Former NFL star and outspoken Christian Tim Tebow recently shared his thoughts on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's public vow of celibacy with his girlfriend, singer and model Ciara Harris.
According to a report from TMZ, a reporter recently stopped the 28-year-old SEC analyst at an airport and asked what advice he would give to the young couple who hope to remain celibate until marriage.
"You're an advocate for saving yourself until marriage. I wanted to know if you have any advice for Russell Wilson?" a reporter asked Tebow in a video posted to TMZ on Monday. "You know he's dating Ciara, and he's getting a lot of criticism saying that it's hurting his career. But you know, they're saving themselves and they're not doing it to help their performance. Any advice for how they can push through all of the criticism, the haters and stuff?
Tebow responded, "I just wish both of them and everybody all the luck, and God bless man."
The former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback has spoken publicly about his commitment to purity: during the 2009 SEC Media Day press conference, a reporter asked the then 21-year-old college football player if he was saving himself for marriage.
"Yes, I am," Tebow answered. "I think you're stunned right now. You can't even ask a question. ... I was ready for that question, but I don't think y'all were."
As reported by the Gospel Herald, Wilson, who is also vocal about his Christian, took to the stage at The Rock Church in San Diego, California in July and revealed that God told him to lead Ciara in abstaining from sexual activity until marriage.
"I'll never forget: She was on tour, she was traveling, and I was looking at her in the mirror," Wilson said. "I was sitting in the dressing room, and she was getting ready to go, about 15 minutes before she went on stage. And she was sitting there, and God spoke to me and said, 'I need you to lead her.' And I was like, 'Really? Right now?'"
Wilson, 26, explained that God told him "to lead her."
"I asked her, 'What would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus' way, no sex?' I knew God had brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me, and to bless so many people with the impact that she has and I have."
He continued, "We're not going to be perfect, by any means. But He's anointed both of us and He's calling for us to do something special."
While Wilson's commitment to purity has been mocked by many in the secular media, Ciara has stood behind her boyfriend and emphasized that no matter what, she and Wilson will not have a physical relationship until there is a ring on her finger.
"It's until the deal is sealed. Absolutely," the "I Bet" singer said during an appearance on Access Hollywood when asked if she and Wilson will remain pure until marriage.
She added that it is important to build a relationship on a foundation that doesn't include sexual intimacy outside of marriage.
"It was an organic thing for him and I think he was just being honest about where we are," she explained. "It's cool when you get to build a foundation with someone on how much you care for each other and really know each other's personalities, so it's really fun."
