49 PM on Jul 27:
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I am unfamiliar with Tim Tebow, so can someone who is familiar with him tell me if he plays for his team on Sundays?
Thanks.
9. Louise from Chicago said the following at 2:56 PM on Jul 27:
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Comment 5, at last we have something in common...I was the same way when I was 18!
10. Jane said the following at 3:09 PM on Jul 27:
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Simon,
Tim Tebow plays for the Florida Gators, a college football team. College football is played on Thursdays and Saturdays, generally. Though some of us dream of the day when it will be played all the time.....
11. Jessi said the following at 3:40 PM on Jul 27:
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Go Tebow! I am a big Tennessee fan, and I hate the Gators, but I can't help liking Tebow (believe me, I have tried). I think the reporter crossed the line a little bit in his question (pretty personal to be asking when the topic is football), but I'm glad that Tebow answered honestly. He could have just said something like "That is something I'm not comfortable discussing." And that would most likely leave everyone assuming he was not saving himself for marriage. If you get asked a sensitive question, but you can give an honest, God glorifying answer, I say go for it!
12. Courtney P. said the following at 4:02 PM on Jul 27:
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Comment #3 Purity is a matter of heart that hopefully can be seen in some outwaerd example (i.e. Christians are called to dress modest their should be a difference in the way we dress oppose to the way those are not Christians dress). God see's the heart of his people, I am grateful for this aspect.
13. Dan (real name) said the following at 7:30 PM on Jul 27:
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I am glad Tim Tebow was honest about his virginity, but lets be careful to PRAY for him because WE have now elevated him to our next poster boy for "Christian Chastity Celebrity" status and now things may get harder for him to maintain that witness. Maintaining purity is HARD, not just in regards to virginity, but most difficult is the battle in the heart and mind.
14. Vanessa said the following at 8:15 PM on Jul 27:
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To Jane in #1...thank you for saying that Florida lost the 2008 Capital One Bowl to a superior team (LOL because even though I love the Gators, my first and favorite team is U of M).
In reality, the Gators are a pretty good team. I really enjoy seeing someone be SUCH an example in a sport where so many kids look up to the players for inspiration for their own lives.
I know people who go to school and to church with Tim Tebow and they vouch for his character off the field as well. We need more Christian young people who can show the world that it IS possible to do your best for God and still be one of the best at what you're doing. You don't have to compromise your beliefs to get ahead and you don't have to settle for second best in order to keep your beliefs.
Go Tebow!
15. Louise from Chicago said the following at 8:33 PM on Jul 27:
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Comment 11, maybe if the gentleman had declined to answer the question it would have left everyone assuming that he considered that aspect of his life to be wholly private.
:)
But...he chose to answer the question, as was his right...hopefully since he chose to answer he did give a truthful answer.
And BTW, I do not follow sports so this discussion is the first I have heard of Tim Tebow.
16. Charity said the following at 9:55 PM on Jul 27:
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Jane and Jessi:
Hate the Gators?! This can't be possible! How can anyone hate the school that is responsible for giving the world the liquid, electrolyte infused gold that is known as Gatorade?
17. Trisha said the following at 6:51 AM on Jul 28:
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I wish more Christians, young and old, would stick up for what they believe in regardless if it cost them friends/family....after all that is what true Christianity (not the watered down American version) is all about. I'm glad to hear he is waiting until marriage because groups like Planned Parenthood (I have been invovled in the pro-life/anti-abortion movement for over a year now) teach people that they are like animals and can't control themselves which is not true....God created us in His image; animals He did not created in His image.
18. Trisha said the following at 6:52 AM on Jul 28:
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Courntey P. (comment 12)....I agree.
19. Paxton said the following at 7:22 AM on Jul 28:
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Welp, a Man Who Plays Sports is keeping himself pure. It's good! We are saved!
I applaud him of course. But I applaud him as a person much more than as a celebrity football player.
"Let's not make those Southern ministers do all the work" -- ha, let's not make TIM TEBOW do all the work! Let's ourselves let our actions be a testament to righteousness, even if we don't get on the radio.
20. emily said the following at 7:56 AM on Jul 28:
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Good for him. I didn't know about his faith, just that he and the Gators were some pretty tough contenders and he a Heisman nominee. I agree with a couple posts -- although I've made the same commitment, he has probably been more tested. Way to stand up and be a light.
21. Lawrie said the following at 8:11 AM on Jul 28:
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very good for Tim, very good influence. but Its not very effective when preachers latch on to a 'cliche' example of 'good' and ride it to death. Tim is a red blooded human being and i totally support his position, but be careful about putting HIM on a pedastal, its the principle that's important. pray for him, resisting is not easy for especially men
22. Ultraviolet said the following at 11:32 PM on Jul 29:
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"After all, if Tebow can resist countless girls throwing themselves at him on a regular basis, is it really valid for you or I or countless others to argue that preserving our virginity was just too difficult? Maybe. But I think it's much tougher."
I really don't think this is a fair thing to say. Each person has their own individual struggle, of varying degrees. Even if you're not famous, it can still be INCREDIBLY difficult to remain pure, and I don't know how helpful it is to say "Well, Tim Tebow can do it, so..."
23. Louise from Chicago said the following at 9:44 AM on Jul 30:
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Re comment 22, I once posted on here "I lost a lot of weight several years ago. If I can do it, anyone can do it."
Several other commentors were all over me like cheap suit for that.
So......
24. Stasi said the following at 7:34 PM on Jul 31:
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I had to weigh in on this because when I was in college several years ago, my college quarterback, like Tim Tebow, was an outspoken Christian and also outspoken about his virginity. I was in a serious relationship and obviously under intense pressure to sleep with my boyfriend, but I kept hearing the words of this quarterback guy, whom I didn't even know personally, and he was the reason why I was able to save my virginity for after marriage. I felt like if he could do it, so could I (I'm sure my boyfriend wasn't singing his praises). This guy may never know the influence he had (though I would relish an opportunity to tell him)and I pray that Tim's honesty and boldness will reach even farther in helping anyone who is struggling make the choice to wait. And BTW, even if you have made a mistake, you can start over and resolve to be pure from here on out.