It was back in the early days of 2019 that Australia was shocked to learn that one its greatest sports men, Israel Folau, was fired for quoting the Bible. Alan Jones, then host of his own show on Sydney radio said
“The Australia that our Anzacs fought for seems to be disappearing before our very eyes,” Jones said. “It prompts you to wonder what kind of society we’re living in.
“Nothing wrong with Israel, [Folau ] it’s the society and those who prosecute [and persecute ] him who are sick.
“But the cancer won’t kill us, it’s the cancer that will be removed, not Israel. The Australian people won’t accept this.
“This is not the Australia our veterans fought for and we’re going to have to take our country back by argument and by the democratic and peaceful process — not by hate and revenge or vilification and intimidation.”
Well, how wrong Jones was. For it appears that Australia did accept it and our country is a much changed place.
When a person can lose his job for quoting the most popular book ever written; the top selling book in all of history; the book that is the cornerstone of every Christian on this planet… when he can lose his job for quoting the Bible, things are darker and more dangerous than any of us could imagine.
At the time I wondered what the future held for Australia, my Christian background and my belief in freedom of speech. Firing a star player for quoting a passage from The Bible on his own personal social media account?
Yet it happened.
Israel Folau is a former Australian rugby union and rugby league player who gained significant attention not only for his prowess on the field but also for his outspoken religious views.
Born on April 3, 1989, in Minto, New South Wales, Australia, Folau initially made a name for himself in rugby league, playing for the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL). He later transitioned to rugby union and played for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby and the Australian national team, the Wallabies.
Folau's athletic abilities were widely recognized, particularly his exceptional skills as a fullback. He was known for his speed, agility, and ability to score tries, making him a valuable asset to any team he played for.
However, Folau's career became embroiled in controversy due to his expression of controversial religious beliefs, particularly regarding homosexuality. In April 2019, Folau posted on social media stating that "hell awaits" homosexuals unless they repent. This led to Rugby Australia terminating his contract, citing a breach of their code of conduct.
Folau contested his dismissal, arguing that it was a case of religious discrimination. The dispute led to a legal battle between Folau and Rugby Australia, which was eventually settled with a confidential settlement in December 2019.
Following his departure from rugby union, Folau returned to rugby league, signing with the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. Despite his talent, his controversial views continued to attract attention and debate.
Beyond his sporting career, Folau's public statements have sparked discussions about the balance between freedom of speech and the responsibility of public figures, as well as the intersection of religion and sport. While some have supported his right to express his religious beliefs, others have criticized him for promoting views deemed discriminatory and harmful. He currently plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Urayasu D-Rocks.
Back in 2019, Alan Jones read from a speech from politician Mark Latham gave in NSW parliament, calling it “one of the most magnificent political speeches I’ve read”.
In the speech Latham said:
“How did our state and our nation ever come to this?
“Those claiming outrage have fabricated their position solely for the purpose of censorship.
“By excluding a committed Christian, they (Rugby Australia) are making their game less inclusive.
“No Australian should live in fear of the words they utter.
“This is a stunning intrusion on workers’ rights.”
Jones continued his attack on the Folau decision after reading Latham’s words, saying he was “ashamed” of the sport which he once played an integral role in.
“Israel Folau, with my support and the support of millions of Australians, will take this fight every inch of the way,” Jones said.
“Rugby union preaches diversity — they really mean uniformity. They preach inclusion but they exclude Israel.
“We take oaths of office in every court of the land. The Prime Minister is sworn in with his hand on the Bible — the same Bible which Israel Folau has quoted and he’s now had his dignity, his integrity, his employment, his vocation and his income stolen from him.
“I coached Australian rugby, I was proud of it, I was proud of the boys and I was proud of everything we stood for. Today, I’m ashamed of the people who’ve inherited our proud legacy.
“The battle has just begun, and it’s a battle for all Australians. If we’re not free to articulate our religious beliefs and quote from the Bible, and if we’re not free to speak for fear that someone affects a hurt or is part of the offence industry, if that’s where we’ve reached in this country, we’ve reached a dark place and we are all at risk.”
In today’s world, Christianity and Judaism are fair game for hatred . Yet adherents of Islam are a protected species. What the hell is going on?
This was more than a contract termination: this was an assault on Christianity and an assault on individual freedom to quote from The Good Book.
For me, Israel Folau epitomised and still epitomises the attack that is rampant throughout the world: the attack on decency, morality, Christianity and The Holy Bible.
It doesn’t matter if you are a practicing Christian. It doesn’t matter if you are an atheist or an agnostic or a Jew.
It matters that a precedent has been set: you can lose your job for quoting The Bible. Or standing up for personal freedom.
He did not take a knee. He did not make a statement or express his views: he simply QUOTED THE BIBLE. On Social Media.
Since then we have endured the horror of lockdowns, termination of employment for objecting to get injected with an experimental " vaccine " and arrested and beaten for objecting to government overreach.
We have witnessed the spread of pro Hamas rallies and anti semitism. The rise of gay " rights " and the division of Aboriginal and white Australia. We have been called racist and major food retailers refuse to carry Australia Day merchandise. Why, even now, as ANZAC Day approaches, those same stores are not going to stock the iconic fund raising tins of ANZAC biscuits. We have seen Easter abandoned and Ramadan embraced.
Israel Folau faught and lost. Or did he?
Perhaps he won because he stood firm for his principles. How many of us could say or do the same?
We are about to be challenged.
Digital ID, Misinformation Laws, laws, laws..................It seems strange to me that since we have had so many laws introduced, we have become a lawless country.
Or, at the very least, a country where laws only apply to those of whom the government approves...
A devout Christian friend of mine had this to say:
We need to get behind this brave man and others who are brave enoiugh to stand..... do as we were told in John 3:17 “if anyone …. sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
All I can say is Onward Christian Soldiers because we ARE marching to war. Who will be the victor or have we, those on the side of decency, morality and traditional family values.... have we already been defeated?
"Onward, Christian Soldiers" is a hymn that's commonly sung in Christian worship services. It's a march-like hymn with a stirring melody, often associated with the call to spiritual warfare and perseverance in the Christian faith.
The hymn was written by Sabine Baring-Gould, an Anglican priest and prolific writer from England. He penned the lyrics in 1865, intending them to be sung by children in a procession around the village of Horbury Bridge, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, on Whit Monday (the day after Pentecost). The original tune for the hymn was composed by Arthur Sullivan, who is best known for his collaborations with W.S. Gilbert in creating the Savoy operas.
The hymn's lyrics are inspired by biblical imagery of Christian warfare, particularly Ephesians 6:10-18, where the apostle Paul exhorts believers to put on the "armor of God" to stand firm against spiritual forces of evil.