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Israel Folau: Is he homophobic?

As is now well known, Israel Folau is in the news for his recent post as per below.

This comes after his earlier statements concerning this.

What to make of all this as a Christian? 

First, in this blog, is Israel Folau homophobic? I argue to call him homophobic is incorrect for a range of reasons.

First, homophobia combines two Greek terms: homo which means “same;” and phobos, “fear.” Rightly used, homophobia would be “fear of the same,” or if we locate it in a sexual arena, “fear of people of the same sexuality,” or as it is used today, “fear of people in same-sex relationships.”

Aside from extremists like those who disgustingly stand outside church’s with placards repudiating homosexuality and those who want the death penalty (which Christ did not endorse and so no follower of Christ would advocate), no Christian is afraid of people in same-sex relationships. Rather, the opposite is the case. The command of Christ is not to be afraid of people who hold a different worldview is to love them, and indeed, love all people. This is the case even with an enemy who hurts us, and people who disagree with us or live a life that differs from the life we believe is endorsed by God.

As will be shown further below, Israel Folau loves all people. He, like all true Christians, practices "homophilia," a term that compounds homo (same) and philia (love), i.e., the love of those who are in same-sex relationships. Christ and those who truly follow him are not homophobes, they are homophiliacs. He is not afraid. Neither should anyone be. All people are to be loved with a love that wants the very best for them.

Second, Israel Folau’s comments do not call for any violence against homosexuals or any on the list that is given above. In fact, he advocates no actions. He is merely stating his view on what happens after death, not in this world. He is also not stating that he is the agent of this, the actor is God and this after death, not in this world. He is not a crusader urging Christians to take up arms to rid the world of sinners. He is speaking of after-death. He is stating what a person must believe and do on this side of death to avoid his view of what happens to people after death. His words cannot be defined as hate speech as there is no hate involved. It is not homophobia. Indeed, I am not sure why people other than those who believe in the afterlife would be even interested in his view. 

Third, why single out homosexuality and homophobia? Homosexuality is now normalized in many parts of the west including Australia where it was passed in December 2017. Gays and Lesbians can marry. They can raise a family. Gay relationships punctuate mainstream media. Israel picks out a list of other people who punctuate our nations: alcoholics, liars, fornicators (people who engage in sexual relationships outside of a heterosexual monogamous marriage), thieves, atheists, and idolaters. He quotes Galatians 5:19–21 which has an even greater list. He could add a lot more. Such people are everywhere. They are all over the churches of Australia and NZ.

So, why is the media, social and mainstream, picking out so-called homophobia and condemn him for this? Yes, there has been a sad history of maltreatment of homosexuals in wider society including many Christians who have sadly been involved in this (violating the clear teachings of Jesus). For this, with many, I ask forgiveness. Yet, why single it out in this statement? 

What about those with problems with alcohol like my dear sister who died through a drinking binge? Why am I not going on the media and slamming him for his condemnation of “drunks?”

This is because this is not homophobia any more than it is adulterer-phobia, liar-phobia, atheist-phobia, and so on (not that it is phobia at all, above). It is none of these; it is one clip of his view which is framed by his clear understanding that all are sinners, God loves all sinners, God wants Christians to love all people, and that in orthodox Christianity, all must place their faith in God and Christ for salvation.

Fourth, Folau is being misrepresented. Even if we consider that he is not doing it that well (see further in another forthcoming blog), he is speaking out of love, recognizes that it is not up to him to judge a particular person, and acknowledges his own sin.

On the 8 May, he placed a tweet in which he says, “with great love I wanted to share this video in the hope that people watch it and think about it. Jesus is coming back soon and he wants us to turn to him through repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) please don’t harden your heart.” This is where he comes from. I didn't hear an outcry against him over this. Why not? 

Folau has already expressed his opinion on his attitude in “Player’s Voice” (April 16, 2018: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/israel-folau-im-a-sinner-too/#2u85P5u1TWKiAqxt.97). Here are some of the things he said:

“People’s lives are not for me to judge. Only God can do that. I have sinned many times in my life. I take responsibility for those sins and ask for forgiveness through repentance daily.”

 “I believe that it is a loving gesture to share passages from the Bible with others. I do it all the time when people ask me questions about my faith or things relating to their lives, whether that’s in-person or on my social media accounts.”

“There are many sins outlined in that passage from 1 Corinthians [6:9–11] and I have been guilty of committing some of them myself.”

It is easy to take a clip from a tweet conversation and turn it into a basis to condemn someone. The media are brilliant at this, plucking one comment out of context, and using it for their ends—to get people to engage so that they can make more money (more on this in forthcoming blogs).

Yet, this is just one man expressing his view to the world. He is not homophobic. He believes all people are sinners and must repent to be saved.

Condemnation of him for this comment can easily become Christian-phobia (although that is the wrong word of course) or Christian-bashing. It can quickly become religious intolerance and religious persecution. Indeed, one may argue that this is now happening (more on this to come).

We have recently had a group of religious people in this nation attacked violently in a repugnant attack on their religion and persons. Allowing people to hold diverse views and express them without excessive over-reactions and labelling should be part of who we are. 

Let Israel tweet his tweets, after all, the American president does it and some of his tweets are ridiculous. They are not homophobic. They are annoying as they single out groups. They also annoy many Christians who are not into the way he is expressing himself. But let's don't over-react.