Israel Folau has launched another attack on gay people and also criticised young people being allowed to change gender during a sermon at his Sydney church.
The former rugby union star described homosexuality as a sin and claimed the devil was behind primary school children being allowed to decide if they wanted to change gender.
Israel Folau had his $4 million Rugby Australia contract ripped up in May. Source: AAP
In a Sunday sermon at The Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Kenthurst, he said homosexuality was a "sin" and then took aim at transgender children.
“You see a lot of things in today’s news and everything. They’re allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want by taking away the permission of their parents," the Daily Telegraph reported him saying.
“Now they’re trying to take control as a government to make that decision for kids that are basically 16-years-old or younger. They don’t even know what they’re doing.
Israel Folau has linked the bushfires and drought to God's judgment. Source: AAP
"This is what the devil is trying to do, to instil into the government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening," he said.
"The sad thing is why a lot of people out there that are non-Christians say bad things about the church, is because a lot of the churches allow those things to happen.
"They say that a man and a man should be able to be married and there is nothing wrong with it. This buys into the theme of pleasing man rather than pleasing God and standing up for the truth."
The 30-year-old's rant was posted on the church's Facebook page.
Folau also criticised modern "westernised" churches and said true believers in Christ "profess him wherever we go".
"Are we too scared because we might be cast out by our workplace or cast out of somewhere because we're not liked or loved by those around us and don't believe the same thing we do?" he asked.
"You might be the only born-again Christian in that workplace, you might feel a bit awkward with your co-workers because they are in the world and you're not. We should feel blessed ... because God has called us."
The former Wallaby's $4 million Rugby Australia contract was torn up last month after he refused to take down an Instagram post which quoted bible scripture and said "hell awaits" homosexuals and other sinners.
Folau has launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and is seeking up to $10 million in damages.
