When setting an example invites hostility

Update: Who says God has no sense of humor?   :)

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Any 'preacher' who suggests living the Christian life is the easy way needs to do a reality check.  Not only do Christians accept a life-long war against their earthly nature; they invite public ridicule that only increases, the more effective their witness becomes...

''Inside the NFL'' analyst and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth concluded that much of the hatred against Tebow was based on his religious beliefs. Responding to a question from fellow host James 'JB' Brown, Collinsworth showed his disgust for Tebow's treatment: ''It's unbelievable, though, JB, that one of the best kids - just pure kids that's ever come into the NFL - is hated because of his faith, because of his mission work, because of the fact that he wears it on his sleeve, because of the fact that he lives his life that he talks about....''

Brown and Collinsworth concluded that much of the hatred against Tebow was based on faith. Brown pointed out: ''There's a number of guys who come into the league with a big marquee, fat paychecks, a lot of attention, and folks don't seem to hate them with the same intensity that they hate Tim Tebow.'' Collinsworth concurred with Brown: ''I couldn't agree with you more. And it's kind of a sad commentary, that, you know, if someone is out carousing every night, the Joe Namath thing, or whatever, they're American heroes, and Tim Tebow, who's working in missions in Asia somewhere, is a guy that we're going to vilify.''

But then, celebrating the "outlaws" is endemic in our culture--which explains a great deal.  As C.S. Lewis put it:   "We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and then bid the geldings to be fruitful."  

Athletes like Tebow and Danny Wuerffel may or may not rank among the more memorable talents... though it's worth remembering they did at least make the cut to the professional level.  What bothers their critics is not so much their on-field performance, as the fact they choose to use the public spotlight they've been given to glorify Christ rather than themselves.

Two thousand years on, that's a priority the world still abhors.