Tim Tebow News Update: The NFL star is facing a tough challenge in his football career following his release from the Patriots. But, he assures everyone that he is happy and doing well in his life, saying that his identity is defined by who he is in Jesus Christ and not by being a football player.

"I've never found my identity in who I was as a football player. I found my identity in who I am in Christ. And when you find your identity as a Christian, then regardless of your status, or your fame, or your popularity, or your position, that never changes," Tebow said to Sports Illustrated. "So the roller-coaster that the world has always looked at my life and viewed, I'm very thankful that I don't have to live it."

"I'm the best now that I've ever been," the most searched athlete of the year added.

The football superstar gained his popularity in football back in 2007, when he won the Heisman Trophy playing for the Gators as quarterback. He also won the national championship that same year. In 2011, Tebow helped resurrected the struggling Denver Broncos and drive them to almost half a dozen come-from behind wins that made them jumped into the playoffs.

However, Tebow was traded to the Jets on 2012, where his career took a big hit as he was left for bench for the most of the season. In 2013, preseason he was picked up by Patriots, but was cut by the team before the regular season began.

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Today, Sports Illustrated has devoted a seven-part article for Tebow, highlighting his career as an award-winning collegiate player in contrast with his inconsistent games at the professional level. It also featured his life as a Christian, discussing his works with the charity and the pressures he's facing for being a superstar athlete in the United States.

Tebow's decision to speak, but backed out from an event at the First Baptist Church of Dallas last April, drew some back lashing from the Christian community.

The church's pastor, Robert Jeffers slams critics who had accused the church of being "anti-gay" an "anti-semitic." The pastor accused Tebow of ""[kneeling] at the altar of political correctness," defending the beliefs of his church.

"Now, there are some people who would say, 'Well, God's given me a different ministry. God has called me to go out and preach about the love of God. That's what I'm called to do. I'm not called to preach about sin, and talk about controversial things. I've been called to talk about the love of God. And they're sincere when they say that. But they are sincerely wrong. The fact is, you cannot talk about the love of God-the love of God has no meaning whatsoever unless you understand the judgment of God that all of us deserve," Jeffers told his congregation, and released by Sports Illustrated.

Tebow backed out from his decision to speak to the gig because he wanted to share his faith without being conflict-ridden, as he told Sports Illustrated.

"Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. And, you know, one of my bigger goals is to be able to break that down. Break some of those barriers, and bring people together. Say, 'You know what? We're on the same team. We're on the same side. And let's bring people together'," he explained.

"I wanna be someone, as a person, that is, is loving. That is not judging. We all have our faults. We all fail. We all mess up. We all make mistakes. So I'm not gonna be someone that is gonna try to point that out in other people. I wanna be someone that loves them. You know?" Tebow added. "I'm a big 'quote person,' and one of my favorite quotes, and I forgot who it's from, but it's, Every day we share the Gospel. But every now and then we use words. You know? Meaning, we share what we believe every day in how we act. How we treat people. How we love people."

Tebow is out of the NFL until now, but he has been offered to play to international teams, but the star has yet decided on it.

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