Tim Tebow is making a mockery of religion.

He’s like Jerry Falwell meets Oprah Winfrey. He’s popular and a staunch Christian, and he’s not afraid to exploit either when given the chance.

Example A: Tebow showed up to an outdoor Easter Sunday service in Georgetown, Texas, drawing a crowd of 15,000. Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church, which led the service, told the Associated Press, “In Christianity, it’s the Pope and Tebow right now.”

Too bad one of them is doing more harm then good.

Tebow’s personal conquest to be a good, Christian role model is launching more of an attack on religion than it is helping. What Donald Trump and Sarah Palin were to the Republican party is what Tebow is to Christianity.

He’s getting air time for God, but in the end it won’t be good for anyone.

What Tebow is doing is opening up religion to more negative feedback. Only this time it is a more subtle version.

The “Tebowing” craze that has hit NFL fans is the symbol of this mockery.

For those who don’t know, Tebowing is getting one knee with your hand on your head and praying, no matter your surroundings. And if you don’t know Tebowing, get out from under your rock, because everyone is doing it.

And that is the root of the problem.

Tebow and his very public prayers have made religion mainstream, but Tebowing has popularized it into gaining a cult following, rather than a real following. Any publicity isn’t always good publicity, and last time I checked, Drew Rosenhaus isn’t running Christianity.

As devout a Christian as Tebow is, his act needs to stop. Yes, he’s being a good role model, but how many people is he really getting to become a more active Christian?

Every time someone Tebows, they’re not praying, but are instead making light of one of the most sacred acts of religion — and Tebow himself in some cases. Making religion seem cool by associating it with a backup NFL quarterback and his pregame ritual isn’t converting people or spreading the message of God as the Church would like to make it seem.

If anything, people are just jumping on Christianity’s bandwagon, ready to hop off as soon as the Tebow fad leaves town.

At this rate, when that happens, the Pope will be looking for a part-time job at Bed Bath & Beyond.

If Tebow wants to do real help to the cause of Christianity, he’ll stop the dog and pony show now. There are plenty of other ways to be a good, Christian role model than parading it around and almost belittling those who aren’t openly Christian.

In the meantime, leave the over-the-top religious gimmicks to cable television and focus on making a real impact on Christianity.