Forward or Froward?

As many readers probably already know, the new 2012 Obama campaign has decided to utilize the term "Forward."  That particular word can mean many things...including the connotation in the past of Communist/Marxist/Socialist government movements.

Excerpt from "New Obama slogan has long ties to Marxism, socialism" article:

The Obama campaign apparently didn't look backwards into history when selecting its new campaign slogan, "Forward" — a word with a long and rich association with European Marxism.

Many Communist and radical publications and entities throughout the 19th and 20th centuries had the name "Forward!" or its foreign cognates. Wikipedia has an entire section called "Forward (generic name of socialist publications)."

"The name Forward carries a special meaning in socialist political terminology. It has been frequently used as a name for socialist, communist and other left-wing newspapers and publications," the online encyclopedia explains.

The slogan "Forward!" reflected the conviction of European Marxists and radicals that their movements reflected the march of history, which would move forward past capitalism and into socialism and communism.

Those who have been paying attention to the disastrous policies of ObaMARXIST are not fooled into thinking that the slogan they have chosen is the "innocent" use of the term "Forward"!! Any reasonable person can surmise that this was done purposely in order to "hide in plain sight" their Marxist ideology for the benefit of Obama's base. 

There are over 2,300 comments after the Washington Times article (link above). Here are some of the best that were written about one month ago:

Galtgirl•a month ago• They knew exactly what it meant and made a point of choosing it. They are well-versed in communist history and ideology. Why people continue to underestimate the "machine" is beyond me.

MayaAyala•a month ago• Obama is all about "forward" -- just like a Toyota Prius without brakes is going "forward" over a cliff. Barack Obama is as unqualified in 2012 as he was in 2008. Even with the media protecting his "image" for FOUR YEARS, Americans can see through it all and realize that his "hope" was nothing more than "hype."

Daniel Martin Gray•a month ago• Forward? To what end? By what means? The road to the Prog dystopia of Socialist Injustice is the road to HELL. And if unchecked, SOON, is likely to repeat history, and be paved with the bodies and spirits of millions of US who will not toe the line, and so get the boot of TYRANNY on our necks!

Bull Meter•a month ago• //To what end? // To displace God //By what means?// By any means necessary The road to hell is paved with many things but deceit is its mortar. We can take comfort, however, in knowing what hell itself will be filled with - The charred remains of this rising beast, for it will fall.

Love that last commenter's screen name..."Bull Meter!" He/she also got right down to the nitty gritty of the subject - "hell itself will be filled with - the charred remains of this rising beast, for it will fall." Very prophetic!

Back to the term "Forward."

Has anyone else noticed that even some Republicans and Conservatives are now using that term? I thought that was odd. Usually when a leftist takes over a word (e.g. "progressive"), it makes us want to avoid utilizing the same word. Well, as far as the term "Forward" is concerned, the meaning DOES VARY. It is not so much the word that matters, but the ACTIONS that follow the use of the word.

Anyway, to me, the Communist/Marxist/Progressive/Globalist meaning of the term "Forward" can more accurately be labeled as Froward. The following essay is a copy of a post that I wrote back in 2007 here at Talk Wisdom that explains what that word means in biblical terms. After reading it, see if you don't agree that the ObaMARXIST campaign slogan choice would better resemble the term "Froward" rather than the term "Forward."

~ Christine

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Froward Heart

Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight. (KJV)

Froward. Not a term that we hear much these days.

Let's look at the definitions and synonyms of that word from Dictionary.com:

-adjective
willfully contrary; not easily managed: to be worried about one's froward, intractable child.

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME froward, fraward. See fro, -ward]

—Related forms
fro·ward·ly, adverb
fro·ward·ness, noun

—Synonyms obstinate, willful, disobedient, fractious, wayward, unmanageable, difficult.
—Antonyms docile, tractable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

adj. Stubbornly contrary and disobedient; obstinate.
fro'ward·ly adv., fro'ward·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

froward

O.E. from weard "turned from or away," from from + -weard. Opposite of toward, it renders L. pervertus in early translations of the Psalms, and also meant "about to depart, departing," and "doomed to die."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

froward

adjective
habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

WordNet® 2.1, © 2005 Princeton University

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Wow! That's certainly a "loaded" word, full of negative meanings!!

Other Bible translations for Proverbs 11:30 say this:

NKJV - Pro 11:20 - Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.New King James Version © 1982 Thomas Nelson


NLT - Pro 11:20 - The Lord hates people with twisted hearts, but he delights in those who have integrity. New Living Translation © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust

NIV - Pro 11:20 - The Lord detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
New International Version © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society

NASB - Pro 11:20 - The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in {their} walk are His delight.
New American Standard Bible © 1995 Lockman Foundation


RSV - Pro 11:20 - Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
Revised Standard Version © 1947, 1952.

The Bible is filled with verses regarding the heart, and the character of the unrepentant.

That's the bad news which we all must face about our spiritual state of being since the Fall.

The Bible is an honest book. It records the deeds, errors, sins, and evil done by men because of the "froward heart."

Just click on the link above and read the list of descriptions regarding the froward heart! The verses listed there clearly tell us what the unregenerate heart is severely capable of...and it's not pretty!

Here is the list (go to site for verses under each description)

1. Hateful to God
2. Full of evil
3. Full of evil imaginations
4. Full of vain thoughts
5. Fully set to do evil
6. Desperately wicked
7. Far from God
8. Not perfect with God
9. Not prepared to seek God
10. A treasury of evil
11. Darkened
12. Prone to error
13. Prone to depart from God
14. Impenitent
15. Unbelieving
16. Blind
17. Uncircumcised
18. Of little worth
19. Deceitful
20. Deceived
21. Divided
22. Double
23. Hard
24. Haughty
25. Influenced by the devil
26. Carnal
27. Covetous
28. Despiteful
29. Ensnaring
30. Foolish
31. Froward
32. Fretful against the Lord
33. Idolatrous
34. Mad
35. Mischievous
36. Proud
37. Rebellious
38. Perverse
39. Stiff
40. Stony
41. Stout
42. Elated by sensual indulgence
43. Elated by prosperity
44. Studies destruction
45. Often judicially stupefied
46. Often judicially hardened

Long list!! Discouraging, depressing and disheartening, too...isn't it?

But Jesus tells us to take heart...

John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

I wanted to throw out a challenge to my readers. Pick one of those words, apply it to the heart (e.g. "Mischievous Heart") and give a modern day example of someone or something that has demonstrated that type of a heart in the comment section.

Then, if possible, also share the story of a person who has overcome a "Mischievous Heart" and tell us what helped make that transformation for that particular person.

The examples chosen can be YOU, or someone you know, or someone you heard about on the news, etc. If you find an article or website link about such people, then feel free to provide a link to the story.

Anyone out there up to the challenge?

*******

There is hope in the Lord! No matter where you have come from...no one is beyond the reach of our loving God!

This Devotional shares why:

The New Covenant of Grace: A Holy Spirit Covenant

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

As noted earlier, the new covenant is about grace, as contrasted with the old covenant, which is about law. "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The connection between grace and the Holy Spirit can be seen in various scripture passages on the new covenant, including this glorious prophecy. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." The first verse in this prophetic promise concerns regeneration, spiritual new birth. Through faith in the Lord, our original, hard, lifeless heart is removed, and a new, pliable, living spirit is given to us.

The second verse pertains to transformation, the ongoing development of this new life. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes." The developing of a life that increasingly complies with the will of God depends upon the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We know that unredeemed humanity has no hope of living a life that is pleasing to God. Yet, many Christians could be unaware that even the new creature in Christ cannot please God on his own resources. The Spirit of God must be the heavenly cause that produces a heavenly lifestyle in believers.

What is promised here is not an automatic experience. The life of many Christians does not consistently match what is described here in Ezekiel 36:27. The reason is that they are not relating properly to the Lord in humble dependence. Yes, these two relational realities (humility and faith) also determine whether or not the Spirit of God is our resource, just as they were determinative concerning grace.

Two statements by Jesus expound upon this fact. "You have no life in you...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:53,63). We do not innately possess life as God intends it to be lived. Natural human resources are of no benefit in developing a godly life. Such revelation is very humbling. If we embrace Jesus' evaluation of our personal inadequacy, then we are willing to relate to God in humility. Further, there is truth in which we are to place our trust. "It is the Spirit who gives life." As we count on this truth, we are relating to the Lord in faith. The result of such humble reliance in God's Spirit becomes our vitality for living godly.

O Lord, the source of true life, thank You for establishing such a gracious arrangement as the new covenant. I praise You that Your Holy Spirit is my heavenly dynamic for godliness. I confess that my fleshly attempts to please You are so inadequate. I humbly ask You to cause me to walk in Your good will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Hoekstra, Bob. "The New Covenant of Grace: A Holy Spirit Covenant," Day By Day By Grace. Blue Letter Bible. 25 Oct 2006. 21 Feb 2007.

Hat Tips:

 Washington Times.com

Bob Hoekstra Devotional