Jeff Pearlman took a long gander at this week’s Sports Illustratated cover profile of Celibacy Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and quite rightly wonders, outside of Tebow’s gridiron exploits, “what’s to celebrate?”

I consider missionary work to be incredibly — what’s the right word here? —- disturbing. Why are we celebrating young people serving as moralistic salesmen? Why are we celebrating the practice of, literally, going to poor outposts to peddle a particular (historically questionable) vision of Godliness to the “savages”? A closer look at missionary work offers up a sad, frightening history of mistreatment and sleaziness; of pitching The Word by any means necessary. Of manipulation to the Nth degree.

It goes without saying that Tim Tebow believes homosexuals to be sinners (“We’re all sinners,” he would reply, a lame prejudicial concealment); believes that contraception is wrong; believes that ¦ well, on and on and on and on. What I find most disturbing about people of Tebow’s ilk is the actual message being sold: That salvation is the reward worth living for.

Mostly, while reading the piece I kept asking myself, “Who the hell would take life advice from Tim Tebow?” I’m sure he’s a friendly kid. But he’s a sheltered 21-year old whose life has been lathered in football and religion.

Lest anyone think I’m taking an unfair swipe at Tebow by proxy, were Colt McCoy — another Xtian who loves bringing his message to places far-flung —  placed on a similar pedestal, I’d be equally pleased to see the Longhorn QB speared.  In print, anyway.