Tim Tebow Wears Ephesians 2:8-10 On His Eye Black; He Must Think We Are Interested

In tonight's Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati, which is his final game as a collegiate quarterback, and maybe his final game ever as a starting quarterback at any level, Florida Gator senior quarterback Tim Tebow decided to once again demonstrate his religiosity for the world by printing a biblical verse, Ephesians 2:8-10, on his eye-black.

Tebow has been known not only as a great college football quarterback, but also as a very righteous and religious young man. He has stated that he is still a virgin, for example, and saving himself for marriage. He has also spent a good deal of his personal time working with the disadvantaged and visiting prisons to share inspirational messages.

Tebow, who obviously knows that whatever he wears on his eye black will be seen by a nation of football fans, evidently believes that using his eye black as a billboard of sorts is a helpful thing to do for those watching.

Ephesians 2:8-10 refers to a biblical passage stating: 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.

One of the best things about the United States is the freedom of religion and expression afforded to its citizens. Tebow has every right in the world to print biblical verses on his eye black as he plays football in front of a national television audience.

And I have every right to be put off by it.

Make no mistake; embracing religion in one's personal life hurts nobody. Printing Ephesians 2:8-10 on your eye-black hurts nobody. There are sadly far too many instances in big time college sports where athletes demonstrate counterproductive and even illegal behavior, so spreading what what he believes is the word to as many people as he can is hardly a negative act.

That said, is there not a large degree of hubris involved when a football player, one that will probably never even play it at the highest level, anoints himself as the messenger to spread biblical word? Is it not a bit presumptuous for a football player, who is known only because he happens to have some rather unimportant skills, takes it upon himself to put messages into people's faces as they watch at home?

Again, Tim Tebow has every right to print Ephesians 2:8-10 on his person and run around the field. And I have every right to think that I tuned in to watch a football game, not learn about one's personal beliefs.

I happen to believe that God could care less about who wins or loses at a sport. And in all fairness, perhaps Tim Tebow believes the same thing. But using a sport to promote personal beliefs just seems tacky and wrong. Do not mix the two. Personal spirituality is a deeply complex and important subject. Sports is ultimately trivial.

Keep them separate, is what I say. Respect those who might have a different point of view, as most of the world does from Tebow, but who do not have the same platform to share things such as Ephesians 2:8-10.

In my opinion, respect the gift God gave you enough to not use it to spread your personal beliefs to people who tuned in to watch you play football.
Source: Huffington Post Staff, Ephesians 2 8-10: Tim Tebow's Eye Black Bible Passage (PHOTO), huffingtonpost.com