The cynics out there already suspected that the Gabrielle Douglas love fest couldn’t last forever. A gold medalist at 16, she’s amazingly talented, positive, self-confident, All-American and charismatic — the perfect fit for the Corn Flakes box. It’s all too good to be true, though, isn’t it? There must be some flaw. Is it her hair? No, that’s just silly. Her “outspoken” faith? Bingo.
Teens belief in God + giving thanks after win unnerves+drives non-believers bonkers.Did God help Gabrielle Douglas win? http://t.co/MG2B5hrV
— Aunt PittyPat INFJ (@PortraitsPlus) August 3, 2012
Next up to piss in the corn flakes: Salon writer Mary Elizabeth Williams, who frets that while Douglas is entitled to her faith, does she have to be so … out and proud?
Douglas isn’t exactly the only outspoken Christian in America – or even the only high-profile Christian athlete…. But her newly minted status as a champion and her unguarded outspokenness about her faith are going to give her a new platform from which to preach. After her win Thursday, Douglas said, “I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me.”
She’s a 16-year-old with both deep faith and profound gratitude, a girl who yesterday tweeted from the Psalms to her followers, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me” and Friday sent out a retweet from the Faith in God feed. And that clearly authentic image of a hardworking girl with strong values makes her a natural icon to her fellow Christians, just as it makes the somewhat less faithful uncomfortable.
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You, out there in the Twitterverse … admit it. Isn’t Gabby Douglas making you uncomfortable, just a little bit? Can’t we just relax and enjoy our Chick-fil-A kiss-in in peace without all of this preaching?
Did God help Gabrielle Douglas win? http://t.co/O2U8C6mm This article is a little unnerving. Why does the writer care about Douglas' faith?
— Raptorial (@Raptorial) August 3, 2012
Salon writes 'Did God help Gabrielle Douglas win?" But they probably don't believe in God, so does it matter?
— Elisabeth Eyre (@eeyrehead) August 3, 2012
Gabrielle – tone down the God stuff, it makes Mary Elizabeth Williams nervous- but no better a writer via @Neal_Dewing http://t.co/nbOVphRB
— Sam Schulman كافر| ن (@Sam_Schulman) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/Neal_Dewing/status/231477229857681408
@Neal_Dewing They are reassuring one another as their numbers dwindle.
— Sam Schulman كافر| ن (@Sam_Schulman) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/Neal_Dewing/status/231477761359880192
Would the rest of you retweeting Douglas’ quote about God’s blessings mind keeping it down? You’re unnerving people, and this is a public forum.
What God has programmed, nobody can delete it. Gabrielle = heroin of God. Douglas = USA Gold. Who can battle with the Lord??
— john boyega’s angsty accent. (@sopixturesque) August 3, 2012
Gabrielle Douglas #TeamUSA give all glory to God!!! YES
— KristieSexton (@ksextonbarnett) August 3, 2012
@gabrielledoug Congratulations Gabrielle! God has truly blessed you! Sending you love all the way from Bermuda! Keep it up!
— Lashonna Smith (@LashonnaLSmith) August 3, 2012
Gabrielle Douglas sure has been evangelizing. She gets the Gold & God gets the Glory! Ever notice Gold and God in her name?! @gabrielledoug
— Cari Vines (@SpeakBeautiful) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/lesleymyrick/status/231488637026586624
Gabrielle Douglas is on my TL giving God the glory he deserves. Yall should take notes.
— Ivory Pearl (@IvoryPearlB) August 3, 2012
@gabrielledoug @Juliakenzo wow! This nearly made me cry…Gabrielle, you made history–the UnitedStates is so proud of you & grateful 2 God!
— terrisriley⚖️ (@terrisriley) August 3, 2012
"I believe in God. He is the secret of my success. He gives people talent." ~ Gabrielle Douglas””// This is something to hang on to!
— Kimberly Y. Moore Daring Greatly CEO @GoTogether (@kymoore1) August 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/SpinkyPets/status/231487883339501569
https://twitter.com/saphire7711/status/231426714205581315
@gabrielledoug Love that you give God the glory Gabrielle! You are blessed and we love you! Keep going for excellence and God!
— Bishop Glenn Collier (@GlennCollier) August 3, 2012
Wait, who was it again who was made so uncomfortable by all this God talk? Ah yes, it was one of Williams’ unnamed colleagues, who said to her, “I would like her more if she were not so, so, so into Jesus.”
Gabby, don’t you want people to like you?
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