ESPN reporter says gay NBA player Jason Collins 'walking in open rebellion to God'

ESPN reporter Chris Broussard on Monday insisted that gay NBA player Jason Collins was not a Christian and was "walking in open rebellion to God."

After Collins announced he was gay in a column for Sports Illustrated on Monday, ESPN's Outside The Lines asked Broussard how he felt about the NBA player's claim that he was a Christian.

"Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly, like premarital sex between heterosexuals," Broussard opined. "If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits. It says that, you know, that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, whatever it maybe, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ."

"So I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the bible would characterize them as a Christian."

Gay ESPN contributor LZ Granderson pointed out that Broussard was painting a "world which is comfortable for you."

"In this country we're allow various forms of religion and just because one person doesn't agree with one person's interpretation of the Bible versus the other doesn't mean that they have exclusive rights to dictate how that person should live," Granderson said. "I would love not to have premarital sex, but in this country, I'm not allowed to get married."

In a statement posted later on Monday, Broussard defended his point of view.

"Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today's news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before," he wrote. "I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA."

"I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA," the ESPN reporter added.

Watch the following video from ESPN, broadcast April 29, 2013.

(h/t: Mashable)