Problems for Forward Church In Tampa

Problems for Forward Church In New Tampa

There is a church in New Tampa a suburb of Tampa Florida called "Forward Church"  that has received a number of complaints by Christians as of late due to a two minute and 30 second sermon youtube clip. Senior pastor Darius Arnold (picture above) was preaching a sermon on Mark 2 that has sparked controversy. 

Let me be clear

Now I want to be very clear here. It is not my goal here to belittle, or make fun of, or tear down pastor Darius Arnold.  I do not know the man. Nor am I trying to embarrass anyone from Forward Church. Nor, would I want to behave in anyway that is rude, or spiteful. My purpose and interest in this is a theological one. And not only that, this was brought to my attention through a lot of people on Facebook. And since this video was  publically put out there. We also have a responsibility to publically critique it in a loving way! 

Complaints about the message

The complaints about the sermon by Forward Church's Darius Arnold; mainly through Facebook was his rendering of scripture on Mark Chapter 2. 

Mark chapter 2

Is about several main people in this passage. And a major theological, and spiritual divide, that was happening in that day. Between the people's understanding of law,sin, and grace! Here are the key people involved. Jesus, a paralytic man, and religious scribes. 

Here is the passage. 

Mark 2. 1And when he returned toCapernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. ³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,“Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them,“Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Forward Church's Darius Arnold said that the passage to him is about "the huge crowd of people that centered 

around Jesus," and he couldn't help but think back, how when Jesus was being born there was no room for him at the Inn. 

And now, look at how many people are swarming around Him in this passage. 

Then Darius Arnold goes on to twist make the passage about you and me. That is, if we have not been well recieved

in the past by others basically we are going to have gigantic popularity and people will swarm around us as well. 

There's the main problem 

There is no mention of the sins of the paralytic being forgiven. Nor the major and sole point of this passage. And that Was, Jesus had not only the power to heal. But also the power and authority to forgive sins. Not only that, the passage tells us that Jesus Christ being omniscient he could read minds and hearts of men. Verse 8. And not only that, the paralytic man was now healed, and set free by Jesus verses 10-11. 

Furthermore, there is no mention of why Christians are hated and unpopular with the world to begin with! 

What's wrong with the message here?

The point of this passage is "not" for you and I to obtain popularity, success, status, or admiration from the people we've met in life.  

Mark 2:1-12 is about sins being forgiving by Jesus Christ. It's about Law, Sin, and His grace. It's about how our correct response should be  to glorify God verse 12 by sins being forgiven, and freedom in Christ Jesus. Be sure it's about Christ not man, or man's popularity! 

Here are what many Christians are saying about Darius Arnold's treatment of the gospel of Mark chapter 2 and link to video below 

Link 

http://youtu.be/j2EmtVUDWiY

Seven Inspiring Ways to Leverage Your Work For The Kingdom of God

Seven Radical Ways to Leverage your work for God's Glory

In the book "Follow Me" by David Platt, tells a story of Missionaries that encompass the Scripture "Wise as Serpents and harmless as doves"

By leveraging their work. Now these three Missionaries are also small business owners that have a burden to reach Muslims for Christ. 

Now these three missionaries could very easily have a successful, comfortable, and laid back career in the United States or Canada, or The U.K but they have moved their business into a heavily Muslim country where it's against their law to Preach the gospel. 

How ever I think they found a loop hole in the law that says conversations from bosses to employees about religions are permissible. Thus opening up the door way for Christ'sKingdom 

Here are some very wise and Inspiring ways one could Leverage their work and every good endeavor 

1) Relocate your business to a country that you have a burden to love, to reach, etc... (It doesn't have to be a muslim state) if you are called (Have a heart to reach a nation for Christ and burden)  It doesn't have to be a muslim state. And it doesn't have to be a country where you won't make any money! (The three missionaries are making plenty of money) one of them even believes they are most likely making more money there in there business than in The U.S due to Christ using this a a vehicle to Save souls! But more importantly; If you don't have a burden in your own heart, you'll never lift a burden off anyone else! 

2) If you don't own a business but work for someone, ask for ways in which to take on much greater responsibility at the company. People will soon see you as a leader. (Lead through Christ like character)true Leaders never just play it safe at a company. Or do just enough not to get fired. (Tell people that you lead about how Christ has transformed you, changed your life, your family, gave you life, peace, hope, Salvation) 

3) Do your job to the very best of your ability so that people will "see your good work and glorify your Father in heaven" Never stop improving on your job. Tell people why you "strive for excellence" and who you're grateful to everyday for your job. 

4) Do not Ever be lazy, Pray for your company, bosses, employees. Believe that God desire for every person at your job to be saved that none should parish. Ask God to send you souls at work. And, (believe that it's God's responsibility to save them) 

5) Don't evangelize like an Atheist.. Meaning; When we talk about God; talk about Him as someone you "KNOW""LOVE" and "WORSHIP"  not like some abstract argument that's built on premises only! There is a time and a place for those types of discussions, and they May even be at your office. You can use both! 

But, don't forget to talk about God like he's your Father that you have breakfast with every morning and dinner with at night. And what he's done on the cross, in you, and for you! Think of it as Aplogetics of the God you know personally!

6) If you're a leader at your job already, 

try to hire people that have a national reach. Like if you can hire Indian workers that you know travel back and forth to their native country every few months. And you have an opportunity to make disciple makers here. Do it! The goal here is Matt 28: 18-20 Make disciples if all Nations. 

7) Try to find other Christians at work that will help you serve your coworkers. Through parties, after work get togethers, bible studies. Invites to church. The goal is always the same. Make disciples who make disciples who make disciples etc..

Think about Scriptures that you will design this endeavor around. Like 1st Peter 3:10-16 and Matt 28:18-20

Get to work because the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few. If not you, who? If not now when? 

Luther Conigliarro is a Christian Philosopher and teacher, blogger, speaker, and host of Battle ideas, think deep, AndEquilibrium podcast      

Finding God's Will For Your Life

The title of this one today should be, "How Not To Find God's Will For Your Life"

But, I will try to give practical and helpful ways in this post on "How to and How Not to Know God's will. Which, my hope is this will be comprehensive! 

Let's start with the very question. "How do I find God's will?"  

This question ought to be problematic for anyone due to the fact that it conveys that a person is *Lost* and needs to *find* God's direction, approval, and blessing on issues, circumstances, and events in their life. Because, only if a man is walking on a path, then at some point gets off that path does he know that he's off the path or not. 

But, ill address that in a moment. For now let's look at the typical, "Purpose driven Life model" Or, what I like to call the *Spiritual Treadmill* Why do I call it that? Because, it sets a person up for failure, and constant wondering If they are "In" God's will or not" 

For example: Let's discuss the "Open Door" Closed Door" approach of this Spiritual treadmill. 

This idea says.. If an opportunity shows up and a door is wide open, that this definitely God's will for sure!

 After all, (They say) How many doors get open in ones life? Therefore, you have to take it. Right? No. not right, necessarily, For the same reason of the "Closed Door" view

 The flip side is of this idea is the closed door. And this absurd view says.. Well if, something's difficult, or going to take a lot of work in ministry it's not God's will. (As if God would never ask us to do something difficult Right?) 

No. God wants us to grow. Growth nearly 100% of the time comes through difficulty, and sweat. Like, when My wife pushed herself through hard work outs and food portion control to loose, 65LBS. Was it God's will for her to stay unhealthy and unfit? No, it was absolutely His will for her to be fit. It took hard work for her to get there. God works many times through our labor. 

Then there's the "Striking Coincidense" way for determining God's will"

 This idea is basically best shown in an analogy:

Lets suppose a young man is looking to find and marry "The One"

 Now, let's say for our purpose here, that one day our young man, is walking around his city. He sees that someone littered a Sprite can on the side walk. And so, our young man starts kicking the green Sprite can down the side walk. 

Then, almost like magic he spots three women in a group talking. And, he notices that one of the women is wearing a green shirt.  He looks down and sees the green Sprite can. (And so his absurd theology tells him) that this must be a God -sign telling him. "Marry the green shirt- girl" 

So, he walks up to her asks her out. She says, Yes then 6 dates later he's talking marriage. Then she says yes. 9 months later they're married. 

Problem here is, the young man is basing his understanding of meeting this woman on the idea that God caused someone to litter the Sprite for the sole purpose of him kicking it. 

Good thing it wasn't a Coke can! Because then the young man would have approached the wrong woman. Based on a  red shirt. Then what if she was supposed to marry another guy but now she's stuck with "can Kicker"! Lol.. I'm joking. 

Look, I'm just pointing out the absurd ways in which people approach this. Im not making fun of anyone here. Let's face it, we all have been lost a time or two, or two hundred! That's why we all need His grace.

Now, let's look a the bible now to see some interesting points. Matt. 10:38 Jesus meets Peter and Andrew for the first time and says.."Come Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!" At once they left their nets and followed Jesus.

These men right from the get go. Didn't ask for a sign from heaven. They didn't want a 11 point argument on why They should alter their current lifestyle. They simply obeyed, And followed Jesus!

So do you and I really want to know God's will? Here it is. God wants to save that which is Lost. That's clear from scripture. God wants you and I to read His word, and he wants a real relationship with you. 

Problem is far to many are looking for a mechanical formula for using God to unlock blessings!  

Oswald Chambers said it this way on "Knowing God's will" he said.. "To be so much in contact with God that you never have need to ask Him to show you His will, is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith."

In other words: God's will is has been made perfectly clear from the bible. From cover to cover God wants to save men and women from every tribe, Nation, and tongue by His grace, and for His glory. 

We read in Habakuk.."that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of The Lord. 

We read in Isaiah .."the shall declare my glory from the Nations"

We also know from reading Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked and saw before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe,people and language, standing before the throne in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. 

It's so clear isn't it? That the Will of God is not something to be "Found" it's something to be followed! Question is: Do you want God's will? 

For much more information and content on Knowing God's will here's a link 

http://youtu.be/BYdBMlmJ6Oc

Parents Receive Award For Raising Daughter Like a Son

A family who has a six year-old daughter received an award at Thursday’s Sixth Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast after they unveiled a video depicting how they raise their daughter to be a boy as a means of recognizing her supposed true “gender identity.” The Daily Mail reports that the family received the "Inspiration Award" at the diversity breakfast named for Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first homosexual politician. 

In a (Nutshell) The Whittington family have a little girl who likes to get dirty, play in the dirt and mud, ruff house, and play with G.I Joe over Barbie dolls. Etc..

The Whittingtons sought professional help and began researching the topic of childhood gender identity on their own.

Excuse me? Umm, yeah because when your six year old girl behaves this way, clearly "it must be a gender disorder" 

 

According to the Whittington's.. There was only one obvious answer: their child was transgender…(Sarcasm laid on thick here) 

At this point, I have to respond to a absurd comment someone made on another site about this story..

They wrote....."He. Not she. Ryland (Whittington) identifies as a boy. Use the right pronouns please. Would you rather your child be unhappy and ****acceptable**** or happy and ****unacceptable****? Do you realize how many people are killed for being transgender? Do you know how many teenagers are driven to suicide? God...

Ok, this person is clearly philosophically challenged so ill break these down simply and logically. 

1) Even if a person identified them self as a boy, when in fact they are a girl; makes absolutely no impact on Reality .Anymore, than if Ryland claimed to be a car, a stove oven, butterfly, or flat screen Tv. 

2) She wrote .."Would you rather your child be unhappy and ****acceptable**** or happy and ****unacceptable****?"

Excuse me? First of all, Ryland is 6 years old. And therefore, hasn't a clue how long term happiness works. Furthermore I can tell you, at age 35 my "happiness meter" has changed a whole lot since I was six. 

Furthermore, this is a "false dichotomy" because, Just because, a girl prefers to get dirty, and wear T-shirts and jeans over dresses doesn't do a thing to change her gender. 

Did it ever dawn on these "genius parents" that they could have told young Ryland that "not all girls do girly things the same way, but they are still girls!"

 

Pastor gets Stumped Answering Basic Objections to the Faith

Pastor calls into a Atheist podcast and can't even answer basic questions to his faith 

This is precisely why the need for apologetics arises. 

First question the host asks the Pastor.."Why do you believe The Book of Romans? And 2nd question "Why do you trust and believe the bible"

Two of the most basic questions to ask someone, and listen to his pathetic response! Especially when you consider the fact, that there are hundreds maybe thousands of websites and podcasts that equip Christians for answering objections to the faith. No excuses for not loving God with all your mind   

Here is the link. https://m.soundcloud.com/sanjoseatheists/pastor-calls-in-to-atheist-experience-episode-867-the-dark-ages

Irene Vilar, Most Deadly Mother In The U.S

Meet America's most deadly mother. 

Irene Vilar has written her memoir after having an unspeakable 15 abortions in 17 years. She's proud of her book's reception 

Irene Vilar, said she had the abortions not from poverty or fear but as an extraordinary act of rebellion against her controlling husband and to people on the pro life side. The cycle of pregnancies and abortions, which began when she was 16 and ended when she was 33. 

As far as we know of Irene Vilar owns the record for most abortions by a mother. But, then again, this is most likely not a category that the Guinness book of world records would even have. 

Mrs Vilar, went on to say, of the book's reception: 'I am worried about my safety and the hate mail. I just imagine the "baby killer" stuff and I could be a poster child for that kind of fundamentalism.' 

Excuse me? "That kind of fundamentalism?" 

I guess when one kills 15 of their own innocent children, the big concern would be public labels put on them.  

Now, Vilar, re-married, and mother of two; she is raising daughters and two teenage stepchildren in Denver, Colorado.

'Motherhood has made me feel accountable,' she said. 'It hasn't made me less pro-choice. 'It's just that I understand and feel the weight of the privilege we have in exercising our right to choose.'

As I'm writing this post, I can't help but be convinced that this is one sick woman. What a horrific story!

What is Aiding Us In Living inside The Cultural Age of Trash & Ignorance?

Are We Living in the Golden Cultural Age of Trash and Ignorance?  

By Luther Conigliarro 

Now I'm sure that most of the public already knows that watching "Reality Shows" are not the most intellectually stimulating food for your brain to say the least. But, they seem to be like eating a French fry; no nutritional value to speak of but very addictive! 

I wrote a blog a while back about, "Why nobody is keeping up with the Kardashians" (Which by the way) is one of the reasons for this blog post today. 

Our culture seems to be absurdly infatuated with so called..Reality shows,  that couldn't seem to find moral values if they had a compass! 

Take for example the Craptastic-Reality show, *Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills*

This show is basically about young Beverly Hills -uber- rich spoiled brats; that all they seem to be able to do is party feverishly hard with their parents wealth, all In an effort to be known as the princes and princess' of debachery.

Alcohol, drugs, material excess and wasted lives are the whole point of this brain cell killing show! Matter of fact, The only justice for this show would be for these (greedy little hedonist..,). would be for their parents to cut them off financially, kick them out of their expensive homes, and hopefully then they would be forced to get jobs,

Either that or they could become destitute. Either way justice would be served. 

Then there are shows like:

*Bad girls club* a group of late teens an early 20 something's try to "out slut" th next girl on this show. No brains no talent. 

Then there's 

"Teen Mom" (title says it all) High school girls make babies and MTV films baby rearing for the world to see. 

Then there's 

"Here comes honey boo boo"

And, we can't forget to throw into this "Realty show's toilet".. the "Real Housewives" of every single city in this country! Millions of viewers tune into these shows every week. 

And,What do these shows have in common? They are all contributors that aid to help make a trashy and ignorant culture. Question is...how are These shows are supposed to be life imitating life when half of them are scripted? (Or at least the situations are) 

So...

In the spirit of Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

These Reality shows obviously "Expose" themselves by lack of Substance and clothing, but our job here is to expose their lack of intelligentsia, creativity, meaning, morality, and substance! 

Imagine how much better off our culture would be if we simply would read books of great thinkers! 

Study the great ideas of virtuous people!

Listen to mindfull stimulating podcasts! 

 Plan our lives as if we craved nobility and Righteousness! 

And exposed garbage like that for what it is! Help your friends and loved ones to save them from loosing anymore brain cells on these ignorant shows! 

Happy Thinking 

Luther Conigliarro 

Is a Philosopher, Christian Apologist, blogger, speaker and host of Battle Ideas and other podcasts