Israel Folau attracted considerable media attention about his social media post whilst responding to a question.
Born in Australia in April 1989 to Tongan parents, Folau has enjoyed a stellar football career for over a decade, having firstly represented Australia in rugby league and now is a champion international rugby union representative.
He is a committed Christian active in the Assemblies of God fellowship.
My high school economics teacher
…regularly drilled into us that we should always define our terms.
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines homophobia as an ‘intense aversion’ to homosexuals and homosexuality.
Whilst the thought police of China or Saudi Arabia do not yet operate here, we read that Israel is “set to have his contract terminated following ‘unacceptable’ homophobic and transphobic [? - emphasis added] comments posted on social media”.
But in an article dated April 16, 2018 as a Founding Contributor to Rugby magazine Israel wrote that ”People’s lives are not for me to judge. Only God can do that.”
Is he ‘anti-gay’? Does he have an “intense aversion”? Is he unacceptably homophobic? Or is the intense reaction by some critics motivated by over sensitivity or their own guilty consciences?
Will we accept God’s word?
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?…Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 9/10).
A slightly more modern version (where relevant) reads: …nor men who have sex with men…will inherit the kingdom of God.
These are not the words of Israel Folau. They are God’s words quoted straight from the Bible.
What will the folk described here inherit if they never change their ways?
Is God homophobic?
Shouldn’t He be hauled before some anti-discrimination board accused of being anti-gay?
For consistency sake shouldn’t God therefore also be charged with being anti-immorality, anti-adultery, anti-stealing, anti-drunkards, anti-slanderers and anti-swindlers?
What did Israel say that caused such a reaction?
Whilst perhaps not the most sensitive way of putting it, wasn’t it that hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.
Has anyone read in any newspaper or seen on television that adulterers, fornicators (habitual sex without marriage - a common practice in Oz) or atheists have loudly protested that Folau’s football contract should be torn up because they found his comments unacceptable?
Given that Rugby Australia (Folau’s employer) has threatened to tear up his contract, was it because of indignant righteous high principle about his alleged breach of contract (yet to be established by a court), or merely because of fear of lost sponsorships from openly secular capitalism and perhaps because of the perceived reaction of some rugby fans?
Israel has previously said that: “Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to Him”, echoing the words of divine patience and restraint that we should not:
show contempt for the riches of God’s kindness [by] not realising that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance. (Romans chapter 2 verse 4) . Not surprisingly, these words were not noted by his biased detractors.
Misuse of power?
This issue raises yet again for Oz the proper role of corporate Australia, which also broadens to the proper role of trade unions.
Should the unelected leadership of a company be able to use that company’s market power to influence/affect moral rights and comment thereon, and how far should the right of free speech (Israel’s in this case) be limited or totally obliterated by the wielding of such power?
Unchecked, there is the same potential for unelected leaders of trade unions to also use their industrial power to impact (for example) foreign policy as happened in the 1970s during the Whitlam government.
Should either branch of human activity be able to use their power in society about such matters and other areas (say) climate policy or the bounds of medical/genetic research for example?
Or should companies be legislatively restricted to operate and comment on commercial matters only and unions similarly about their members’ industrial rights and entitlements?
Silence by church leaders
Their silence has been deafening, and we Christians wonder about and lament the pale state and standing of the Christian church in society, justifiably seen as largely irrelevant.
And yet the countries that have the ‘rule of law’ firmly embedded in them (like Oz) are the most blessed on earth. All were settled with core Christian principles even though slavery and the exploitation of indigenous peoples may be a shameful part of their history. That rule cannot be claimed for in most of Asia, Africa or the Middle East.
King Asa received advice that the LORD is: with you when you are with Him. Sohe assembled all Judah and large numbers came over to him: when they ‘saw’that the LORD…was with him. (2 Chronicles chapter 15 verses 2&9).
Someone has said that unlike Jesus who turned water into wine, we are so afraid of offending anyone that we have successfully turned the wine of God back into water.
And John Calvin said: “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet remained silent.”
Remember Who’s on our side
Christians should be strong and stand up for God’s standards. That’s what Israel did.
In a vision God said to Paul: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am ‘with you’, and no-one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. (Acts 18 verses 9/10).
Disclaimer
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly and solely those of the writer and are not to be attributed in any way to Christian Today, Well-Being Australia or Press Service International.
Gavin Lawrie is a retired Barrister and Solicitor from Tweed Heads NSW Australia and author of the book: 'THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: Uncovering The Faulty Science Of Dawkins' Attack On Creationism'. He is married to Jan with two adult children and they are grandparents.
Gavin Lawrie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/gavin-lawrie.html
Gavin Lawrie is a retired Barrister and Solicitor from Tweed Heads NSW Australia and author of the book: 'THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: Uncovering The Faulty Science Of Dawkins' Attack On Creationism'. He is married to Jan with two adult children and they are grandparents.
Gavin Lawrie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/gavin-lawrie.html