A few weeks ago, Australia’s number one rugby star, Israel Folau, responded to a question on God’s plan for gay people by saying, in effect, that “they will go to hell, unless they repent of their sins”.
It’s now nearly three weeks since Israel made those comments, and the reactions, both in support and in condemnation, have been slowly growing from a grass fire to a raging bush fire. It hasn’t helped that his wife, New Zealand netball star, Maria Tutaia Folau, has come out in support of her husband.
I am a minister of religion, ordained at the Uniting Church in Australia, but now serving as a parish minister in Papakura, Auckland, in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
When I first saw Israel’s comments, I cringed. I wished he had never made them. First, because they could have consequences for gay people. Second, because they don’t represent the core values of the Christian faith and the primary message of Jesus. And third, because Israel’s comments may not reflect who he really is.
I certainly share the sentiments of that famous quote (wrongly) attributed to Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
But the right to say what we want comes with responsibilities. Freedom is not without limits.
In this case, Israel is irresponsible for not taking the time to consider the likely adverse effects of his comments on vulnerable people — and it appears he hasn’t taken the time to reflect on his status in wider society, and how his words and actions would impact on his fans.
Israel and Maria Folau are probably the biggest stars in their respective sports — rugby in Australia and netball in New Zealand. As such, they’re role models for aspiring young rugby and netball players, especially in the Pacific Islands community. Their fans look up to them, whether they like it or not. It’s a responsibility they have tacitly accepted by playing their sports at the highest level.
On the other hand, gay people are perhaps the most maligned people in our society. And while some have developed confidence and strength in themselves and their sexuality, I suspect the majority are fragile and vulnerable. Condemnations of their beings by their role models could have lethal consequences for some, especially the youngsters.
This is something that the Folaus might not have known. If they knew, but didn’t care, that would be very sad and very un-Christian.
I feel sorry for them, but they can’t hide behind the veil of being misconstrued. Writers and speakers must take responsibility for how their words might be construed. They should also know that they have no control on how people might interpret their words.
Nor can they hide behind the fact that Israel was only quoting from the Bible. Once we appropriate words by others, those words become ours. Both Israel and Maria have shown immaturity in their reckless use — or abuse — of the Bible.
They also can’t hide behind the curtain of faith.
I know the church used “fire and brimstone” tactics to scare people into conversion and to control people.
I know there are still a lot of pastors using these tactics, especially those that have never set foot inside a theological college.
I also know the majority of Pacific people and churches share this understanding of Christianity.
But I know this is not the way Jesus expressed his faith and understanding of God.
The core values of the Christian faith are clearly articulated by Jesus, who, when asked what were the most important commandments, broke it down to just two: to love God, first and foremost, and to love your neighbour. This is the crux of the law given to Moses.
It expresses Jesus’ understanding of God as like a mother who loves the child born of her own womb. That’s the meaning of the Hebrew word for love that Jesus used. The highest expression of this love is to give one’s life so others may have life. This is what Christianity is about: to love and not to judge.
The Christianity of judgment and condemnation is very much the creation of the apostle Paul. It reflects his background as a Pharisee.
Paul, who wrote the 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 verse that Israel quoted, struggled throughout his ministry to reconcile the Pharisaic principles of being God’s moral police, and the exclusion of those who didn’t make the moral cut, with Jesus’ inclusive and unconditional love for the sinner.
People love Paul’s theology, because it makes them feel good. But they don’t realise that by passing judgment on others, they’re also condemning themselves — for we all have sinned.
Christians are not God’s moral police, because Christianity is not about living a moral life. Christianity is about living a divine life — living life as if we are Jesus the Christ of God. This life offers life to others. It’s a life of love in words and deeds. It’s a life lived for others.
By not offering love to the vulnerable and the “little ones” that Jesus loved, the Folaus have condemned themselves.
The truly sad thing is that the condemnation that the Folaus are now copping may not reflect who they are. We’ve heard comments from people who know them, people like Michael Jones and others, who say Israel and Maria are nice people — and I’ve no reason to doubt that.
I know it’s hard to live in the bubble, but this is why public figures need to be careful with what they do and say, especially given the world of high-tech communication in which we now live.
I hope that people will forgive the Folaus, but I also hope the Folaus will recognise the flaws of their position and the harm they might have caused — and apologise to those they’ve victimised.
I hope, too, that they and others have learned useful lessons. Take time to think through your actions and words, and leave biblical interpretation to those trained for the task.
The issue of homosexuals in the Bible is complex, and is highly misconstrued and misunderstood. But Jesus is the point of reference if you need some insights. Offer love, not judgment and condemnation — that’s the key value of the Christian faith.
Be Christ to those you meet in your journey of life.
Rev Apelu Tielu took over the Papakura Pacific Islanders’ Presbyterian Church four years ago. He was born in Sāmoa, and was an economist before training as a minister in Australia. He has a degree in education with a major in mathematics, honours degrees in applied genetics and theology, and postgraduate degrees in economics.
Related reading:
Israel Folau’s demise is also partially ours, by Patrick Thomsen.
Why is God and sexuality so bloody difficult? by Māmari Stephens.
No one’s exercise of free speech should make another feel less free, by Moana Jackson.
Losing my religion, by Moana Maniapoto.
Our religion and culture kept us both in fear, Phineas Hartson.
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Being trained at a theological college does not necessarily make you correct. Many attended Knox Theological College, just to name one, and graduated no longer believing in the virgin birth, or the Resurrection of Christ. Theologians are no more subject to error than many lay people, because they are people that were once lay people themselves. At many theological institutions one gets taught how to interpret the Bible according to other theologians, not necessarily through directly relying on the Holy Spirit revealing the things of God. There are Theological colleges that actively preach against the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, and some mainline denominations have adopted those theological stances. Doesn’t make them right. In our haste to denigrate Paul’s writing to the level of uninspired scripture, we better be sure we are not adding or subtracting from the authority of Holy Spirit inspired writing. That indeed would be a dangerous exercise.
Easy believerism is the fruit of not telling the truth for fear of offending someone. In today’s PC climate those wishing to avoid offence would have Yeshua HaMashiach tapping the money changers on the hand and saying “could you please consider not doing what you are doing for a bit?”
With all due respect, many of those people who endorse Israel’s views appear to lack a sufficient education in theology, namely biblical interpretation, as they fail to understand many of the biblical nuances pointed out by Rev Apelu Tielu. Also, it is easy for them to sit in their heterosexual ivory towers and judge gay people who are born gay. As a gay man, I can think of nothing worse than sleeping with a woman. It would be the same as asking a heterosexual man such as Israel to sleep with another man. I wish Israel all the best, however, he really needs to re-learn theology through a more nuanced lens as well as develop respect and empathy for others.
Folau should keep his opinion to himself and his family/friends only!!!( If he wants to help)
Everyone should live life to the fullest!
On that glorious day, one by one in front of our Jesus Christ to judge us and what we did on earth…so leave everything to him as he’s the ONLY ONE!
Paul was talking to and chastising Christians. It’s not the job of Christians to be the moral voice in the world, it’s only to love their neighbour and support each other in this life. I agree whole heartedly with you on this.
I disagree on your take on Paul and ‘lay’ folk understanding of scripture.
Paul’s gospel is one of forgiveness and grace, the opposite of judgement and condemnation.
The old covenant was one of judgment, Paul clearly wrote about the new covenant and reserved his most scathing comments for those who tried to bring Christians under the law.
Then there’s your statement “……and leave biblical interpretation to those trained for the task.” This is a really catholic mindset raising the ugly spectre of ‘priest verses lay’ and brings all lay Christians, who dare read scripture for themselves, under the condemnation you condemn.
I dont agree with his hate or now trying to cover what he said.
I also disagree with a millionaire not paying his own legal fees and if he does win gaining more from hate.
Written Friday 21 June 2019 to Israel Folau
Israel, Israel, God is calling, calling thee from lands of woe…He is telling you to give your donations from the GoFundMe page to the sick, the needy, the hungry, the homeless, the poor and less fortunate.
HUMBLE YOURSELF AS A CHILD.
You have made millions of dollars and many fans through your elite sporting commitments, a chance that not many great sports people could ever achieve…many people struggle and don’t ask for handouts and yet a man of your calibre has no shame to ask for millions for your actions, yes your actions.
Through a simple lack of poor judgement you encountered you were terminated from a sporting career that has won many fans over. And look where you are now! Begging for help! The sick and afflicted cannot get $10,000 let alone $3,000,000..do you see the picture?
Yes you have a right to your opinion but could you not just sit back and not judge? Who are you to judge another when you walk imperfectly? You are not now and will not be the judge, ruler and jury of how another person, another human being walks their journey in this life.
Humility is one of the biggest attributes a Christian can emulate, yours is not to be seen. Maybe once, but not now.
Your sport was your livelihood and now you are asking for others to donate their livelihood for your mistake.
What would Jesus do ??
Retract those funds and donate it where it should be. Walk in a robe and sandals and show real humility.
Israel Folau supporters here say “Truth Hurts”. But Jesus continually condemns teachers of the law and Pharisees for the “Truth” of their judgemental preaching of the law. Matthew 23:15 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”
Or again in Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Why would someone go to hell because they loved? Doesn’t make any sense to me? When I see my cousin and his husband hold hands or being there for each other through the loss of a parent I don’t think ” aww hes going to hell” I think wow I wish that love and understanding for myself and others.
This is why so many people have no respect for Christianity. One Christian is quoting abhorrent beliefs from the bible and another tries to repaint them to sound more benign. Not only that but both would be perfectly happy to impose Christian religious instruction on children in our secular state primary schools.
There is a way to present God’s word to people. But I believe that Israel Folau should consider searching his own life whether he’s on the right path with God because Paul says in Romans 3:10
As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; I wish Folau can see the story of the woman that committed adultery when condemned by the Pharisees and how Christ dealt with the matter.
I hope that by the grace of God, Israel Folau will be more careful how to present the word of God and I’m not saying that I’m better than Folau, we will always be learners of the scriptures till Jesus comes the second time. My prayer is that we should still love those who may not agree with us. By the way I do not agree Folaus method of taking the case to the law, if he really has the faith of Jesus Christ he would have prayed to God to take care of the matter. God bless you and your family always and the Folau family. Jnr
I strongly agree with my
I strongly agree with my colleague, Apelu Tielu. I have studied the Bible and its background, culture and history, some of its original Greek New Testament language and the text itself.
What has been said in this article is accurate.
For those who see it as “written in black and white”, might I suggest some in-depth study is required. There is so much of the culture and language of Jesus’s time that is so different and strange to what is generally understood today, that such study is completely necessary if people really want to truly understand what Jesus and James and Paul and John and Peter… actually said and meant.
Great article!!
I wish more Christians
I wish more Christians thought as Reverend Apelu Tielu does; perhaps if I had encountered people like him as a young Gay man, I might have been led into Christianity.
I did not. The judgmentalism and outright hatred and fear I received from followers of the Abrahamic faiths on an almost daily basis turned me away forever from all three of them. Israel and Maria Folau’s comments have only served to reinforce for me that my decision to reject those distorted and distorting theologies was the right one.
Reverend Apelu Tielu makes excellent points about the responsibility of people like the Folaus in their public comments, about the ways in which people use Christianity to support their own fears and prejudices, and about the ways in which Christianity can be read to heal, rather than to harm.
Many, MANY more Christians need to come to the realisation that, unless they are prepared to embrace that which they most fear in the world – NOT the “fear of God”, but of their fellow Humans – they will forever be one step short of the true message and true understanding of their prophet.
I’m hundred percent support
I’m hundred percent support what Israel said. He is not jurgemental he is helping set them free weather we like I or not. The word of God is like a sword is pearceing thru our hearts and souls not only to rebuke,correct,teach and bless the way we live,not only Christian but non Christian so that ii y the word of God is there for everybody. Yes love each other like we love ourselves so If you see your sons,daughters, brothers,sisters etc are gonna fall into the pit would you stand back and let them fall? I guess not we all gonna help them even if it hurt and if we didn’t want to but we must to show how much we love them. So Israel is saying I out of love to save our brothers and sisters from the erro of their lives yes no one is perfect but we gonna help each others to live in a perfection lives thru our Lord Yahshuas name becos He is perfect in every ways. God bless you all.
So, like most amateur preachers,(nothing wrong with that in my opinion. ) Israel Folau picks and chooses from Holy Writ what he condemns (why for example has he totally and grossly ignored the Levitical condemnation against tattoos (Leviticus 19:28)…which curiously (in chs 18-19) stand alongside each other. More importantly look at 19:16 : “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord.)
Given that it is clear that gay-identified teenagers are three times (at least) more likely to attempt suicide….what responsibility do the Folaus’ take for contributing to this. Apparently none!
Jesus said nothing regarding homosexuality. These people like Israel Folau cherry pick the Bible to reinforce their bigotry. The quote he used is from Paul – who never saw Jesus or heard him speak.
Christian values are great but most Christian’s don’t actually live their lives in a Christian way
They choose the bits that suits them most
Hypocrisy is a feature of many worshipers without them realising it
Folau’s beliefs and values do not fit into today’s world
I don’t go to church but I will pray for him
Pray that he will re-evaluate his terrible public outbursts and repent for his stupidity and ignorance
So, Rev Tielu’s public view
So, Rev Tielu’s public view of the Bible VS Folau’s. Rev suggests leaving Bible interpretation to the trained. But after reading his piece I’m not sure whose view is more harmful: 1) To the gay community by Folau’s condemnation of their sexuality, or 2) To the Christian community by Rev’s, (i) Condemnation of St Paul, saying, “The Christianity of judgment and condemnation is very much the creation of the apostle Paul. It reflects his background as a Pharisee”, and (ii) His view that the ‘fire and brimstone’ message is just a scare tactic used by some pastors to scare people. He says, “I know the church used “fire and brimstone” tactics to scare people into conversion and to control people. I know there are still a lot of pastors using these tactics, especially those that have never set foot inside a theological college.”
Folau may not be ‘trained’ but what he says is a Biblical fact for it says so in the Bible. On the other hand the Rev’s views in parts (i) and (ii) are very much his personal opinion, as he is only disagreeing with what the Bible says. Hell fire is a place for the damned mentioned elsewhere in the Bible even by Jesus by his parables. If it were a scare tactic then Jesus was the first to use it. Before St Paul, John the Baptist condemned King Herod for his adulterous affair with his brother’s wife. So it wasn’t a creation of St Paul; and it’s preached foremost to warn people. It so happens that sinners get sacred of hearing it. There is no better way of warning people (or gays in this case) but to say it straight to their face, for at the end of the day, if saying it hurts their feelings but benefits their souls, what greater love can we give to our neighbour.
I dont see any problem with
I dont see any problem with Folaus comment .I wonder what is a big deal about it ? He is expressing his love to LGB community to turn away from this kind of life and live right ..we will all go to hell if we dont seek the path to life and its is through Jesus Christ ..so what is the big deal about his comment..? I see a lot of people they call themselves Christian but they are against what they have taught by the bible …The words of God need to be told whether it fit in our own daily life or not , because it dosent change the truth ..the rightiousness will go to haven while sinner is heading to hell….but we still have a chance while we still breath to repent and live right because if we die , our condemnation is eternity ..I know for sure Folau dosen’t hate LBG community..hes expressing his love for them to change their life now or never . They got a free will to live their own life now but what if they die and knowing that noone tell them what was right and end up in hell for eternity …I think people need to get over it and move on and decide for themself what they want and leave Folau comment as it is because there is nothig wrong with it …
I don’t understand why the
I don’t understand why the very people who profess to be Christian are trying to say that Izzy is wrong and there is no love in that. God is Love according to the book of James but also gives us very high standards to live by too. Folau answered the persons question with the truth of the bible. Just because people get offended by the truth it doesn’t need Tom Dick and Harry to further explanation either because it’s black and white.
As a matter of fact we are all destined to hell if we don’t repent and ask for forgiveness either so what’s so offensive about that? It’s the truth. It’s hard to swallow but it’s the raw truth. There’s no other way of saying it. How would you answer it if you were asked a question? We’re not here to beat around the bush either.
I disagree with what he
I disagree with what he accuse Folau of, I read his response to that question and didnt find any hate or discrimination in it. What the media and the people against Folau have been posting is full of anger, hate and discrimation. Call him a hypocrite and immature, a bigot, homophobic and so much more. Many priests they against Folau because they do not want people to hate them. If we love our neighbour and disrespect our parents we still sin until we repent and turn from our wicked way to the Lord. Therefore i’m stand with Folau.. TRUTH IS HURT AND SATAN STAND FOR THE RIGHT.
Matthew 23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Has this happened to you?
Israel gives a true message
Israel gives a true message as mentioned in the old testament that it is a sin for man. And its something to make us aware and do something about it while we still breath and given the time by God. It discussed by many to twist the truth of it? If a heart repent there is hope and blessed is who does gives the message and gain a heart to God.
Thank you for your insight.
Thank you for your insight.