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.

Addie's Evil Heart of Unbelief

A constant struggle in the Baird household is making our oldest daughter (Addie Leigh) stay in bed. Tonight she got out of bed four (make that five) times. We disciplined her three times, and talked with her each time. I explained to her that by getting out of bed she was being disobedient, but even worse, she didn't trust me. When she gets out of bed she believes that by getting out of bed it will be better for her than if she obeys me and stays in bed. Here we have a little atheist in the making. Wanting to "do what is right in her own eyes." I asked her who knew what was better for her... Addie or daddy? To which she responded (rightly) "daddy." Maybe it was just lip service, but at least she knew the right answer.

As parents it is our job to instill confidence (in us as parents) in our children so that obedience becomes a matter of trust.

Ok, so while you're thinking about how your kids don't trust you, I'm going to throw it back in your (my) own face. Think about how many times that we, by our actions, disbelieve God. We think that by lying on our resume (don't try to get sophisticated on me and say you are embellishing), or covering up our mistake at work, or eating those two (or four) extra donuts, or (men) lingering a little longer at the Victoria's Secret store, or (women) watching the soap opera or reading the trashy romance novel, that somehow by doing these things, we will be better off than if we take God at His word when He says "do not lie," or when He says "do not be a glutton", or when He says that there shouldn't even be a hint of sexual immorality among us (I need Scott Dunn to help me construct this extremely long sentence properly). All sin can be traced back to the root of unbelief. We don't take God at His word and believe that by sinning we will be better off than trusting and obeying God. When are you (am I) going to grow up and believe our Father?

We Should Struggle Like Jill

I am currently scanning Jill's journal and it makes me feel like a spiritual midget ("little person" if you want the PC terminology). Jill had spiritual struggles like we all do, but she handled them so biblically. It was said of John Bunyan by Charles Spurgeon that his blood was bibline. "Prick him anywhere and he bleeds scripture." The same could certainly be said about Jill. In her journal there are segments of Scripture and segments of her personal thought, but sometimes it's hard to tell which is which. Her mind was saturated with God's word. I want to be like that, I want to bleed Bible.

The Inner Consistency of Being a Wretched Christian

It gives me hope and comfort that it is not inconsistent with Christianity to be a sinful and doubting Christian. However, it is never ok to be doubting or sinful, nor am I ever to be at peace with my sin or my doubt. It is the nature of humanity to be sick, but this doesn't take away the impetus to fight against sickness.

Ultimately my hope and comfort is found in Christ alone, but it is good to be reminded of our indwelling sin as believers so that we will have a sober understanding of ourselves, and not fall into pride, and so that when we sin, we will not fall into despair.

Goodsearch

This is on the Wyatt Baptist Church website. Go support our church by searching through our website!

How many times a day do you search for something on the internet? What's your favorite search engine? Can we make a suggestion? GoodSearch allows you to search the internet and find what you're looking for in seconds, just like Google, Yahoo, etc. But with GoodSearch there's one difference. For every search you make on GoodSearch, they will in turn donate one cent to Wyatt Baptist Church. Here's all you have to do. Just click on the GoodSearch link above or type it into your browser window and off you go.

Here's the important part! When the GoodSearch homepage opens and you are ready to type in your search, look at the drop-down box located under the words "Who do you GoodSearch for?" In that box type in "Wyatt Baptist Church" and click the "Verify" button. Now you are ready to search and the church just got a penny!

Shopping for something online? Why not GoodShop? Click the GoodShop box below the search window and choose from more 700 great stores. GoodShop will in turn donate a percentage of your purchase to the church, some as high as 37%. GoodSearch or GoodShop today!

Peril

(A Prayer entitled "Peril" from The Valley of Vision book of Puritan prayers.)

SOVEREIGN COMMANDER OF THE UNIVERSE,

I am sadly harassed by doubts, fears, unbelief, in a felt spiritual darkness.
My heart is full of evil surmisings and disquietude, and I cannot act faith at all.
My heavenly pilot has disappeared, and I have lost my hold on the rock of ages;
I sink in deep mire beneath storms and waves, in horror and distress unutterable.
Help me, O Lord, to throw myself absolutely and wholly on thee, for better, for worse, without comfort, and all but hopeless.
Give me peace of soul, confidence, enlargement of mind, morning joy that comes after night heaviness;
Water my soul richly with divine blessings;
Grant that I may welcome thy humbling in private so that I might enjoy thee in public;
Give me a mountain top as high as the valley is low.
Thy grace can melt the worst sinner, and I am as vile as he;
Yet thou hast made me a monument of mercy, a trophy of redeeming power; in my distress let me not forget this.
All-wise God, Thy never-failing providence orders every event.
Sweetens every fear, reveals evil’s presence lurking in seeming good, brings real good out of seeming evil, makes unsatisfactory what I set my heart upon, to show me what a short-sighted creature I am, and to teach me to live by faith upon thy blessed self.
Out of my sorrow and night give me the name Naphtali - “satisfied with favour” - help me to love thee as thy child, and to walk worthy of my heavenly pedigree.

Pithy Comments

Never underestimate the power of words. What are some of your favorite (short) quotes from books, sermons, heros, parents etc? If it's a really good one I'll post it.

I like this one by John Bunyan:

"Do you see more worth and merit in one drop of Christ's blood to save you, than in all the sins of the world to condemn you?"

(Keep in mind this is poetic language, Jesus could not have ransomed us with a paper cut).

The Great Eight

Romans is probably the most complete (and therefore the most important) book in the Bible. Romans Chapter 8 is probably the most important chapter in the Bible. Romans 3:23-26 is probably the most important paragraph in the Bible. Romans chapter 1 verse 16 is probably the most important verse in the Bible. (Notice my epistemological humility by using the word "probably").
I have mentioned this before but I go back to Romans 8 over and over again. The puritans called it "The Great Eight" and for good reason. It is massively helpful in thinking through the Christian life.
I would encourage you all to meditate deeply on this remarkable chapter. Drink heavily from it's meaning and comfort that it brings.