Tim Tebow pauses relationship with Christian organization accused

Tim Tebow is not the problem here, and good for him for making that clear. Life Surge stands accused of something worse than a bad business model: using a person’s faith to get at his wallet. If those allegations hold up, that’s not evangelism. That’s a con job wearing a church hat.

Tebow put his name and reputation behind these events, and that meant something to the people who showed up. He says he’s pausing the relationship, which is the least he could do, but it’s still the right call. He didn’t wait to see which way the wind was blowing. He heard the reports and moved.

What’s disturbing is how familiar this story is. There is a long, ugly pattern of organizations that wrap themselves in scripture and then pressure people who can least afford it to “sow a seed” or “step out in faith.” It preys on the sincere. It makes a mockery of generosity. The people running those schemes should be ashamed, though they usually aren’t.

Maybe Tebow’s exit will cause other public Christians to look harder at who they share a stage with. That would be a good outcome. The rest of us can do the same: give your money where the Bible is actually preached, not where it’s used as a sales script.