Fox rejects John 3:16 Super Bowl ad, considers it controversial

By Shirley Evans
2/6/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

For a company that bills itself as 'fair and balanced,' Fox's actions seem to tip the scale in one definitive direction.

There are no preachers or ministers in the ad, no church or even a cross. The ad shows sports fans wondering aloud what the phrase "John 3:16" painted on a football player's eye black could mean, followed by a simple response: look it up.

The commercial refers to the Bible verse, John 3:16, for less than 2 seconds, painted on a football player's eye black.

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BIRMINGHAM, AL (Catholic Online) - Millions of dollars are made every year off the sale of 30-second Super Bowl commercial slots. These ads are frequently out-of-the-ordinary, hilarious, controversial or even downright depraved. This year, however, Fox Sports has labeled one seemingly innocuous Super Bowl ad as "religious doctrine" and much too offensive to be aired.

What indoctrinating language or insulting image could be depicted in this ad? None. This ad is banned simply because the commonly repeated Bible verse, John 3:16, is its premise. There are no preachers or ministers in the ad, no church or even a cross. The 30-second spot shows sports fans wondering aloud what the phrase "John 3:16" painted on a football player's eye black could mean, followed by a simple response: look it up. The viewer is then shown the Web address www.lookup316.com.

Many football players have written notes on the black smudges under their eyes, originally meant to block the glare of sunlight off of sweaty faces. Sometimes the eye blacks bear team logos, short notes to loved ones or, in the most recognizable case of University of Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, Bible verses.

John 3:16 contains the core of Christian faith: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Someone who is unfamiliar with the Bible verse may not even understand the reference. Those that are familiar with it may or may not choose to visit the website, but no one is informed of its meaning during the commercial. However, Fox Sports has decided that the mere existence of this phrase is enough to warrant banning the ad from the Super Bowl.

The John 3:16 commercial was produced by Fixed Point, a religious advocacy group based in Birmingham, Alabama. The group was set to pay about $3 million to have the ad aired on Fox Sports during the Super Bowl this Sunday, which will reach over 100 million viewers.

Religious leaders have expressed disappointment and confusion, especially since Fox commercials tend to be riddled with profanity and offensive images. Ads in the past have shown men kissing each other and scantily-clad women, among other sexually suggestive imagery.

However, the message of John 3:16 will get to the public regardless of Fox's views. Since the ban, Fixed Point has purchased local TV commercial spots in Alabama. The commercial will not air in other states, but is circulating quickly over the internet.

For a company that bills itself as "fair and balanced," Fox's actions seem to tip the scale in one definitive direction.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: super bowl, John 3:16, Bible, ad, commercial, Fox

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1 - 10 of 40 Comments

vance
2 years ago
Jeffrey, I welcome non-believers like yourself on this website. You guys keep we believers on our toes. I visit you guys on the Huffington Post and other sites to throw a little Christianity your way. Talk about nashing teeth!! Holy cow do I get it from them. Let's say that I get treated with crude vernacular. But I don't mind. Again I encourage all BELIEVERS to contact Fox and let them know how you feel. We 'BELIEVERS' make up a larger audience than 'NON-BELIEVERS'. That means a lot to them.
jAMIE
2 years ago
Yet when athiests try to put ads on buses there is nothing but outrage from Christians. But I'm sure all you good Catholics on this site were rallying in support of the free speech rights of athiests during that recent controversy. Otherwise you'd be a bunch of silly hypocrites who should not be taken seriously.

And let's not pretend you don't already dominate the airwaves while athiests and agnostics are routinely shunned. Not to mention your constant insistence that unbelievers are hell-bound. That is a little more offensive than two men kissing.
Tom
2 years ago
I am just curious regarding Fox's decline of airing the advertisement. Certainly there were others which were weeded out in the selection process. Rude, lude, socially unacceptable, controversial, not projecting a good image and certainly money proposed for the priveledge of reaching the millions. The contest of the game is to decide a winner and to allow financial supporters of the event the opportunity to promote their project (sell) for a price. 3:16 is a key belief of my life (cannot believe I am witnessing) but perhaps there is a better way to extend our Faith. Reach out as we are called to do one to another.
vance
2 years ago
Another great article. I agree with JeanCatherine. We Catholics should send in our objection to Fox for not running the John 3:16 Super Bowl ad. It is important for them to know what their audiance is thinking. If we say nothing, then they will asume that their decision was just fine. All the left-wingers above are jumping with joy over Fox's decision. If they saw something religious, they would choke on their nachos.
Paul Schilling
2 years ago
John 3:16 has been seen on placards all over the place during major sports events. Fox is just proving what moron's they are are by rejecting something simple and something as traditional as mom's apple pie.
Jeffrey Caperton
2 years ago
Not Afraid,

While your point is well taken, and perhaps venting your displeasure may have been justified at the visceral level, I feel that we should welcome non-believers to our site as we may very well be their introduction to the community of Christian believers. However, that said, I think we, as a community of Christian believers, need to "clean up our act" a bit because we need to set the Christian example. For instance, it is one thing to say to another, "I feel you are misguided", then list the reasons you feel this way; and still yet another to say "if you disagree with me, well, you're a Godless idiot". But I do welcome input from nonbelievers because I see the opportunity to spread Christian love, which is one of our many objectives as Christians. How they receive the message of Christian love is up to them; I am merely planting a seed. I, too, will pray for Rational and Ang and wish them "Peace".
asdf
2 years ago
So I know that the author isn't in the know here, but to all of the commentators...

You do realize that Fox (tv station), 20th century fox (studio), fox news, fox sports, and fox business are all different entities right?

Fox News is (according to them) "fair and balanced".
Fox News is owned by NewsCorp.
Fox the TV station, as well as Fox sports, are still owned by 20th century fox. they are, except for the name, completely unaffiliated.

Secondly, even as an atheist, I am a little shocked by this. There really is no reason to refuse an ad like this. There is nothing about American culture that demands it not be aired. But while I think the ad should have been played, I am happy that someone is finally being overly sensitive to my viewpoint like they have been to the christian viewpoint forever.
Wes Lisitza
2 years ago
Eddie in Pittsburgh - By your post, it's obvious that you're not very acquainted with Mr. Beck. Listen or watch his show - or better, read one of his books. He's not the monster many secular progressives make him out to be.

As for Fox News, they're a news network with a defined audience that brings in a majority of people from all over the spectrum of political thought. However, people selectively forget that sitting next to right wing ideologues like Sean Hannity and Brit Hume, there are left wing ideologues like Gerald Rivera, Greta Van Sustern, and Shepherd Smith. It's as much left wing as it is right wing.

As for the "social justice" thing, the term has been co-opted by a group that pushes euthansia, uninhibited abortion, and homosexual rights to marriage as civil rights in the public square. Some radical churches that push for specific agendas like this actually believe they're doing the work of Jesus according to the Bible, and they cherry-pick verses from each other to support as opposed to citing the whole verse in relation to the context of the verse. That's all that Mr. Beck was bringing up.
Not afraid
2 years ago
I find it sad that anti-believers come on to our website and mock us. Rational, Ang, you talk as if we are unaccepting, intolerant people, yet your adacity shows you as you are. You all say we are against personal freedom, you say things like abortion and gay marriage are personal freedoms, yet you call anyone who disagrees with you "haters", and "bigots". Yet you Atheists put up billboards mocking God. This shows it is not us who are the haters it is you all. I pray for you rational and ang but I cannot withhold the truth from my lips. Catholics Online doesn't edit your comments because we are unbiased, but if your kind of people had your way you would surpress religion and anyone who didn't agree with you. We Catholics, the truly accepting people, will pray that you all will be lifted from your petty hypocrisy. May God save you.
PhilipEdmund
2 years ago
Eddie in Pittsburgh, youre still upset over the Steeler loss! Just kidding, Im from Pittsburgh too. And Fox news and the network are ridiculous. Who would ever watch those loud mouthed, obnoxious, self serving (hateful), spiteful commentators. If they had their way, Sarah Palen, Rumsfield, any body named Bush, Haley Barber, Cheny, and Carl Rove would run everything. But actually those guys dont want to run it, just own it.

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