Does Anyone (Besides Me) Think I Use Parentheses Too Often? (Be Honest)

In our ever changing world of language, we must find ways to creatively and clearly communicate. Sometimes it even means to make up words (like "literality," or "enoughness"). Short headlines to describe yourself seldom work anymore. For instance, it is not enough to say "I'm a Christian" for anyone to know what you actually mean. I could say that and mean something completely different from what my Mormon friends would mean by that same statement. Communication and language are fascinating to me. The changing connotations of words cry out for definition. In order for us to be clear in our communication we must continually go back to the drawing board. We must not be afraid to look stupid. We must ask questions. We must answer questions. We must criticize candidly and constructively. We must be willing to take criticism without being destroyed.

Bonus points to the one who can comment on the significance of the photo (I know it's too easy).

Would The Real Jesus Please Stand Up?

Here's the explanation of the question and the question.

Explanation:

Right now I typically read from the ESV. To go along with that I use Bible Gateway to read these other translations - KJV, NIV, NLT, MSG, AMP.

Most of them say something like "John said, 'Master, we saw this dude casting out demons IN YOUR NAME...'" I noticed that the NLT and MSG (yeah, they are totally the black sheep of the Bible Translation Family) say something like "Jesus they were USING your name." See, totally different connotation, right?

Question:

When John says this is he being accusatory? Is he saying that they were "using" the name of Jesus? Clearly, because of Christ's reply he is to a degree, but I'm always curious to see how the disciples talked to Jesus. What kind of words was he using?

Which also brings me to this. In Adam's morning sermon last Sunday he said something about "doing something in Jesus name." What exactly does it mean to do something in Jesus name? This fits perfectly into the account of this passage in Luke when you read it in Mark 9. Is it as simple as doing something BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHRIST? Or is there more to it?

Great question(s)!

(My) Answer:
RE: John's Comments- He was being accusatory. I would say it like this, John was saying "Jesus there were these guys casting out demons in your name, can you believe that? They don't even follow us and they were trying to infringe on your copyright, should we try to sue them? Your name is proprietary, and should only be used by you or us, not just anyone can utter that word." I don't think it was directly disrespectful to Jesus, John had good intentions mixed with a little pride.

RE: Doing something in Jesus name- I think this means that if what motivates you to do something for someone is Jesus (either in what He has done or will do for you), then you are doing it in Jesus name. If your acts of mercy have a redemptive goal (they picture in a physical way, what Christ has done for you spiritually) they are done in Jesus name. In a very general way, any good act done by someone known to be a Christian is doing something "in Jesus name." Another important point to this is that you have to be speaking in the name of the "right Jesus." Not the Jesus who is wimpy, feminine, girly or who wears a dress and has product in his hair (as Mark Driscoll would say). Not the "good moral teacher" Jesus who certainly wasn't God, and got killed because he talked about loving your enemies and whose body probably was eaten by dogs. Not the lunatic Jesus who only thought he was God, but really was just a loon. Anything done in one of these "Jesus'" name is not really done in Jesus' name. We are not given the freedom to define Jesus in any other way than what Scripture defines Him. Christian good works must be done in the name of the crucified-risen-and-reigning-ruler-of-the-universe Jesus.

Another Question

Question:
When Jesus asked why the father forsake him on the cross, was that doubt? I want to know it isn’t but the human in me wants to know what it is, I should have paid more attention in English!

Answer:
I guess it depends on what you mean by "doubt." Sometimes it's easier to say what things aren't than what they are.
We know Jesus' words and emotions here were not sinful. Therefore we know when Jesus said these words it did not mean, that He doubted God's goodness, or even His sovereignty. In fact He was declaring His sovereignty by what He said. He could have just as easily cursed the Jews or the Roman officials who put Him unjustly on the cross, but He says (kind of like Job) "why have you forsaken me?" Even though we know from Acts 2:23 and 4:27-28 that there were evil intentions of evil men who conspired to kill Christ, we also know that God had a good intention for Christ's crucifixion and that Jesus was aware of this and never doubted it (this fact is obvious from the many allusions to His crucifixion during His ministry recorded the gospels).
Therefore I think it is better to understand this statement by Jesus as a cry of agony. God "turned His back" on Jesus when Christ took on the sins of the world. He was forsaken by God in His darkest hour. He had enjoyed intimate fellowship with the Father His entire life, but this fellowship was cut off for a time (whatever this means in light of the truth of the Trinity) while Jesus was taking the full wrath of God for sinners. Jesus quotes Psam 22:1 here (even He struggled in a biblical way!). Just because Jesus knew that He would have to endure this, does not take away the actual pain of the event. Jesus was in the worst possible agony, worse than any that anyone has ever experienced in the history of the world, yet by His words we see where His comfort was, even though it had left Him for the moment.