Pioneer. Champion. The new Jackie Robinson. These are the accolades being heaped on Jason Collins for making the following announcement:
I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay. – Jason Collins
Gee, I didn’t know he was black. Glad he came out about that one.
But seriously, we have now reached a place in America when proudly proclaiming to the world that you probably enjoy post-game showers for more than the soap and shampoo makes you a hero in the eyes of the world. As if it takes a lot of courage for a multi-millionaire, 34-year-old, has-been athlete looking for post-retirement publicity to make such a politically correct announcement.
Good thing the folks at Nike are there for homosexual athletes to fall back on. I’d hate to see this guy homeless. But even if they weren’t there for him, he has the support of several upstanding individuals inside and outside the NBA. A few of the notables include:
Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others #courage #support #mambaarmystandup #BYOU – Kobe Bryant / NBA player and suspected rapist (charges were dropped when the victim elected not to testify in the case)
I have known Jason Collins since he was Chelsea’s classmate and friend at Stanford. Jason’s announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT community. – Bill Clinton / former US President and friend of Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, Jennifer Flowers, etc, etc, etc. . .
So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! – Michelle Obama / First Lady and proud of her country for a second time (here’s the first).
Note to Michelle: I think “got your back” has officially gained a new meaning. Might want to use something else in the future.
What a country, eh?
But the primary reason I write today deals with something Jason said in the Sports Illustrated interview:
I’m from a close-knit family. My parents instilled Christian values in me. They taught Sunday school, and I enjoyed lending a hand. I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding. (emphasis mine)
This belief is nothing more than an attempt to rewrite, re-interpret, and re-define Jesus to justify his lifestyle choices. The Bible is so opposite of this point of view that we now have the Queen James Bible—published with the removal of scriptures dealing with homosexuality in order to “remove homophobic interpretation.”
The false teaching that Jesus preached “tolerance” is one of the biggest frauds perpetrated on Christianity today (Billy Graham wrote a great message about “The Sin of Tolerance“). Unfortunately, there are too many today who accept this lie.
[Jesus] made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. – John 2:15
Do not suppose that I (Jesus) have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. – Matthew 10:34
Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! – Luke 12:51 (NLT)
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it – Matthew 7:14
Throughout the gospels, Jesus referred to the religious and political leaders of the day as “hypocrites,” “serpents,” and “brood of vipers.” He described them as “full of extortion and self-indulgence,” “full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
He was intolerant of those who rejected Him after seeing His miracles; intolerant of those who set aside God’s law to follow human tradition; and intolerant of “false christs” and “false prophets.”
Jesus wasn’t tolerant of sin; he was forgiving of sinners. He was non-judgmental while teaching and healing, while promising a future judgement of hell for the wicked. Jesus was so accepting that anyone could approach Him regardless of station or condition, and He was so demanding that many went away sad, disappointed, or angry.
In an age where having a healthy self-esteem has replaced preaching the need to crucify the flesh, it should come as no surprise that there are many “Christians” who not only accept homosexuality, but who are certain that God does too.
It has become regular practice to change the name or definition of a topic when losing an argument based on the facts:
- The murder of millions of unborn children isn’t an abortion—it’s reproductive choice.
- We don’t call the millions of people in the country illegally illegal aliens—they’re undocumented immigrants.
- Bi-sexual, homosexual, and transgendered behavior isn’t a choice—it’s an orientation determined at birth
At 34, Jason Collins is near the end of his career. With an average of only 2 points a game since 2006, along with questions about his ability to play defense at his age, this was likely be his last season. Now that he’s “come out,” I can guarantee that if his career does come to an end, the cries of discrimination will rain down like dollars at a Obama fundraiser.
And while we wait for that inevitability—along with the inevitable “me too” moments about to come from the NFL, MLB, and NHL—we should remember two very important things: Professional athletes who are practicing homosexuals are not heroes for doing so . . . and Jesus never taught tolerance.
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