Focus on the Family didn’t put Tim Tebow in its new prime-time NFL ad, but the group made it pretty clear the super-Christian quarterback was on its mind in this Bible-verse-quoting commercial that aired during Saturday’s Broncos-Giants Patriots playoff game.
In it, a group of children take turns spitting out Tebow’s favorite Bible verse, John 3:16. Their commentary has less lisp than Tebow, though:
For God so loved the world, the whole world, everyone—anyone!—That’s a lot of people!—that He gave His one and only son, His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have life eternal. Life! Wow!
Whoa! Hold off on these revelations for a second, kids—you’re blowing our mind!
Tebow became a favorite of FOTF when he recounted the story of how his mother considered aborting him but thought better of it. (Isn’t that just a lovely and utterly unverifiable anecdote?)
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Of course, since the Broncos lost on Saturday, you could say God was on the side of the Giants Pats. You know, the team whose home state legalized gay marriage back in 2004?
Oh snap.
Mike UK
For God so loved the world, the whole world, everyone—anyone!—
from the mouth of babes!
thank fuck these bigoted groups aren’t allowed on tv let alone advertise on tv over here!
john
except that the brocos played against the Pats. same idea, though. us massholes have had gay marriage for as long this 16 year old can remember
soakman
What kind of mother tells her child that she was thinking about aborting him and then didn’t? The kind that wants to guilt-trip you for the rest of eternity.
Larry
how can you have eternal life when you are dead? but I guess if I suck dick and believe in him then I will have that eternal whatever it is
jayq
Well the Taliban and al queda also have their kids memorize the koran as nauseum
Erich
Broncos played New England Patriots – still a marriage equality state, but not the right one.
christopher di spirito
Eli Manning is one of the three best, elite Quarterbacks in the NFL. The Mile High Messiah was doomed from the start. In fact, the game was essentially over by the end of the 2nd quarter.
Evan Mulvihill
@john @Erich: Leave it to a gay blogger to mix up the big game’s players. Thanks for pointing out the error.
Mike
@christopher di spirito: Except Eli Manning played in Green Bay and it was Mr. Gisele Bundchen who doomed the Mile High Messiah.
christopher di spirito
@Mike: My point is, all this talk of the Mile High Messiah being one of the best young GBs is just so much hype. He’s a second tier player at best and probably not even that good.
Cam
@christopher di spirito:
To take your comment to another Sport, Tebow reminds me of Andy Rodick. He isn’t a factor in the finals in Tennis, recently accept for one Wimbleton against Federer. He played far above his level and almost won it, but he didn’t.
He is more popular than a lot of players, because of where he’s from or by people who think he’s good looking, but frankly, when he’s up against Nadal or Fererer etc… he is clearly outmatched.
christopher di spirito
Focus on the Family is Tebow’s peeps. It’s no accident this awful commercial ran Saturday during the Broncos/Patriot game.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we learn the Mile High Messiah purchased the ad time for FotF to run their smut.
Donnie
… I remember when they had me brainwashed too. Trust me I don’t think those kids know what their spouting. Lets hope they find out that they are brainwashed someday and get out of that stuff.
B
No 13: Donnie, “Trust me I don’t think those kids know what their spouting.”
Very likely true – if you watch closely, a different kid is filmed reciting each
phrase, in some cases only a single word. It’s possible none of them heard or
read the whole Biblical passage. Probably each got a cue card with the phrase or
word on it.
CJ
It doesn’t bother me at all. I know many Christians and churches that are fully supportive AND inclusive of gays and lesbians. They support full equality and defend gay rights. Not all Christians are alike, just like not all gays are alike. Personally, I don’t want to slam anyone for their own beliefs, even if I disagree with them (or they disagree with me). I want equal rights and protections for all, regardless of their faith or sexual orientation. So, there’s nothing wrong with this advertisement. Free speech. If the kids grow up to be “haters” I obviously don’t desire that. But, I know many people who grew up in conservative homes and they turned out OK, went liberal or even are gay. I only fear that some in the religious community (even non-religious) create environments that lead to self-hatred amongst LGBT youth. That I don’t support. But, back to the topic… it’s a free country and if I want people to respect MY freedoms I’d better offer the same in return.
owen
@CJ: True, in and of itself the add is not too bad, even kind of cute, but when you consider who is paying for this add and what they represent it only makes me scared for these poor kids. As much as the right talks about our immoral and evil ways I think if we went back over the last ten years and looked at child abuse (mental, physical, and sexual) we would find that the majority of cases were perpetrated by religious Christians. And the thought of all those kids with these holy rollers really scares me.
jason
Why is CBS running ads with a religious message? It won’t run pro-gay ads. CBS is definitely hypocritical.
Steve
Indoctrination of helpless little children by a radical Christian agenda! And they say we’re the bad guys
Chad
@soakman:
What kind of ” mother” thinks about aborting their child in the first place. That’s the bigger question.
Not all gays support the killing of babies.
soakman
@Chad
Derailing the subject, lol. That is a whole other discussion. I’m just saying that I am pretty familiar with Catholic/Christian guilt, and that sounds a lot like it.
Jim
This is the game that this particular group playing: fund and conceal the crazy while attempting to attract people with bland, inoffensive ads. Get people to have a reaction akin to ‘that ad was not that bad, I don’t know what all the fuss was about.’
People who don’t know any better need to understand that the problem is not necessarily with the content of an ad like this; the problem is with what the group tells people outside of the warm and fuzzy television advertisements.
B
No. 17 · jason wrote, “Why is CBS running ads with a religious message? It won’t run pro-gay ads. CBS is definitely hypocritical.”
They were showing the super-bowl playoffs. The NFL probably insisted on having the rights to show ads it was getting paid for during the game.
B
No. 17 · jason wrote, “Why is CBS running ads with a religious message? It won’t run pro-gay ads. CBS is definitely hypocritical.”
They were showing the super-bowl playoffs. The NFL probably insisted on having the rights to show ads it was getting paid for during the game. If you had the clout the NFL does, you’d get whatever you wanted too.
Jason’s claim about CBS, of course, is silly. Here’s how a negotiation for pro-gay ads would probably go:
Gay Rights Activist: we’d like to buy an ad and run a pro-gay announcement.
CBS: Sorry, we can’t do that – the Evangelicals would boycott us and cause other problems that in total would cost us 10 million dollars.
Gay Rights Activist: We’ll pay you 20 million dollars.
CBS to Evangelicals: Would you prefer to be thrown under the bus face up or face down?
Triple S
I literally felt nauseous when I saw this. I’m happy with my American citizenship, but thank God I live in Australia where the ads are not so unbelievably sickening.
Triple S
To clarify, I don’t hate the message; Christians are perfectly fine with their beliefs, but the presentation. Oh, god. It’s so insanely patronising to me.
TASTEY GOODIES
@Triple S: I truly believe that Christians need 2 practiice what they preach. That is, GOD and Jesus are 2 deities filled w/ LOVE and as followers MUST spread the message of LOVE- NOT HATE! If a so-called Christian has hate in their heart, then how can Agape or Godly love reside there as well? Food for thought.
TASTEY GOODIES
@Triple S: Speaking of ads. What the HELL is going on w/ the ads 4 Christian churches and bible study?!!
Freddie
I love how at the end of the message there is a way to give money. “Yeah God loves everyone, but we need money to fight the fags, abortionists and Muslims!”
Erik
You know, I choose to be Christian because I like the story and find a lot of good in Christian charity and forgiveness. But the idea that God could have only ONE son has never made sense to me.
His only son? Why?! If God is a creator, why couldn’t he create more than one son? I don’t get it. If that were a movie plot, I would say it was dumb.
Triple S
@Erik: Not to burst your bubble, but religions are flawed very extensively. they’re nice ideas, but there’s too many holes for me to follow a religion
Triple S
@TASTEY GOODIES: Sorry, I don’t watch a whole lot of T.V. (hard to believe I know), so I’m not too sure about what they’re advertising. But my attitude to ANY ad is: “Stop bullshitting me”. Their ulterior motives or meaning just repulses me away from them. Mind you, I know what advertising works on the people who don’t mute them. How easily suggestive people are.
TASTEY GOODIES
@Triple S: MATE, I’M TALKING ABOUT THE ADS ON QUEERTY. NO MORE ADS 4 BIBLE STUDY (UNLESS ONE WANTS 2 BEAT THE RELGIOUS FREAKOS AT THEIR OWN GAME BY QUOTING VERSES) AND CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.
Shannon1981
At least the Broncos have no shot at the superbowl now. So, FOTF can STFU and go back to church.
Triple S
@TASTEY GOODIES: Indoor voice, TG. But yeah, there actually wasn’t anything to do with gayness in this ad, as annoying as it was. Simply bitching about Christianity just because the Republicans are religious is really quite petty in my view.
B
No. 29 · Erik wrote, “You know, I choose to be Christian because I like the story and find a lot of good in Christian charity and forgiveness. But the idea that God could have only ONE son has never made sense to me.”
Well, you could always fix up the theology by adding a belief that, after impregnating Mary, God realized that he was gay. Of course, you might have to create your own church do to that. If you need some advice regarding public reaction and possible downsides, try a séance to contact Joseph Smith. If he isn’t available, ask Mitt Romney. Don’t ask me – I’m too much of a wise guy.