‘Men should value cows more than their wives’: Sunrise’s David Koch says the Bible is full of ‘weird things that make Christians look bad’ as he slams Israel Folau
- Sunrise host David Koch suggested the Bible was full of irrelevant ‘weird things’
- He put this to Australian Christian Lobby boss Martyn Iles, an ally of Israel Folau
- The interview occurred hours before Folau’s Go Fund Me appeal page shut down
Sunrise presenter David Koch has suggested the Bible is full of weird passages that make Christians look bad during a clash with a key supporter of Israel Folau.
In less than a week, the sacked Wallaby star raised $764,232 from supporters on Go Fund Me as he prepared to fight Rugby Australia in the Fair Work Commission.
Australian Christian Lobby managing director Martyn Iles defended Folau arguing it was his religious duty to preach the Bible – a month after he was dismissed over controversial social media posts denouncing homosexuality, adultery, drunkenness and sex outside of marriage.
Koch, however, paraphrased verses from the Old Testament to argue the Bible was incompatible with modern society, hours before Folau’s GoFundMe page was shut down.
Sunrise presenter David Koch (pictured) has suggested the Bible is full of weird passages that made Christians look bad during a clash with a key supporter of Israel Folau
‘There are weird things in there that are just not relevant to today’s society and make Christians look bad,’ he said on Monday morning.
‘There are other parts that say men should value their goats and cows more than their wives.
‘Divorce is adultery. Basically, the extent of that is anyone who divorces should go to hell.’
Without mentioning Exodus, Koch also said the Bible also condoned slavery.
‘There are parts of it that do condone slavery,’ he said.
In less than a week, the sacked Wallaby star raised $764,232 from supporters on Go Fund Me as he prepared to fight Rugby Australia in the Fair Work Commission (pictured is Israel Folau, left, with his wife Maria)
Koch failed to mention how Christians, led by British MP William Wilberforce, campaigned for the abolition of slavery.
Iles replied by suggesting Koch had put together a ‘messy amalgamation’ of biblical verses.
‘I won’t turn to you for theological advice, Kochie,’ he told the Seven Network host.
Last night, Iles also appeared on The Sunday Project where Lisa Wilkinson asked him if he believed homosexuals would go to hell.
He replied everyone was a sinner who needed to repent and disputed the suggestion Folau had specifically singled out same-sex attracted people.
‘We’re all sinners and I don’t think its helpful to say that Israel Folau’s post targeted homosexuals – it didn’t,’ he told Network Ten.
Australian Christian Lobby managing director Martyn Iles (pictured) defended Folau arguing it was Folau’s religious duty to preach the Bible – a month after he was dismissed over controversial social media posts denouncing homosexuality, adultery, drunkenness and sex outside of marriage
Mr Iles told his Facebook followers on Sunday night Rugby Australia and its chief executive Raelene Castle was smearing Folau in the media.
‘Which interest group do you suppose would want to destroy Israel Folau’s good name?,’ he said.
‘Answer? Rugby Australia. This is a PR battle as much as it is a legal battle.’
He didn’t produce any direct evidence of a conspiracy on his social media video but alleged various media outlets had been planted with stories.
Mr Iles overlooked how Folau’s father Eni’s The Truth of Jesus Christ Church, at Kenthurst in Sydney’s north-west, had been posting videos on Facebook.
Israel Folau had been delivering sermons in recent weeks to the Pentecostal parishioners criticising transgender activism.