This weekend, I had the enormous privilege of addressing the Students for Life of America annual conference, and I left D.C. greatly encouraged by the state of the pro-life movement. The conference itself was sold out, and poll numbers show support for abortion dropping sharply, especially among young adults. Amidst all this good news, I was talking to several activists about the need for prominent Christians (aside, of course, from those who make their living as activists or pastors) to step forward and make the defense of life “their” issue. On the left, artists and entertainers feel no reluctance to fight for “peace” or the “earth” or any other issue. Yet on our side of the debate, “our” entertainers tend to “shut up and sing” or “shut up and play” — unless they’re advocating for World Vision or Compassion International or another (very) worthy cause that is less “divisive.” But surely there’s room for a bold pro-life advocate or two?

As if on cue:

He was the first sophomore in history to win a Heisman trophy. He was the first college football player both to rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season. Last year, he led his college team, the Florida Gators, to their second national championship in three years. At 6 feet 3 inches and 245 pounds, Tim Tebow may go down in history as the greatest college football player who ever lived.
Pro-abortion rights activists demand CBS pull an anti-abortion Super Bowl ad.
And to think none of that would have happened if not for a decision his mother made nearly 23 years ago.
That is the message of a controversial new ad starring Tebow and his mother, Pam. Paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, the ad tells the story of Bob and Pam Tebow, who was pregnant with their fifth child when the couple travelled to the Philippines on a missionary trip.
While there, Pam contracted amoebic dysentery and the medicines used for her recovery threatened her unborn fetus. Doctors advised her to abort the fetus. Pam ignored their advice and gave birth on Aug. 14, 1987, to a baby boy. That boy was Tim Tebow.

Given the decisive move of young people toward life, it is hardly surprising that a pro-life advocate emerges from college. And it should be less surprising that it’s Tim Tebow. After all, if you look up “unashamed of the Gospel” in the dictionary, you’ll find Tim Tebow’s picture. He’s the guy with the scripture verses under his eyes, who’s tireless in his community service, and who reaches out to those in distress. And now he’s spending some of that public goodwill to speak for those who can’t speak at all.

Already, he’s making a few people angry:

AC Stokes, the UF director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, said Tebow is probably aware that he is being used for a political purpose and that he will now be associated with Focus on the Family’s viewpoints.
“I got a call from an alumnus that was pretty outraged by the fact that Tim Tebow was going to be in this commercial,” Stokes said.

And here’s what NOW had to say:

“This ad is frankly offensive, ” said Erin Matson, the Action Vice President of the National Organization for Women, speaking of the Tebow commercial. “It is hate masquerading as love. It sends a message that abortion is always a mistake.”

Thank you, Tim Tebow, for taking a stand. I hope you’re ready for the backlash, but I honestly doubt that NOW is one tenth as intimidating as a stadium full of hostile LSU fans in Death Valley.