Focus on the Family Ad Celebrates Tim Tebow's Favorite Bible Verse Kids recite John 3:16
Is it wise to mix religion and football beyond the occasional Hail Mary pass? Focus on the Family has no problem combining the two, and did so again during Saturday's Patriots-Broncos AFC playoff game on CBS. The group aired a spot with kids reciting the Bible verse John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The move has generated some controversy, though it's not as hot a topic as FOF's 2010 anti-abortion Super Bowl commercial starring Tim Tebow (a few months before he was drafted by the Broncos) and his mom. Tebow, a devout Christian, is famous for frequently dropping to one knee in prayer—and when he played college ball, he wore eye black inscribed with "3:16." Tim inspired the new FOF spot, and group spokesman Gary Scheenberger tells the Denver Post: "We will hear about shoving religion down people's throats. But if it's OK to shove Doritos down people's throats, and cars and everything else, we have the right to advertise, too." Don't expect a second coming of the message in the Feb. 5 Super Bowl broadcast on NBC. FOF has no plans for a big game encore (and a 3:16-themed spot from the Fixed Point Foundation failed to make the cut on Fox's Super Bowl telecast last year). Bottom line: Following the Pats' 45-10 rout of Denver, folks of all faiths can agree that Tom Brady is a god.
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