Australian rugby union superstar Israel Folau made waves by a social media post which urged sinners of all kinds to repent with a list of verses from the Bible. The Rugby Union Player's Association quickly denounced and distanced itself from the comments, and reports say Folau will be sacked for his repeated transgressions. According to reports it was his lumping in of homosexuality in a list of sins where the Player's Association has lost patience, as he has been warned about this in the past.
Tracey Homes wrote an article on the ABC website and brought up points to consider should Folau be fired as a consequence of his social media posts: "Are his posts inciting violence? Do they qualify as "hate speech"? If the answer is yes, then what does it say about the future of others in the game who hold the same views or religious beliefs? For too long those who identify as LGBTQI felt they had to be silent if they wanted to be accepted in sport — that is changing, and sports like rugby in Australia are helping create environments that are far more welcoming. The danger is that rather than ending the silence, another group now faces the prospect of being silenced." Because Folau was seen to "vilify" particular sinners, he is now viewed by many as a hateful and homophobic villain. My opinion on whether Folau should have posted what he did or the response of the union counts for nothing so I will not weigh in on it. It seems the opinions of people are often only noticed when they offend someone. What I can say with certainty is severe consequences like these towards people who believe and proclaim the scripture is to be expected and predictable.
It didn't take long for the news outlets who reported the firing of Israel Folau to dredge up an old video of him preaching and disparaging Christmas and Easter. Again, the points he makes are his own and I see no reason to bat him or them around. The point I take from this it is a graceless world in which we live where everything we say and do can and will be used against us. Instead of cowering in fear or silence, however, we ought to continue to speak the truth in love: our words should not be uttered to stir the pot, accuse, or condemn but humbly as we are led by the Holy Spirit. Men who feared God in both the Old and New Testaments (and Jesus Himself!) were persecuted and punished for speaking the truth revealed by God. Paul said as a matter-of-fact in 2 Timothy 3:12-13: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." When a person makes a stand for Jesus and the Bible as the Word of God, persecution and vilification is part of the deal.
In this perfect storm of social media, political correctness, and the fierce collision of worldviews, those who hold fast to God's Word can expect to cop a beating. Praise the LORD there is abundant consolation in Jesus Christ for all the pains we endure, regardless of whether we deserve punishment or are censured unfairly. The faithful followers of Jesus who were upbraided, threatened, and beaten for teaching in the name of Jesus, Acts 5:41-42 reveals how we too ought to respond: "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." To all who agree with God's Word and admit they are sinners and need saving, Jesus is the only Saviour.
Tracey Homes wrote an article on the ABC website and brought up points to consider should Folau be fired as a consequence of his social media posts: "Are his posts inciting violence? Do they qualify as "hate speech"? If the answer is yes, then what does it say about the future of others in the game who hold the same views or religious beliefs? For too long those who identify as LGBTQI felt they had to be silent if they wanted to be accepted in sport — that is changing, and sports like rugby in Australia are helping create environments that are far more welcoming. The danger is that rather than ending the silence, another group now faces the prospect of being silenced." Because Folau was seen to "vilify" particular sinners, he is now viewed by many as a hateful and homophobic villain. My opinion on whether Folau should have posted what he did or the response of the union counts for nothing so I will not weigh in on it. It seems the opinions of people are often only noticed when they offend someone. What I can say with certainty is severe consequences like these towards people who believe and proclaim the scripture is to be expected and predictable.
It didn't take long for the news outlets who reported the firing of Israel Folau to dredge up an old video of him preaching and disparaging Christmas and Easter. Again, the points he makes are his own and I see no reason to bat him or them around. The point I take from this it is a graceless world in which we live where everything we say and do can and will be used against us. Instead of cowering in fear or silence, however, we ought to continue to speak the truth in love: our words should not be uttered to stir the pot, accuse, or condemn but humbly as we are led by the Holy Spirit. Men who feared God in both the Old and New Testaments (and Jesus Himself!) were persecuted and punished for speaking the truth revealed by God. Paul said as a matter-of-fact in 2 Timothy 3:12-13: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." When a person makes a stand for Jesus and the Bible as the Word of God, persecution and vilification is part of the deal.
In this perfect storm of social media, political correctness, and the fierce collision of worldviews, those who hold fast to God's Word can expect to cop a beating. Praise the LORD there is abundant consolation in Jesus Christ for all the pains we endure, regardless of whether we deserve punishment or are censured unfairly. The faithful followers of Jesus who were upbraided, threatened, and beaten for teaching in the name of Jesus, Acts 5:41-42 reveals how we too ought to respond: "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." To all who agree with God's Word and admit they are sinners and need saving, Jesus is the only Saviour.
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