Hillsong founder and pastor Brian Houston
Hillsong founder and pastor Brian Houston has called on Israel Folau to abandon his judgmental attitude and embrace love rather than trying to scare people to side with his religious beliefs.
While expressing his admiration for Folau’s conviction and declaring the paramount need for freedom of religion in Australia, Houston — who for more than a decade was the National President of the Australian Christian Churches — said his experience showed instilling fear was more likely to alienate people.
“As Christians it is equally important to look at ourselves and our own failings and imperfections,” Houston wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald.
“If you look at the list of sins that Izzy listed there’s not too many people he’s left out, including Christians. There isn’t a person on earth who hasn’t told a lie or put something before God (idolatry).
“In 40 years of telling people about the good news of Jesus, I have seen that the ‘turn or burn’, approach to proclaiming the message of Christianity alienates people. Scaring people doesn’t draw them into the love of Jesus.
“The world doesn’t need more judgmental Christians.”
Houston also said he hopes Folau grows to understand the importance of Christians loving even those who believe differently, and believes the rugby star could benefit from looking inwardly before judging others.
————————————
Editor’s Comment:
Brian’s previous comment seems odd? By trying to remain balanced Brian contradicts his own theology on the matter.
“If you look at the list of sins that Izzy listed there’s not too many people he’s left out, including Christians. There isn’t a person on earth who hasn’t told a lie or put something before God (idolatry).”
That’s actually the point Brian…..In fact he hasn’t left anyone out, for who among us hasn’t lied, even a small lie? And anyone who makes or creates a God from their own imagination to fit their own personal beliefs and ideas e.g. God loves and forgives everyone, and will let everyone into heaven is in fact idolatry.
By the way Paul in writing to the Colossians suggests greed, the love for money, and covetousness are idolatry.
“Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed (covetousness), which is idolatry.” – Col 3:5
So the list is not actually picking on the homosexual or LGBTQ community, but rather to point out the falling short of God’s standard big or small, by EVERYONE regardless of life and status.
For the scriptures clearly state that ‘ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’ – God’s perfection — See Rom 3:23
So Yes Brian, “The world doesn’t need more judgemental Christians”, but it does need people to tell the truth, which is what Israel Folau has attempted to do.
To ALERT and WARN people of their situation and impeding doom, if they fail to Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus
————————————
Following his Instagram post (above) which claimed “hell awaits” people such as “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”, The Australian reports Rugby Australia (RA) is set to serve Folau with a breach notice.
The publication also reports senior Wallabies and Waratahs players will be consulted about what they believe should happen to the veteran.
Unless Folau accepts his breach notice — ultimately giving RA the power to terminate his four-year, $4 million contract — his fate will be determined by a Code of Conduct hearing.
After a meeting with RA powerbrokers last week it was reported Folau made it clear he will fight to save his career and while the sport’s governing body declared it intends to sack him, there remains the possibility the matter may be headed for the courts.
RA boss Raelene Castle and Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore will address the media this afternoon to provide an update on Folau’s situation after Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and captain Michael Hooper spoke to reporters earlier today.
Cheika said Folau’s remarks make it difficult to envision the 30-year-old being part of the Wallabies’ plans for the World Cup in Japan, starting in September. “You wouldn’t be able to,” Cheika said when asked whether he’d be able to select Folau again under the circumstances.
Asked if he was comfortable taking the field again alongside Folau, flanker Hooper said: “In this current state and being here and talking about this as a rugby player, it makes it hard, it makes it difficult.”
Folau has put his teammates and coaches in an awkward position. Source:Getty Images
While emphasising what their teams stood for, especially in regards to diversity, Cheika and Hooper also stressed Folau was entitled to his beliefs. However, Cheika said Folau had “crossed the line” with his latest Instagram post after being told last year similar social media activity would not be tolerated.
“Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team’s about,” Cheika said.
“When you play in the gold jersey, we represent everyone in Australia — everyone. Everyone that’s out there supporting us. We don’t pick and choose.
“We want everyone on that wagon with us to the World Cup … or a Bledisloe Cup. We want everyone there fighting with us and standing with us.”
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Folau had a right to an opinion but had probably let himself down in the way he expressed his.
“Even this morning I read he firmly believes it so he’s just missing one piece of the jigsaw puzzle, I think,” Hansen said.
The Waratahs, who play Melbourne Rebels in a big Super Rugby Australian conference derby this weekend, have sidelined Folau and he refused to back down from his position, saying he’s prepared to walk away from the game for the sake of his faith.
“First and foremost, I live for God now. Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that’s not to continue on playing, so be it,” he said.
“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first,” Folau told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Coercion Code - "Dark Times are upon us" 
Brian Houston what God wants from every christian is to preach his truth and his truth only in season and out. He doesn’t want christians who are unwilling to say the words sin, hell,judgement, repent, out of fear they will offend the sinner. He doesn’t want christians who just peddle God as a God of only love, mercy, forgiveness and Grace, whilst leaving out he is also a God of wrath who will indeed judge the world for their sins, and that hell is the ever lasting punishment, because again they don’t want to offend the sinner.
He doesn’t want christians who make out certain sins aint sins at all, and that he is only to willing to overlook those sins in the 21st century, He doesn’t need pastors who preach about Gods favour only, and make out that favour is shown by God blessing a person with wealth, health and lots of material possessions. He doesn’t need pastors who are only to willing to allow immodest clothing in their churches, fashion shows, occultic symbolism, worldly entertainment and sermons based on the latest pop culture,instead of his bible.
The world is going to hell, and the judgements of Revelation will soon be upon this Earth, because the antichrist reign is not far away. Do you even preach about the coming Judgements of God in Revelation Brian. Do you even mention the coming antichrist reign, and what that will mean for a sinful world and apostate church. Do you even truly believe in your heart, that what God calls sin in his bible, is still sin today. Or is being popular, relevant, tolerant and accepting of sin more important to you. Whilst Yeshua was whilst on earth, so merciful,compassionate, gracious and forgiving to those who truly repented, and still is, that is not a licence for those who claim to be on his side, to willfully keep sinning, nor is it a licence to say something is no longer a sin, because we are in the 21st century. He also judged those who were unwilling to see sin for what it is, or for those who turned his Fathers house into a den of thieves..
Just because the world has changed its viewpoint on sin, doesn’t mean God Almighty has ,nor does it mean the church should. When we came into the church in the late 80’s, and even the early 90’s there was preaching about the end times, the judgement of God, sin, rebellion, witchcraft by just about every church.
Now sadly there is so little of that preached, and instead the preaching is just making carnal christians, who want forgiveness & eternal life, without any repentance or giving up their sins.
Many churches these days preach a sjw leftie doctrine,instead of the bible, which means those who think they are saved, are not saved at all, because there has been no change in them at all, no desire to give up their sins, and a complete change in their viewpoint of morality . So you have these churches preaching the worlds version of morality, instead of Gods. Calling good evil and evil good, exchanging the truth of God for a lie.
Brian if you think telling the unsaved about hell is wrong, or calling what God calls sin is wrong, or telling people that though God does indeed love them, he will judge the world and a person, if they refuse to repent is wrong, then what gospel are you preaching to the world. Guess you think people like Charles Spurgeon and Jonathan Edwards got it wrong too, because they preached about hell, the coming judgement & sin a lot.
They didn’t just preach God is a God of love, who lets everyone into heaven, no matter what. Our Lord paid the ultimate price at Passover, so we can all be pardoned of our sin and receive eternal life. That was his love in action yes. But it was also Gods judgement on sin, and how deeply mankind’s sin offends him that our Lord even went to the Cross in the first place. If sin didn’t offend our Holy Righteous God, then Yeshua would never of had to die. Don’t diminish his death by making out God no longer cares about sin, no longer will judge sin, or send anyone to hell for theirs, or that what he calls sin in his bible ,isn’t sin at all. Because you will be held accountable for those lives you personally helped go to hell, for refusing to preach Gods whole truth.
Thanks for your thoughts Warrior.
The more I ponder what the gospel is, and then when we see what preachers like BH actually preach, and put out in public statements, the matter of sin, death heaven and hell, the modern church is truly guilty.
All of us must consider this tragedy with deep heart searching and brokenness before the Lord,
How we respond Will become more and more serious as the days get darker…..
Will send out another article tomorrow on this topic.
Same famous quotes from Charles Spurgeon about hell. Shows he wasn’t afraid to preach the truth, unlike Brian Houston https://www.azquotes.com/author/13978-Charles_Spurgeon/tag/hell
I have heard Brian and Israel preach sermons. I was impressed with Israel as he showed maturity beyond his years with a solid biblically based presentation.Brian is more of a motivational speaker who are too common in Churches.I think Israel is more PRO GOD than he is anti people because we have all sinned.
Thanks for sharing… good you have heard them both to provide some additional insight