Today, it seems like Christianity is equated with what it’s against. Whether it’s women in ministry, preventing abortions or opposing same-sex marriage, Christians aren’t always known for their acts of mercy and compassion.
So it was an unpromising context in which Israel Folau, the rugby star, made his controversial post on Instagram two weeks ago. The wording even made Christians like me flinch:
Warning: Drunks. Homosexuals. Adulterers. Liars. Fornicators. Thieves. Atheists. Idolaters. Hell awaits you. Repent!
Although Folau added a comment about how God loves all people and wants to forgive them, the damage was done. Unsurprisingly, there was widespread condemnation from the general public, and his employers have stated their intention to sack him.
At the same time, many Christians have doubled down. Movements have sprung up to “support Israel Folau and free speech”, and others are saying this is yet another attack on religious freedom.
But to me, Folau’s post was incredibly damaging. In an age when Christians are known for “against-ness”, it was another reiteration of that judgment and condemnation that people associate with Christians, and not enough of the gospel.
But that’s not the only reason why Folau’s words were ill-advised.
His words alienated the people he was trying to speak to.
The Australia that Folau is living in is less Christian than ever. Church attendance continues to decline, biblical literacy is down and more people are ticking “no religion” on their census form.
Yet, to understand Folau’s words fully, you need Bible knowledge. In fact, you need a fleshed-out understanding of total depravity, as well as balance with God’s grace, to appreciate what Folau was trying to say.
And while I recognise Folau addressed the nuance in his comments, he was posting on social media – a medium not known for encouraging deep dives on theological issues.
So, in the context of all this, why are we surprised that offence was taken?
To me, Christian community seems to be at a strange crossroads. On the one hand, we are hyperaware that Christianity is no longer the cultural default in Australia. In addition, we understand how a person’s culture can colour how they understand the gospel, and we have whole swathes of studies dedicated to interpreting the gospel through cultural lenses.
However, at the same time, we’re consistently shocked when a shifting culture is understanding Christian ideas less and less. And instead of episodes like Folau provoking self-reflection, we’re seeing more Christians going to the mattresses against the hordes we assume just hate us.
What if the situation is more complex than that?
He also failed to understand the suffering of LGBTI people.
As Scott J. Higgins observed, if there’s any group of Christians who know the fear of hell, it’s LGBTI Christians in evangelical churches. It’s a key reason why so many of them have abandoned faith communities altogether, and many more have faced breakdowns and even suicide.
That’s why it’s so alarming that Israel Folau chose to blast LGBTI people with the phrase “hell awaits you”. For a community that’s had the label “abomination” drilled into them since medieval times, how is that helpful?
But here’s what’s even worse: Folau’s declaration leaves out half the equation. Arguably, the most important half for LGBTI people to hear: grace.
Christians know that we are all under condemnation except for God’s grace. Grace which exists for all people. You, me and everyone else would also have “hell awaiting them”, if it weren’t for the grace of God which is available to everyone if they choose to accept it.
Israel Folau may have thought he was “speaking truth boldly”. However, his way of communicating it was a particularly poor way to do so. As Scott J Higgins continues,
… communicating truth is never simply a matter of speaking propositions into the ether. Propositions are spoken into a context, and in our context Folau’s way of speaking is unlikely to succeed in communicating the holiness, compassion, grace and love of God to members of the LGBTI community. If a traditional view of sexuality is to be defended, this is certainly not the way to go about it.
Situations like the Israel Folau scandal should be a time for self-reflection, not just reaction.
Persecution from a hostile society is a real concern for many Christians. But why, oh why, do Christians seem to always interpret pushback as aggression, instead of a corrective?
Is it possible that Christians sometimes mean well and do badly?
Maybe Israel Folau’s words were unhelpful and wrong to speak into the climate we’re in.
Maybe his boldness wasn’t matched by his wisdom.
I know Folau’s sacking is a scary prospect for many Christians, and I don’t blame them. I’d hate to see a day when a person loses their job because of what they believe about God or the universe.
On the other hand, many employers today have policies around what their employees can post on social media. Many of my employers have told staff not to post about certain subjects, or at least to make it crystal clear the post is their own opinion.
So I don’t know how to resolve the issue. I can only hope what’s done is fair and just.
Israel Folau has now posted an extensive testimony, sharing why he holds his faith. Furthermore, he talked about how all people are equally lost and condemned without God, not just the categories of ‘sinners’ he mentioned in his post. He speaks with nuance and with personal warmth and love.
I just wish he’d done this in the first place.
This article was originally published here for Engage.Mail, a publication of the Ethos Centre for Christianity and Society.
I don’t think Folau was very wise in his wording of the meme, but I disagree that he left out grace.
The call for people to repent because “Jesus saves” (which is a line you left out when quoting the image he posted), is not a message of condemnation. It’s a message of grace. It’s the message Jesus begins his ministry with. Calling people to repent actually only makes sense in the context of grace and mercy. It’s saying, turn away from your sin and come to Christ because forgiveness and salvation is available.
I fear a big part of the church has lost the importance of calling for repentance and see it only as a statement of condemnation and judgement. It’s not at all. It’s a beautiful call.
I know Folau’s post could have expressed it better, but I am saddened by those that suggest his message was devoid of grace.
I disagree that Israel Folou was wrong in expressing his thought. Firstly, is his statements wrong? No. He was blunt, but Scripturally accurate.
The Christian world has abandoned speaking about judgement and instead has focussed on God’s love. The Church has been in decline and I believe one big factor is we want to be inclusive to the point that God is characterised as a Being of love alone.
This is not Scriptural, we are not called to make friends we are called to make disciples, Matthew 28:19.
We need to see Israel’s comments as an opportunity to share our faith. People are talking about it, and that is an opportunity to share our faith whether we agree with the comments or not. We can show God’s love in that Jesus died for the sins of the world. But we have to make it clear that there is sin, therefore judgement. All have sinned and fall short -Romans 3:23.
The Pulpit has forgotten judgement and hell and so have we. It is an act of selfishness to not warn others of the coming judgement. Today it seems many Christians would rather fit in than risk rejection or persecution. To be blunt given the history of our Christian heritage and the fact that today, in other parts of the world, other Christians are suffering for their faith we do not have the right to expect God to spare us from persecution. Jesus warns us of persecution, John 15:20. We are told to stand firm Ephesians 6:10-18, Meaning we stand firm no matter where the world around us is going.
God love is not showered on us no matter what we do. Yes God is love but the expression of that love is found in Christ – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life,John 3:16.
The word ‘that’ points to Jesus being God’s expression of His love. It is only through Jesus we will find God’s love. Outside of Jesus there is only judgement reserved for mankind. Those who believe in him shall not perish, therefore those who don’t believe in Him will perish.
Proverbs does not tell us -Love of God is the beginning of Wisdom it tells us ‘fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom’ Proverbs 1:7. Fear speaks of judgement, when we understand God is to be feared we begin to understand who he is and who we are.
Fear speaks of a Holy God who has the right over us to judge us. Christ took that judgement on himself for anyone who calls on him for forgiveness. If we don’t call on God to forgive us through his Son then God , the Holy One, will judge those who refuse to accept Jesus.
We should not see Israel’s post as wrong. It as an opportunity to share our faith. When someone says they disagree with His comments it is an opportunity for us to share our faith and give them a chance to see that Jesus loves them and offers forgiveness, but only in this life. It is appointed for all men to die, then comes judgement, Hebrews 9:27.
Is it love to accept anyone living in sin and not warning them they are going to judgment? If we don’t warn them then we don’t love them. Jesus was clear about warning us about judgement. Luke 13:22-29.
Right now God’s love is available for all who call on him, but that will not be the case for ever. One day each one of us will face judgement, and the ones of us who have asked for forgiveness through the blood of out Lord Jesus Christ will be spared. Of the others there will not be a single person who will escape judgement, otherwise Christ died for nothing.