Thirsty For God Church: Why the PM and most Christians are 'going to hell'

The mum or dad had begun questioning the church's beliefs three hundred and sixty five days before Israel Folau's controversial social media post in April that referred to homosexuals, fornicators, drunks, atheists and others have been sure for hell.

the previous rugby participant is now in search of up to $10 million in damages from Rugby Australia, claiming he was unfairly dismissed over the submit on religious grounds. A crusade overseen through the Australian Christian lobby was paused when donations for Folau's felony fight topped $2.2 million. The dad or mum pointed out she raised her considerations about the Folaus' teachings with the ACL once they became involved.

Israel Folau watches his spouse Maria play within the Netball World Cup match between New Zealand and Australia in England on Thursday.credit score:PA by means of AP

Eni Folau is thought to have forbidden his son to take down the offending post which can charge him his profession, believing that God has given his son this fortuitous platform to spread God's observe.

The Folaus see the combat with Rugby Australia as akin to David and Goliath. "He's going towards the Goliath it is Rugby Australia, with all its components, to demonstrate that a single man who has the one actual living God on his side is capable of do the rest (Philippians 4:13)," Josiah Folau wrote to the mum or dad.

The Folaus advised her that if she had an accident on the way domestic from bible analyze she would go to hell because she changed into no longer a "born again" Christian. any one who has been baptised in a special strategy to the Folaus is heading for perdition.

Pastor Eni preaches that someone is "a born again believer" when they resign the evils of their methods and are baptised in the identify of Jesus Christ and "reborn" in water. "in case you've executed it a special approach from this you then aren't born once again," Folau mentioned on Twitter.

His cousin went additional. "Any religious Catholic grownup is not A SAVED CHRISTIAN whatsoever. look at Catholic doctrine, just about one hundred% of it is fake and is filled with lies," Josiah wrote to the worried dad or mum. "The blasphemous Catholic mass is a paganistic ritual rooted in heresy, evil and satan worship."

Baptism, in accordance with the Folaus, should take vicinity in water within the identify of Jesus Christ. Baptisms carried out in Christian churches throughout Australia in the name of the Trinity – the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - are false and people ministers are false academics, the parent was advised.

a kind of who gained't be saved is fundamental Minister Scott Morrison, whose Pentecostal Horizon Church teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. When the mum or dad requested the Folaus if Mr Morrison was a Christian, they laughed and pointed out no, "He's a Hillsong."

"best we now have the certainty," the Folaus referred to.

Baptisms are carried out in the kidney-shaped pebblecrete pool in the back of Eni Folau's mansion on two hectares of land in Kenthurst, in Sydney's semi-rural Hills District.

Property records display that Isileli (Israel) Folau purchased the 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom apartment for $2.1 million in 2015.

where do they preach? on the Kenthurst Uniting Church and from Eni Folau's mansion in Kenthurst. Israel bought the five-bed room, 4-bathroom residence on two hectares for $2.1 million in 2015.

these close to Folau say his father wields large impact in his son's lifestyles. he's a director of his son's funding motors. Folau, 30, has an unlimited property empire including two residences in Queensland and a multi-million greenback apartment in Little Bay the place he lives together with his wife, New Zealand netball superstar Maria. Folau is additionally building two four-bed room buildings on vacant land he bought in Austral.

as well as filial obedience, Polynesian culture additionally espouses the sharing of wealth along with your clan.

Folau's prodigious ability saw him debut for Melbourne Storm in 2007 at the age of 17. at the moment the Folaus were contributors of the Mormon Church. Ten per cent of his income went to the church and the relaxation to his father, who controlled every aspect of his existence – even which videos he watched.

The responsibility to undertake two years of missionary work did not eventuate and, in 2011, Israel followed his father to the Assemblies of God and jumped codes to AFL.

"I had a personal experience with the holy spirit touching my heart," Folau noted of his new faith. "I've not ever felt that before whereas i used to be worried within the Mormon church - until I got here to the AOG church and authorised Christ."

When pastor Brian Houston left the Assemblies of God, the Folaus followed him to Hillsong.

the relationship between the Folaus and Houston is now poisonous.

Hillsong preacher Brian Houston fell out with Folau.credit score:SMH

In June closing year Israel Folau posted a series of provocative tweets. "you can't deny the be aware of God @BrianCHouston … stop instructing false doctrines and main hundreds of thousands of people off track. americans which are following such heresy. YOU should wake up!!!"

"There's a reputation for pastors who under no circumstances communicate of sin, repentance or hell – they're known as false teachers," became a further tweet.

Houston replied: "@IzzyFolau has misplaced contact with the goodness and style of Jesus and it's tragic …who is bewitching you Israel? i am nevertheless here on the equal cell quantity."

Folau hit returned: "There's one aspect that's usual with all you prosperity preachers, You don't ever talk of repentance, Hell, Sin. You (sic) worried about dropping crowds & $$."

The certainty of Jesus Christ can pay the Kenthurst Uniting Church $150 a week to make use of their church hall. Most weeks Pastor Eni preaches in Tongan together with his nephew Josiah translating.

Josiah, who graduated from St Gregory's Catholic school in Campbelltown in 2016, now believes that "anything else born of the Catholic Church is evil".

He told the involved guardian: "The Catholic Church is a synagogue of devil and i a hundred per cent trust and verify that Roman Catholicism is masked devil worship."

The dad or mum become additionally advised of the falseness of the doctrine of the Trinity – a perception held through most mainstream Christians. When she brought up that the majority Christians would now not be "saved", Josiah Folau spoke back, "look at what scripture says - doesn't count that there's best a number of of us definitely believing within the actuality … handiest eight americans had been saved when the entire world turned into destroyed in Noah's time."

He also informed her that the Trinity "isn't taught anyplace in scripture and it's the biggest deception which devil makes use of nowadays".

The Folaus are firmly of the perception that bible faculties and theological stories promulgate false teachings of the scriptures and that only the direct word of the bible is to be believed.

while now not a confident preacher, Israel Folau additionally takes to the pulpit to evangelise towards homosexuality and different perceived sins. In June, he preached that in the future humans have been going to be microchipped. in response to Revelations, he noted, the microchip is "the mark of the beast".

As "troopers of Christ … we need to arm ourselves in a position, in order that this [clutching his copy of the bible] is the handiest shield!" His cousin Josiah informed the congregation that they should still be anxious greater "the place our bibles are than where our telephones are" as the bible is "the first defence in opposition t sin and satan".

The church also preaches that homosexuality is a sin "helpful of death" and it goes in opposition t the bible to have women deaconesses or preachers. "in case you accept as true with in women preachers, devil's obtained you!" translated Josiah from his uncle's sermon.

Australian Christian lobby managing director Martyn Iles referred to he become struck via Israel Folau's "deep humility and the sincerity of his relationship with God".

"I even have by no means heard from him the rest which contradicts mainstream Christian perception. That is not to assert there isn't any disagreement – i am bound there is – however some disagreement is general between Christian denominations."

Mr Iles additionally said: "The solidarity we share for the reason for free expression is the key difficulty using the need for Israel's legal fight and public crusade. all and sundry may additionally one day discover that our beliefs stray outside of the slender band of political correctness and that may be a day once we treasure our freedoms."

meanwhile, Folau and his family unit on Friday obtained notification from the reasonable Work fee that mediation with Rugby Australia had failed. The Folaus now have a fortnight to resort an application with the Federal court docket to listen to the be counted.

Kate McClymont is an investigative journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald.