BJU then and now...Tim Tebow

On March 2018, BJU and the Bruins Foundation hosted "an evening with Tebow"

"It’s a privilege to host Tim Tebow at BJU,” said Bruins Director of Athletics Neal Ring. “Throughout his life, Tebow has used the platform of sports to bring God glory."

Is the Tebow appearance any different than a political candidate or secular academic specialist of past years at BJU? The new BJU administration clearly views Tebow as more than a professional athlete to speak to BJU athletes about athletics. Tebow is viewed as a spiritual leader to teach BJU students how to live godly lives in this world.

In another article in BJUtoday:
"Tim is popular in circles outside of the 'BJU bubble'. Bringing him in to speak at the Gala will draw to campus people who have never been to BJU. Some will come with no idea of what BJU is. Others will come with inaccurate ideas. This is an opportunity for the University to reach these new audiences— to correct misperceptions, to recruit p

Tebow

rospective students, and to impact them for Christ...He [Tebow] uses sports as a platform
for ministry."

Following the Tebow appearance Pettit states on his Instagram account:
"Thoroughly enjoyed having Tim Tebow speak for the Bruins night. A strong gospel message and invitation was presented."

And then in a BJUtoday article entitled "Finding your platform for ministry" Tebow is further commended for his life work of ministry. 

 WHO IS TIM TEBOW?

Tebow is known for unapologetically displaying Bible references on his face and kneeling in prayer at football games. He is also known for other things...

First Baptist Church of Dallas
In early 2013, Tebow showed himself a little less bold when he canceled his speech at FBCD, apparently because of controversial statements that Pastor Jeffress had made about Mormonism, Catholicism and other faiths as well as homosexuality.

Ellen DeGeneres
DeGeneres is a practicing lesbian and popular TV host. Tebow agreed to be interviewed by DeGeneres on The Ellen Show. When asking Tebow about his dating life, DeGeneres insists on using the word "partner". Tebow seems all too happy to oblige. About 2 years later Dr. Pettit welcomes Tebow to BJU.

Ellentube

Passion Conference
The Passion conference is, in my view, a "golden calf" event complete with Christian rap and pop performances followed by broad evangelical teaching. Tebow spoke at the conference in early January 2018. A little over 2 months later...BJU.

Passion 2018 recap
Passion 2020 recap

Am I being divisive and disrupting the unity of Christians by this blog post? 

Biblical unity is God's people separating from the world and being unified under Biblical truth. Biblical unity is not a bunch of warm bodies inside a box all happy and "unified". We can be unified in our love for Clemson at a football game but that is not biblical unity. Aaron introduced deviant worship of the Golden calf arguably in the name of unity. Jeroboam consolidated (unified) the northern kingdom through his innovation and compromise. God had nothing but condemnation to offer and the Israelites paid a terrible price for it. The result in both cases was the ultimate division - division from God. Exodus 32, 1 Kings 12. This in my view is exactly what The Passion conference is all about. 65,000+ young people unified in deviant worship and worldliness. The end result I believe will be whole generations separated from God...forever. Tebow has done much to promote and popularize it. Sinful division happens when theological error, worldliness, and unholy alliances are introduced and accepted among God's people. Righteous unity happens when theological error, worldliness, and unholy alliances are exposed and dealt with.  An alliance with a man like Tim Tebow does not unify us, it divides us.  Romans 16:17

Not convinced? Watch this at your own risk. (up to the 2 min mark).
Nina Dobrov


Machen White
Ephesians 5:11