Jeremy Lin, the undrafted Harvard graduate who wants to become a pastor, emerged almost overnight when his off-the-bench performance on Feb. 4th led the New York Knicks to beat the New Jersey Nets. Because of this, some have hinted that America has not lost Tim Tebow: He has only acquired a Taiwanese manifestation. In an interview following a game versus the Utah Jazz, Lin thanks “Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior for giving me this opportunity.”
While we can’t know whether Lin will carry on Tebow’s explicitly evangelical witness to an industry that exhibits little to no religious expression, it is clear that Tebow is a motivation for Lin’s own religious expression: “Actually a lot of inspiration comes just because [Tebow's] such a polarizing figure but I think the things he says in interviews, his approach to the game is just unbelievable and I respect him so much.” From his Twitter account:
“God is good during our ups and our downs! Glad we got the win!!…”
“Awesome church service to start 2012! My new years resolution: love God more deeply and imtimately by dec 31 than I did on jan 1”
“Psalm 46:10 — He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Whether one cares much for sports, loud and proud boasts of religious enthusiasm, or least of all Twitter, there is something worthwhile going on here. And being the target for plenty of ridicule and the butt of numerous late-night personality’s jokes is a negligible side-effect compared to the value of Tebow and Lin making transparency about serious religious commitments more normal.
February 13th, 2012 | 9:20 am
“…an industry that exhibits little to no religious expression…”
Isn’t race a factor here? Black athletes engage in religious expression all the time, pointing to the sky after touchdowns, thanking Jesus Christ in interviews, talking about their faith publicly. The really interesting thing about Tebow is that his faith is challenging to the mostly white audience of sports in a way that black (and in baseball, Hispanic) athletes’ Christianity is not. Whether Lin will be equally remarkable is an interesting question.
February 13th, 2012 | 10:24 am
Yeah, I’m sorry, but I have to agree: what are you talking about, “an industry that exhibits little to no religious expression”? This is plainly a false characterization of the NBA, and it’s an even less plausible description of the NFL. Maybe you did just mean “…little to no religious expression by non-black athletes,” but maybe then you’re talking more about race than you are about religion.
February 13th, 2012 | 10:40 am
As has been said many, many times, Tim Tebow’s displays of faith are in no way out of the mainstream for big-time athletes in contemporary America. I would say that the Tebow-hate was due to the fact that he is a famous white Southern evangelical male, but even that doesn’t even explain it because exact contemporaries like Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy don’t have the Tebow-hate directed at them. It’s truly bizarre and inexplicable. “God works in mysterious ways” indeed…
February 13th, 2012 | 3:22 pm
I think the industry that he’s referring to isn’t professional sports in general, but the NBA in particular. (Whether that’s accurate or not, I’m not sure.) But I’m having a difficult time seeing how, whether correct or incorrect, Mark’s words are somehow racially tinged.
As for this “little to no religious expression by non-black athletes” silliness, have you ever watched professional sports? There is an enormous number of white athletes in baseball and football who are unashamed of–and are open to showing–their Christian faith. I worry you’re looking for an issue where there is none.
February 13th, 2012 | 8:55 pm
“I think the industry that he’s referring to isn’t professional sports in general, but the NBA in particular. (Whether that’s accurate or not, I’m not sure.)”
Steve – take it from someone who knows. The NBA is far from an “industry that exhibits little religious expression.”
“But I’m having a difficult time seeing how, whether correct or incorrect, Mark’s words are somehow racially tinged.”
Well, think about it for one or two seconds and you might figure it out. Religious displays are (still) commonplace for black athletes in this country, but are far less common for white and Asian athletes. Thus, when a white or Asian athlete (i.e., Tebow or Lin) displays their religion, we are predisposed to notice it more. (Or, at least, we are if we aren’t very knowledgeable about racial issues.)
“As for this ‘little to no religious expression by non-black athletes’ silliness, have you ever watched professional sports? There is an enormous number of white athletes in baseball and football…”
Yeah, but I was talking about the NBA.
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