Hillsong founder passes on advice to Israel Folau

The Bible itself reveals what is important and essential to the Christian faith. These essentials are the deity of Christ, salvation by God’s grace and not by works, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel, monotheism and the Holy Trinity. These are the main “essentials” that we should understand and believe if we are followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s look at all of these in a little more detail. 

The deity of Christ. Quite simply, Jesus is God. While Jesus never directly says, “I am God” in the Scriptures, He makes it very clear to those around Him, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, that He is God. John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus was claiming deity, and, interestingly enough, He did not deny that He was God. Another example is John 20:28, when Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!” Again, Jesus does not correct Him by saying that He is not God. There are many other examples one can find in the Scriptures regarding Jesus’ rightful place in heaven. 

Salvation by grace. We are all sinners separated from God and deserving of eternal punishment for our sin. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for the sins of mankind, giving us access to heaven and an eternal relationship with God. God did not have to do this for us, but He loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son. This is grace, and it is most definitely undeserved favor. Scripture tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor or gain access to heaven apart from His grace.

“First and foremost, I live for God now. Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that’s not to continue on playing, so be it,” he said.

“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first,” Folau told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Israel Folau has said he is not worried if the anti-LGBT comments he made on social media last week end his rugby career.

Folau faces being sacked after the Australia Rugby Union (ARU) threatened to terminate his contract unless he could give “compelling mitigating factors” for the post he made on social media.

The 30-year-old listed homosexuals as one of eight groups of people for whom “hell awaits”, receiving a tidal wave of criticism for the controversial post, which was not the first made by devout Christian Folau.

Hillsong founder and pastor Brian Houston has called on Israel Folau to abandon his judgmental attitude and embrace love rather than trying to scare people to side with his religious beliefs.

While expressing his admiration for Folau’s conviction and declaring the paramount need for freedom of religion in Australia, Houston — who for more than a decade was the National President of the Australian Christian Churches — said his experience showed instilling fear was more likely to alienate people.

“As Christians it is equally important to look at ourselves and our own failings and imperfections,” Houston wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald.

“If you look at the list of sins that Izzy listed there’s not too many people he’s left out, including Christians. There isn’t a person on earth who hasn’t told a lie or put something before God (idolatry).

“In 40 years of telling people about the good news of Jesus, I have seen that the ‘turn or burn’, approach to proclaiming the message of Christianity alienates people. Scaring people doesn’t draw them into the love of Jesus.

“The world doesn’t need more judgmental Christians.”

Houston also said he hopes Folau grows to understand the importance of Christians loving even those who believe differently, and believes the rugby star could benefit from looking inwardly before judging others.

Brian Houston has some advice for Israel Folau.Source:News Corp Australia

Following his Instagram post which claimed “hell awaits” people such as “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”, The Australian reports Rugby Australia (RA) is set to serve Folau with a breach notice.

Well, that didn’t take long. For daring to share some Scripture passages on his own social media page, Australian rugby star Israel Folau has been given the boot – all in the name of tolerance and inclusion of course. As one report puts it:

Israel Folau is set to be sacked following his social media posts on Wednesday night, leaving the Wallabies’ preparations ahead of September’s World Cup in chaos. A year after telling gay people that they were destined for hell on Instagram, the 30-year-old doubled down on his hateful, harmful rhetoric by sharing a meme that informed the masses that hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” on the social media platform.
www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/it-is-our-intention-to-terminate-his-contract-rugby-australia-to-sack-israel-folau/news-story/8dc44f656f18a9a69d8540362c75e89b?fbclid=IwAR0KVHiQwfHrEJazcPTVUAZCsD4l7ykMTKFBk4pylT5edGE5WClXDF5jJpI&nk=6f34e64bb32ba5e868f86c019617cddf-1554978934

Source

Hmm, “hateful, harmful rhetoric”? Nothing like throwing in some editorialising with your reporting mate. But this is always how the tolerance crowd operates – drone on and on about it all the time, but refuse to practice it when it comes to Christians and conservatives.

Of course it is not hard to see why the persecution of Folau was so swift and severe: Qantas, headed by a homosexual, is a major sponsor of the Wallabies. They are not really into love and acceptance. Qantas boss Alan Joyce said a few years back that if you are not pro-homosexual you should not fly with Qantas: billmuehlenberg.com/2016/04/27/godless-corporations-rampant-discrimination-blackmailing-christians/

The publication also reports senior Wallabies and Waratahs players will be consulted about what they believe should happen to the veteran.

Unless Folau accepts his breach notice — ultimately giving RA the power to terminate his four-year, $4 million contract — his fate will be determined by a Code of Conduct hearing.

After a meeting with RA powerbrokers last week it was reported Folau made it clear he will fight to save his career and while the sport’s governing body declared it intends to sack him, there remains the possibility the matter may be headed for the courts.

RA boss Raelene Castle and Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore will address the media this afternoon to provide an update on Folau’s situation after Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and captain Michael Hooper spoke to reporters earlier today.

Cheika said Folau’s remarks make it difficult to envision the 30-year-old being part of the Wallabies’ plans for the World Cup in Japan, starting in September. “You wouldn’t be able to,” Cheika said when asked whether he’d be able to select Folau again under the circumstances.

Asked if he was comfortable taking the field again alongside Folau, flanker Hooper said: “In this current state and being here and talking about this as a rugby player, it makes it hard, it makes it difficult.”

Folau has put his teammates and coaches in an awkward position.Source:Getty Images

While emphasising what their teams stood for, especially in regards to diversity, Cheika and Hooper also stressed Folau was entitled to his beliefs. However, Cheika said Folau had “crossed the line” with his latest Instagram post after being told last year similar social media activity would not be tolerated.

“Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team’s about,” Cheika said.

“When you play in the gold jersey, we represent everyone in Australia — everyone. Everyone that’s out there supporting us. We don’t pick and choose.

“We want everyone on that wagon with us to the World Cup … or a Bledisloe Cup. We want everyone there fighting with us and standing with us.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Folau had a right to an opinion but had probably let himself down in the way he expressed his.

“Even this morning I read he firmly believes it so he’s just missing one piece of the jigsaw puzzle, I think,” Hansen said.

The Waratahs, who play Melbourne Rebels in a big Super Rugby Australian conference derby this weekend, have sidelined Folau and he refused to back down from his position, saying he’s prepared to walk away from the game for the sake of his faith.

“First and foremost, I live for God now. Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that’s not to continue on playing, so be it,” he said.

“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first,” Folau told the Sydney Morning Herald.

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