If you are not familiar with what happened earlier this week when Jason Collins, an NBA player, who stated publicly that he was gay (apparently the first such participant in a major men’s professional sport to do so), click on this link and catch up. When you do, be sure and watch the video embedded in the article showing Chris Broussard’s comments when asked what he thought about the fact that Collins, the gay athlete, also claimed to be a Christian! Broussard’s answer was refreshing and uncommon in our present atmosphere. It was also brave—borne out by the fact that the article I am referencing concerns ESPN’s decision not to fire him-for exercising his first amendment rights!

But here is the part I am interested in. In the video, Broussard’s answer is rebutted by LZ Granderson, an ESPN contributor, who, as indicated by his comments, must be gay. Here’s what Mr. Granderson said:

“Well, my response is that faith, just like love, just like marriage is personal and that if you try to use a broad brush to paint everyone’s faith what you really are painting is a world which is comfortable for you and not a world in which, in this country, we’re allowed various forms of religion and just because someone doesn’t agree with one person’s interpretation of the Bible versus the other doesn’t mean that they have the exclusive rights to dictate what that person how that person should live.”

The idea of “personal” faith has taken on new meaning of late! It doesn’t just mean personal in the sense of privately held or arrived at out of the public spot light. Instead, it means personal and private interpretation. It means I can decide subjectively what Christianity is and bend it to fit my own personal lifestyle. It almost sounds as if Mr. Granderson is trying to say that in America we have been given permission to redefine Christianity to fit our whims, as though it is our right.

Mr. Granderson is correct in his understanding that he is free to say what he wants about Christianity and he is free to live how he wants and call it Christianity. For that matter he can bow down and worship a bag of sink stoppers if he wants to and call that Christianity. But that doesn’t make it true! Along these lines there is a growing disconnect between the Church and the culture. The Church is not saying that a person is not free to pursue whatever type of lifestyle the law allows them to, though we certainly reserve our rights to speak out and work towards more righteous laws. But we are saying that just because the law or public sentiment or Aunt Effie says something is right doesn’t make it so!

By the way, there is a difference between the truth that our nation allows us to have various forms of religion and the question of whether or not those religions are valid before Almighty God! The Bible defines Christianity, not America!

Categories: Culture Apologetic, Current Event

Tags: Broussard, Chris Broussard, Christianity, ESPN, Gay Christianity, God, Jason Collins, LZ Granderson, National Basketball Association