Jeremy Lin: Why His Faith Is Less Polarizing Than Tim Tebow's

Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow share many similarities.  Both were college stars, both were doubted by professional executives and talent evaluators and both were dropped to fourth on the depth chart.  

But both got their chance to shine and made the most of it, starring and capturing the attention of the nation.  Most important, both speak pointedly and openly about their faiths.

Tebow’s faith has become one of the NFL’s most polarizing subjects.  It divides the fans who love him and those who see him as preachy, intolerant and even dangerous.  His faith-peddling was fractious from the moment Tebow stepped on the field. 

But in Lin’s case, his open discussions of faith have barely raised an eyebrow.  Fans across the country seem to adore him and there is no rancor over his demonstration of personal belief. 

There are several possible reasons for why Lin’s displays of religion are deemed acceptable, while Tebow’s remain intensely polarizing. 

Lin is Asian-American, which is central to his appeal, while Tebow is a Caucasian evangelical Christian who seems to epitomize the cultural clash over religion that is raging throughout America. 

Moreover, the Denver star’s faith has been the subject of national attention for years, dating back to his Heisman-winning days as quarterback of the Florida Gators. 

Lin was a struggling NBA benchwarmer last season and his faith was barely mentioned even a week ago, so perhaps mainstream fans are simply caught up in his moment of stardom and haven’t yet noticed the similarities.

Nonetheless, I think the critical difference between Tebow and Lin is how they demonstrate their faiths. 

Lin is not a faith-based activist like Tebow, and while he speaks openly of his strong belief in God, he makes no effort to impose his beliefs on others.  By contrast, Tebow has been vocally evangelical for years and pushed those beliefs on Americans.

That behavior, in particular Tebow's participation in ads sponsored by the militantly right-wing group Focus on the Family, profoundly disturbs many fans. 

It’s perfectly legitimate to have faith and articulate your own beliefs.  But flogging your views to the public through groups like Focus on the Family that many people find hateful, breaks an unspoken barrier between what is tolerable to American viewers and what is not. 

Jeremy Lin shows his faith but leaves his political and social beliefs at home.  Tim Tebow brings them to the fore at every opportunity. 

So, it’s not their faiths that are polarizing, it’s how they show them to us.