The Third Way

In retrospect, I love that Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad. It was corny, like super corny, like “give you goose bumps, you feel embarrassed for yourself because you just watched something really corny” embarrassing! I love it not so much because it was a good ad or that I agreed with or against it, but I love it because it displayed its message differently. I loved the method of delivery it had!

I remember when I first heard that Focus on the Family (FotF) was going to put up a Super Bowl add about abortion starring Pam and Tim Tebow. Pro-choicers starting shooting arrows, accusing FotF of imposing their values on the general public, etc., etc., etc. In my experience, pro-lifers did defend their stance but mainly stayed quiet, I could be totally wrong about this but that’s what I remember.

Now looking back, 3 months later, I think it was a brilliantly, corny ad! Pro-lifers should celebrate because it shows the positive side of having and raising a child. Pro-choicers should celebrate because Pam exercised her choice and her freedom to choose was not compromised.

It really was Pam Tebow’s choice, she “chose” to give her son “life!” In an odd way, she’s pro-choice and pro-life! She showed everyone, what my church calls, the “third way” or the “Jesus way,” that she was both pro-choice and pro-life.

I think we all need to think more like this. That there’s a third choice and option that will show both sides that they are both right and both wrong.

In situations like this, I always think of Tank Man (thanks to Pastor Dave Johnson @ Church of the Open Door & Rob Bell). If you were on your way back from the grocery store and saw evil putting fear into those it wanted to control, what would you do? Would you just ignore it and go away or would you stand in front of those tanks with your groceries in hand?

Edit: There is a documentary about the Tank Man called “The Tank Man” that PBS produced. It’s on YouTube here.