Public Display Of FAITH
 

Last night, in the Sugar Bowl, Florida Gator Tim Tebow ended his career, arguably, the greatest college quarterback of all time. There are many that question whether he will be successful in professional football but it is hard to question his dedication to his faith.

If you are not aware of this young man you may want to read up about him. If you want your children to look up to a person in sports as an idol, this is your guy :)

Anyway, on game days Tim always wears eye-black with scripture on it. Last night he had EPH on his right eye-black and 2: 8-10 on his left....in the Bible this is Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 through 10 which reads...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Earlier in the morning I read an article, in the Faith and Values section of our local newspaper, on people openly displaying their faith. There were several interesting points on both sides of the coin that people made.

Personally, I have very little problem with it, as long as one is being respectable it doesn't bother me people trying to share the faith of their choice with me...in whatever way they choose.

How do you feel about public display of ones faith?

I wasn't aware of him/what he does (I don't watch sports), but...

Pretty good way to do it to me. If you don't want to, don't look up the verse. He's not screaming out scriptures when they make a touchdown or anything.

He seems to me to be an inspiration to those who want it. But not jamming it in the throats of those who don't.

(Now, I know the people on campus that sit there screaming out stuff to those who walk by...they're giving religion a BAD name!!)

I have no problem with it as long as the person is sincere.

I am always impressed by people who practice what they preach. Espousing something without really showing it to others is irritating to me. I don't know much about Tebow, but I love Kurt Warner who frequently gives credit to God for his abilities.

that's an interesting question. once while I was sitting in Central Park with a friend, a group of young people came and sat around us, trying to convert us to their faith, when I asked them to leave, repeatedly, they wouldn't. We had to get up and leave. I've had other groups come up to me and ask me my faith, which I find leaning towards the obnoxious.

at the same time, a guy standing on the corner handing out pamplets doesn't particularly bother me, low on the intrusive scale.

ringing my bell to my home, too intrusive.

seeing public figures thank their faith for sustaining and helping them, to me, that's touching.

In my neighborhood, you walk down the street and in a mile you can pass, say 8 churches. Lots of kinds of faiths too. I have a Buddhist neighbor who burns offerings in her backyard. There's a Coptic church a block away from me. A big Muslim community.

I'm not a religious person at all, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest except if the person is using their the expression of faith to hurt another person in some way (certain extreme protesters come to mind, fanatics with misguided interpretations of their sacred texts, etc.).

Tim Tebow is a very impressive young man. He practices what he preaches and seems to have a heart of gold. Apparently, he's had quite an impact on his team members from a spiritual perspective and they all have tremendous respect for him even outside of what he does on the field. He's one of the good ones and he can put whatever he wants on his eye patches in my opinion!

I have no problems with public displays of faith. As long as you arent trying to push your belief onto me I say more power to you. I dont mind when people hand out brochures and stuff and say thanks have a nice day. That doesnt really bother me, they are doing what god asked in a way that is disruptive. However one time I had a man approach me and start questioning my faith and why I do and dont do certain things. That I believe is between me and God. But If I see someone wearing a cross or a star of david, even in schools, Im not going to be bothered by it. How is it any different than wearing a shirt with the name of your favorite band? How come that is an acceptable thing but I cant show my faith without worrying that it may offend someone?

I feel the same about people expressing their faith as expressing any other interest - it doesn't bother me as long as it's not disruptive... and even when people do things that are a little disruptive or annoying, I wouldn't want to try to stop them.

I've found many groups to just as annoying, if not moreso, than faith-based groups -- the socialists at the college I graduated from come to mind, pestering people to buy their freakin' newspapers every Friday! :p

I draw the line, of course, at harassment, illegal activities (trespassing etc) or anything dangerous.

I am honored that GOD allows me to show my faith in public.

It doesn't bother me as long as the person is respectful. I am on the fence post about what I believe. I'm leaning farther to the side of evolution. I had to cut ties with a friend a few years ago who would preach to me everytime I saw her. She would go on and on and on and on and on about God and abortion. I was getting abortion pictures in my email and 20 or 30 different emails daily about God. It was just too much. I asked her to please stop. I didn't want the emails, and I didn't want to be lectured everytime I saw her, and she chose not to so the friendship was gone. I couldn't ever imagine telling someone what they should believe.

So, long story short, if someone is respectful, I have no problem with public display of faith.

I have no problem with someone expressing their faith as long as they are not being judgmental/pushy. I think all religions should be equally able to express whatever they want. Not that this instance was a tattoo but I know a lot of people tattoo themselves with various things, faith based or not and even though I don't like tattoos for me personally, I don't see a problem with it. A bible verse reference means nothing to me so I don't see why it would be offensive.

Of course something such as a news anchor saying that a sports figure that they should convert to christianity is a different issue entirely and crosses the line :)

There was a school (I believe in the Midwest) that I read about, that was trying to ban jewelry and t-shirts that signified group membership (gang or religious).

The problem was that the teachers and administration weren't aware of all of the possible symbols and the groups just changed and invented new symbols to avoid attention. So they really only ended up banning Jewish and Christian and familiar ymbols - and the gangs just switched to symbols that didn't look offensive (for example, using Sponge Bob or My Little Kitty as secret symbols). Even the religious kids found a way to express their affiliation while skirting the ban (Christian kids, for example wearing lamb necklaces instead of crosses).

The more symbols added to the ban, the more creative the kids were at creating new symbols.

I think public displays of identity are important, whether it's religion, political party, social group affiliation, hobbies and interests, favorite animals and colors...

Expression is important, even if you have no religious belief whatsoever, and curtailing that expression often has uninteded consequences. Mostly the behavior just goes underground (and the more potential for antisocial behavior as a result).

If you make people hide or disguise their identity, it tends to make them feel stigmatized and opressed - and people who feel opressed are prone to revolution (which is rarely respectful).

I think the PC take on this would be that it was presented privately...I can agree with this...although I, personally don't see anything wrong with it either as I am a christian....for those that don't quite get this google hume/tiger......

In fact how would you all feel if I was to tell you that you SHOULD be Christians? Knowing that I believe it is the only way to HEAVEN.....that I care about you....and I believe it with all my heart, soul and being because of the power of the Holy Spirit....

Oh, this is a very emotional subject for me at this time...We had 3 funerals in the last 2 weeks. One of them was saved and I thank God for that...But, there is absolutely nothing like looking over someone you love and knowing you could have done more. Knowing that you'll probably never see them again rips your heart out. I've been listening to Jason Crabb's song "somebody like me" all day and I have vowed that never again will I let an opportunity slip through my fingers to show the people I love just how much they mean to me. I don't just want to tell them of God's love I want to show them God's love. So Ezmoney I feel pretty good that your telling me I should be a christian and that's the only way...love you for that..

why is this in general chatter?

i find the thought of someone telling me they'll pray for my salvation to be condescending. i'm all for people being able to believe whatever they want to believe but i don't want to be cornered and preached to- which has happened to me at least four times that i can think of off the top of my head. i wear a small pentagram and it might as well be a neon sign that calls people to me to tell me how wrong i am.
in my mind nobody is right or wrong- everyone is right and the purpose of faith is spiritual fulfillment.
that being said - if someone wants to thank god, allah, diana, whatever for their talent or in some other way publicly display their faith - i think it's brave and admirable- no matter what the faith is.