During the extended Israel Folau debate I have been waiting for a theologian or biblical scholar to come forward and address Folau’s misuse of scripture in his controversial post. The saga rolls on and I am still waiting. I have also been searching media reports curious to know what brand of church Folau attends. It is important to know this to understand his motivations. I gather he is a member of The Truth of Jesus Christ Church at Kenthurst in Sydney's north-western suburbs.

Israel Folau leaves a conciliation hearing at the Fair Work Commission. Credit:Janie Barrett

Given the silence of the theologians I guess it is up to me – an agnostic, lapsed Catholic, Master of Theology, former Charismatic Christian – to make a few relevant points. Although these points are on the whole critical of Folau, you will see that I am also somewhat sympathetic toward him.

First let us go back to the actual Instagram post that started it all: "Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent. Only Jesus saves." Folau added his own comment to the graphic, "Those that are living in sin will end up in hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him."

Folau attached the biblical passage that underpins the post – the letter to the Galatians, chapter 5, verses 19-21. He is using the 17th-century King James translation: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."