Huff Post

The Washington Post dubbed it “the temptation of Tim Tebow.” A certain website that I do not care to name or even to describe what kind of reprehensible service they provide has made news by pulling a clever PR stunt. It all started at a press conference three years ago when Tebow who is now 24 showed that he was secure enough in his beliefs to unflinchingly answer “yes” to a reporter’s rather inappropriate question as to whether he was a virgin. Now, the aforementioned website is calling what they think was Tebow’s bluff by offering a bounty of $1 million to anyone who can offer proof of having had intimate relations with the football player.

Much of the public reaction to this farce has been sane while some of it has broken along predictable lines of extremism. One the one hand, we have the “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” camp who are actually outraged that Tebow isn’t using his fame and youth to sow his wild oats, while on the other hand we have certain religious segments who are extolling Tebow’s chastity as if it were the end all and be all of religious devotion.

It won’t shock anyone that I, as a rabbi, am appalled by the first reaction. But perhaps it will be surprising to some that I am put off by the second reaction too.

As one who obviously endorses refraining from pre-marital relations, I agree that Tebow’s openness about his values is a breath of fresh air. But from the reactions of some people, you’d think that being celibate is some lifelong ideal, something holier and better than that “necessary evil” called sexuality.

And this is what bothers me. Since when is abstinence a virtue in and of itself? Why does celibacy have to be the opposite of debauchery when the sanctification of sexuality through marriage is the true and far superior alternative to both? Society acts as if there are two choices, either be a Don Juan or be a monk. But there is nothing inherently meritorious about refraining from physical intimacy. What is good and holy and healthy is for a person to be a sexual being but to do so withinthe context of marriage.

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