Why the PM and most Christians are ‘going to hell’
Scott Morrison is going to hell. So is Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston and most of the donors who gave money to former Wallaby star Israel Folaus legal defence fund organised by the Australian Christian Lobby, according to the teachings of Folaus church.
The 30-strong congregation of the Truth of Jesus Christ Church, established by Folaus father Eni in 2013, believes the "everlasting torture and doom" of hell awaits most Christians, with Catholicism seen as "the synagogue of Satan" and "masked devil worship".
A Christian parent of a promising young rugby player was concerned when Israel Folau began inviting players to his church. The parent decided to find out for herself what the Folaus were preaching. What she discovered has disturbed her greatly.
"I honestly do not want my son involved in what I have come to understand is false teachings and counterfeit Christianity. Ive gone, Ive checked it out and I would call them an isolated hate group," she said of her attendance at bible studies at the home of Pastor Eni, as he calls himself, as well as discussions with Enis disciple, his 20-year-old nephew Josiah Folau.
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The parent had begun questioning the churchs beliefs 12 months before Israel Folaus controversial social media post in April that said homosexuals, fornicators, drunks, atheists and others were bound for hell.
The former rugby player is now seeking up to $10 million in damages from Rugby Australia, claiming he was unfairly dismissed over the post on religious grounds. A campaign overseen by the Australian Christian Lobby was paused when donations for Folaus legal battle topped $2.2 million. The parent said she raised her concerns about the Folaus teachings with the ACL once they became involved.
Eni Folau is understood to have forbidden his son to take down the offending post which cost him his career, believing that God has given his son this fortuitous platform to spread Gods word.
The Folaus see the battle with Rugby Australia as similar to David and Goliath. "Hes going against the Goliath that is Rugby Australia, with all its resources, to show that a single man who has the one true living God on his side is able to do anything (Philippians 4:13)," Josiah Folau wrote to the parent.
The Folaus told her that if she had an accident on the way home from bible study she would go to hell because she was not a "born again" Christian. Anyone who has been baptised in a different way to the Folaus is heading for perdition.
Pastor Eni preaches that someone is "a born again believer" when they renounce the evils of their ways and are baptised in the name of Jesus Christ and "reborn" in water. "If youve done it a different way from this then you arent born again," Folau said on Twitter.
What Izzy has said
His cousin went further. "Any devout Catholic person IS NOT A SAVED CHRISTIAN WHATSOEVER. Look at Catholic doctrine, almost 100% of it is false and is filled with lies," Josiah wrote to the concerned parent. "The blasphemous Catholic mass is a paganistic ritual rooted in heresy, evil and devil worship."
Baptism, according to the Folaus, must take place in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Baptisms performed in Christian churches across Australia in the name of the Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – are false and those ministers are false teachers, the parent was told.
One of those who wont be saved is Prime Minister Scott Morrison, whose Pentecostal Horizon Church teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. When the parent asked the Folaus was Mr Morrison a Christian, they laughed and said no, "Hes a Hillsong."
"Only we have the truth," the Folaus said.
Baptisms are conducted in the kidney-shaped pebblecrete pool at the back of Eni Folaus mansion on two hectares of land in Kenthurst, in Sydneys semi-rural Hills District.
Property records show that Isileli (Israel) Folau bought the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house for $2.1 million in 2015.
Those close to Folau say his father wields enormous influence in his sons life. He is a director his sons investment vehicles. Folau, 30, has a vast property empire including two houses in Queensland and a multi-million dollar apartment in Little Bay where he lives with his wife, New Zealand netball star Maria. Folau is also building two four-bedroomed homes on vacant land he bought in Austral.
As well as filial obedience, Polynesian culture also espouses the sharing of wealth with your extended family.
Folaus prodigious talent saw him debut for Melbourne Storm in 2007 at the age of 17. At that time the Folaus were members of the Mormon Church. Ten per cent of his earnings went to the church and the rest to his father, who controlled every aspect of his life – even which movies he watched.
The obligation 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 said of his new faith. "I've never felt that before while I was involved in the Mormon church – until I came to the AOG church and accepted 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.
In June last year Israel Folau posted a series of provocative tweets. "You cant deny the word of God @BrianCHouston … stop teaching false doctrines and leading millions of people astray. People that are following such heresy. YOU need to wake up!!!"
"Theres a name for pastors who never speak of sin, repentance or hell – theyre called false teachers," was another tweet.
Houston replied, "@IzzyFolau has lost touch with the goodness and grace of Jesus and its tragic …Who is bewitching you Israel? I am still here on the same mobile number."
Folau hit back, "Theres one thing thats common with all you prosperity preachers, You dont ever speak of repentance, Hell, Sin.
You (sic) worried about losing crowds & $$."
The Truth of Jesus Christ pays the Kenthurst Uniting Church $150 a week to use their church hall. Most weeks Pastor Eni preaches in Tongan with his nephew Josiah translating.
Josiah, who graduated from St Gregorys Catholic college in Campbelltown Read More – Source
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