Born Again Christians
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I have several dear friends and family members that have, over the years, become "born again Christians." The term itself is odd, but we'll get to that later. What I'd like to examine is what apparently causes a person to decide to take their otherwise fairly normal life and dedicate it almost exclusively to Jesus. I do not wish to pass judgment at all here. I love each and every one of the people of whom I speak, but even my own priest and I can have a conversation that does not include attribution to every good thing happening in the world to the blessings of the Lord. I attend church regularly. My children go to Sunday School. But as a T-shirt I've seen said, "I'm not Born Again. I was Born Right the First Time." Obviously, I do not understand what it means to be a "born again" Christian.
Technically, there are passages in the Bible that are read to require people to be "born again," in order to pass into the Kingdom of Heaven. As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said "...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again...." (John 3:3-7). In this passage, Nicodemus was required to have a change of heart to become reborn. From the Catholic perspective, rebirth can occur through holy baptism.
There certainly is NOTHING wrong with a change of heart to give you the keys to everlasting salvation. However, there are a few attributes that can result from rebirth among people claiming to be "born again Christians." These are not the rule, of course, and many people peacefully live their lives happily after transforming their lives to the glory of Christ. It is my personal belief that religion is largely your own experience and, though practiced weekly (or perhaps more often) in communal settings, you and your family should ensure that other people with whom you share your beliefs and perspectives are willing to listen. Of course, you can always lead by example. Just my two cents.
Fervent Conviction
Some people appear to have taken a skeptical view of God, and perhaps the afterlife, and reversed it to one of unquestioning acceptance. Familiar strains from the Hymn "Amazing Grace" come to mind, "I was blind, but now I see!" Of course, faith itself does demand acceptance to some degree of the unknown; the unexplained mysterious forms the basis of many religions of the world. But some so-called "born again Christians" are so convinced of the reality of the miracles of their faith that they may openly proclaim it to many people. Gone is any sense of questioning or wonderment. It simply seems to be fact that certain miracles occurred. And they will tell us all about it.
Avoidance of "Sinful" Behaviors
Many Born-again Christians take a puritanical approach to life, giving up alcohol, smoking, cursing, even sex! Of course, I am not advocating that this is a bad thing, in itself, particularly if the person had a drinking or drug problem to begin with. But, the proclamation (overtly or covertly) that anyone that engages in these behaviors is sinful can be annoying, if it is part and parcel of the rebirth.
Frequent Attendance of Church
This is usually accompanied by dedicating huge sums of money to the church, as well. Once again, I don't mind at all if you wish to spend your time and money that way. I give a great deal of time and money in furtherance of charitable causes, and I don't feel the need to defend myself either here, or before the Lord. The guilt factor does get old, however, if it is offered up. And the sense that perhaps people that truly cannot afford to tithe to the extent demanded are doing so gives me some consternation. But, I must mind my own business.
Passing Judgment
I was taught that Jesus loved everyone, and that only God would judge us at the end. So, I do bristle at the thought that the people who have been "born again" might step into God's shoes (should He wear them) and judge me for my shortcomings. I do a good enough job of that myself, thank you very much.
Re-birth can mean more than just a myopic view of dedication to Christ. It should also include a recognition of the individual's placement within the world, including his or her relationship to Christ and God and humankind in general. This means not to elevate oneself to the level of God. It is laudable to take vows, have a change of heart, go to church frequently, and tithe to the extent possible. But if you do not know what is in other people's hearts, do not pass judgment. That is not your role. I hope that my research here has improved my understanding of born-again Christians, as well as others. The generalizations here are certainly not representative of Christians as a whole, or reborn Christians, specifically. Again, I speak solely from the heart and personal experience. If you have been re-born, or have a relationship with a re-born Christian, I would love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment below.
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Comments
I can sympathize in so many ways, Steph. I know lots of born again Christians. Sadly, that very fact has turned me away from church. Not God, mind you, just church.
I do know one born again Christian that I truly admire. She seems to me to be what a Christian should be. As you mentioned, she professes her religion by example, not by preaching at me or being judgmental.
She has lived an unbelievably rough life. Still her faith is unwavering, as is her unconditional love for her family. She is an amazing woman that is a living example of Christianity to me.
I so appreciate both of you for commenting. My family members that are born again Christians have had really rough lives. Diabetes since age 9, drug use, infertility, etc. I really don't blame them at all for turning their lives over to God and Christ! I think its great! I started this Hub trying to understand what and why and how this phenomenon comes about. I have a strong relationship to God and Jesus, but its not like that. I'm still trying to understand. I hope more people read this and comment. Because I want to know more! Thanks again!
Great hub, steph. I appreciate you wearing your heart on your sleeve like this. Actually I wrote about Nicodemus too, just a few minutes ago. I'm not promoting, just saving you the time of tracking it down, if you're interested. The term "born again" causes so much confusion, and unnecessarily so. I think we do too good a job of making things too complicated. The new birth is simply a spiritual new birth. If you have received the Holy Spirit you have been born again.
Paul says the Spirit doesn't come in just word, but in power. Most people never experience the power, so they have no choice but to wonder. I commend your exploration.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Heavenly-Humor-Irony-From-
Great hub - it is a pleasure to see that today's topic is producing some well-thought out hubs which contrast to the partisan rubbish I found when I checked the "religion" tag earlier! I think one of the tragic parts of many proteslysing (sp?) of which Christianity is one, is that they tend to prey on people who have something missing in their lives and are looking for the "one stop shop" to solve all their problems be they self-imposed or situational.
I'm not trying to be promotional but I must say that I think the Monty Python Team did a very good job at explaining the difference between God or Jesus and religion in the movie http://hubpages.com/hub/Monty-Python-Life-of-Brian
Tried to post a comment but found myself going too long. Wrote hub by the same name instead.
This is a very good hub and it got me thinking. I think going to church and being a Christian or whatever faith people choose is great, but we should not judge each other. You make some good points. I like Catholics and I have always felt very accepted in their churches, whereas some other groups made me feel bad if I did not go to their church every Sunday. I think whatever people decide to do is good, but we should not judge each other. Well said! I am a Christian and I believe in Christ, but I never impose my views on anyone. That is just my path, but we all must have our own.
Hey steph, brave hub! I can understand where you are coming from. I was raised by a Catholic father and a "born again" mother so I am intensly familiar with the differences. Not all born again Christians are alike, trying to convert everyone they meet and saying Hallelujiah! every five minutes. And not all Catholics go to confession regularly or even mass occasionally or devote their lives to God entirely, although i know some who do. Ah. Too much to say on this...
I was homeschooled for much of my pre-college education, and as a result, my family became pretty well acquainted with many born-again Christians, with very similar musings to those you've laid out here. It's nice to know we are not alone in scratching our heads a little over the phenomenon. It's always been a rather disturbing disconnect for me to hear our born again friends, who are wonderful, kind, and loving people, talk with such relish of the Rapture and the End Times, a period that by their own admission will cast anyone who has not "accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior" into a lake of fire for all eternity, regardless of whether they have lived a good life or a bad one, the only requirement for salvation being acceptance of a particularly narrow and controversial set of beliefs that bears, actually, almost no resemblance to anything Jesus actually said.
For just one example, look at all those megachurches taking tithes from people who really can't afford to give them, and preaching that God wants them to be rich, that God makes the deserving rich, as though Jesus had not raged against that very attitude more than almost any other. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God," He said, but I almost wonder if many of these Born Again Christians even read the Gospels. They seem to quote from almost everything but. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Corinthians, Revelations, etc. etc. etc. Where are Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John?
I so appreciate everyone reading this hub and writing comments! I am so glad that everyone has their own experiences with religion, Christianity, and even being "born again." Truly, I did learn a lot in researching this hub, and broadened my own mind. Again, thank you! This was a bit risky....
A lot of interesting perspectives but I could not resist adding my two cents here. I am a Christian. But religion is a personal journey and although I respect the opinions shared in and about this hub, I believe that you need to examine the entire Bible to form your views. While fanatical religious extremist have been at the root of the bloodiest wars in history, it is a shame that people take it upon themselves to judge and attempt to control others. God states over and over in the Bible that he is a God of Love. If people would lead by example instead of forcing their views on others I believe the world would be a much better place.
I am tying to keep this short but as Angela Harris shared about the Christian woman in her life, I believe that being a Christian is to try to act "Christ-like" meaning be humble, be a servant and help others, be a loving and compassionate person. Let the power of your relationship with Christ or your higher power show in your actions. It does not mean that if you are successful you won't get into Heaven, but the point I believe that Christ was making was that you can only serve one God.
I am not saying that you shouldn't follow the laws as they are laid out in scripture but that that is your choice through free will. Being in judgement of of others is a direct counter-diction to what Christ teaches. "How can you point out the speck in your neighbors eye without removing the log from your own."
I know some extremist, I guess they would call themselves born again but their behavior is just as obsessive as any other addiction and personally I don't believe that defines a Christian. It unfortunately taints the views of those in questions.
Sorry this was so long.
What defines a Christian is one who comes to Christ. Jesus didn't reject anyone who came to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He accepted them all no matter what they did. He still accepts them today, but one must go to Him.
Many reject Him today as they did when he walked the earth as a man.
Kerryg mentioned the megachurches taking tithes from people. People give their tithes. To my knowledge the churches do not force them to pay tithes. God loves a cheerful giver. If one has to be coerced into giving then the person may as well keep it.
I am not condoning how some pastors manipulate people into feeling guilty. I have seen it time and time again and I hate to see it. No matter what they do though, my salvation in Christ is personal to me. It has nothing to do with anyone else.
Sometimes people get too emotional in their walk with Christ and seem pushy. I have done ti myself, but I believe I have grown to the point where I can do it the way Jesus would have it done. I still fall short, but I am on the right way.
SirDent, yes, to the best of my knowledge people are not forced to give tithes, but the social pressure to do so is certainly very strong, and there have been numerous cases of pastors popular among the "Born Again" taking their flock's money and using it for things like Caribbean vacations and fancy cars, while justifying it to themselves and their flocks as God rewarding the "deserving."
Even when the pastor isn't an unscrupulous hypocrite, I've seen poor "Quiverfull" families with 7, 8, 9, or more kids giving money to the church for missionary work that would have been better spent on feeding their own children, and in several cases providing medical care for the younger ones. The youngest child (of 10, in about 14 years) of one of the families I knew was born without an esophagus and in need of constant attention to make sure he didn't remove his feeding/breathing tube (he was 2), and the family made many sacrifices in order to pay both his medical bills and their church's tithes. Now, I am all in favor of donating to charity, even, perhaps especially, if you have to make sacrifices to do it. But sacrificing a new car or an iPod or a night out at a nice restaurant is one thing. Driving your own family into abject poverty is quite another.
I love any and all faith based businesses. Heck, you don't have to manufacture a thing. You sell a belief strictly based on faith. Something you can neither see nor hold in your hands. Millions of dollars is taken in each year by pastors who fly around in jets, or build mansions for their families. Your right, no one is forced to give tithing, but they do full well knowing that the money they give is going to make those at the top rich. It makes my stomach turn when I see one of these so called preachers telling his flock that God or Jesus wants them to give him money. I hear tell they even have ATM's in churches now. Give me a break, God nor Jesus wants you to give money. Have faith in yourselves! If you turned the faith you have in Jesus inward to reflect the faith in yourself you would become powerful beyond believe. But because we're human we think we have to believe in something or someone out side of ourselves to tell or show us how to act or live. When we let loose of our crutch and soar on our own there will be no limit to what we can do. What would this world look like if we weren't fighting over religion?
Zev, I don't know anything about ATMs in churches. If a person gives money, time or anything at all to God freely who is to tell them not to? As I stated before, if a person gives begrudgingly he/she may as well keep it.
God is more than able to keep those who are in need. He exepcts us to ask for what we need. If a person is hungry and doesn't ask for food, they may keep going hungry. To be humble before God is a good thing. To be humble before man is a good thing.
"holy can of worms"! hahahaha Steph, I just wanted to say that I respect that you were brave enough to display your opinions in such an open forum. This is a great hub just based on the mere controversy it may cause. Since I'm such a new hubber I'll play it safe for now LOL
God moves us all in different ways at different times. What's right for one person may not be for another, but anyone with faith finds ministry, (or it finds them) even if in small ways. One example in my blog: http://one-stop-mommy-shop.blogspot.com
I think your ministry was to create this hub, and like you said, for your own greater understanding. How could someone not respect that?
Mrs Know it all - thank you... were it not for the contest, I don't think I would have published this - at least not now. Then again, it has been interesting for me to learn in my research and certainly through the comments. I do have an open mind! thank you for reading and adding your thoughts! steph
Great Hub Steph.
I think the views on both sides have been well put. I am friendly with people who would refer to themselves as 'born again'. But I find the phrase unhelpful because some who use it are over simplistic and worse, judgemental of others.
Once Christians loose sight of God's love and grace then the whole point of Christianity is lost. Paul sums it up well in 1 Cor 13. "Now we see but a poor reflection. But one day we shall see clearly. Now we know in part but one day we will know fully." (paraphrase only).
In other words we mustn't assume to KNOW the truth fully during this lifetime. We are simple called to love God and one another as best we can.
(I can't believe Rik Ravado just wrote that.)
Rik, what a great quote from Corinthians! Thank you for insightful comments. Steph
I let a friendship that I treasured go because I grew tired of being judged and corrected by a born again friend who knew it all. She often said things like *I have the answer - now what is the question* and it all got a bit much. We are human beings and therefore not perfect whether born again or not. I cannot quote the bible chapter and verse but know right from wrong I hope and am humble enough to admit that I make mistakes and am not always in the right. Please pray for this friendship.
Hi Mary, I have definitely been in your shoes. I am sorry you are having difficulties with your friend and I will indeed pray that you can each accept each other for who you are.
Best, Steph
I actually just became a born again christian. I was baptized November 30th. Born again means like Jesus who was baptized that we have let go of our past before we became baptized that we are to be reborn into christ. to be dedicated to the lord Jesus.. ..
I went to a christian church for several month. I learned a lot about bible scripture. But I was so turned off by being judged all the time by my friends that took me there in the first place. If you don't go to church everyday and completely give up everything in your life you don't belong. You are being judged or made to feel that you are doing something wrong. born again christians are very knowledgeable a tool used to show others that they know it all. I don't think god wanted christians to act this way. I just stay way. They are not the example only god is. born again christians must not be getting the right translations from the bible in the way they act... God is love!!!!
Hi steph :0)
Great hub!!!
I wrote this some time back...thought you might like it.
If it takes up to please much space, please feel free to delete...
sorry I have been a stranger, not been on the net much to much going on...
Michael :0)
1. OH FATHER WHERE ART THOU?
Where in the world is God today?
In this fast paced modern Hi Tech internet age has He fallen behind like the rest of the people who refused to conform to the latest craze or fad? Did He pack His bags and head off to a distant planet to start all over again? Only this time no forbidden fruit on a tree and Satan has been left behind to terrorize those that did not make the grade.
If you look at the growth of religious orders and gospels and mega churches He should be able to find a welcome spot. Or have they all just a knowledge of Him or more to the point taken some of His Son's many words and published their version of the Gospel of Jesus and would not know him if he showed up in person? Or maybe he would not meet the educational "No Saint left behind requirements"!
Many of these well meaning organizations have myriads of information on Him and His creation, and followers can quote many of His sacred scriptures, but then again volumes have been written on Shakespeare by people who claim to be authorities on good old Will, but they have never even talked or shared a beer with the guy! Yet for some reason known only to themselves, know how he lived, felt, and thought. Sounds kind of crazy, and yet if Will came back to life and walked among them would they accept him into their fold? Or would they have painted such an unrealistic picture of him that they would call him an impostor and politely ask him to leave? Book him into a mental hotel or Find him a place on Jerry Springer...." See Willy slap the Dickens out of Prince Charles live on Springer!!!!
I think its time someone yelled stop the bus! And let's see who is actually on it..... and why we let them on in the first place? Many of us from birth because of the environment we were raised in have been yoked with burdens that were never a predestined load to bear and all this has accomplished so far (For some of us!) is the slowing down and hindering of our growth and wellbeing.
For example if you grew up in a religious organization you were at an early age introduced to their doctrinal lenses on the world around you.
After a while you would become a clone, marry a clone and produce more clones.
Sounds exciting!!! Amen!
On the other hand you could have had non religious parents who were independent free thinkers and encouraged you to explore and discover the ends of the earth and live a vibrant life. With encouragement like that the world would be your Oyster and you would be a cool person to hang out with and your of spring would be fruitful and multiply? (Sounds real attractive to me)
Then of course you could have grown up in a drug, alcohol, dysfunctional family environment. Learned how to yell, fight, self sabotage and in general live a very depressing and unhealthy life, you know! Marry, Divorce, Re Marry produce more unhappy Fagan's (Oliver twist), who unless they received some serious intervention would carry on the family tradition and be the butt end of comedians jokes. The chances of an early checkout in that sinario are pretty good!
Another case that could find a home in the first and third paragraph above is race and color and that has been the catalyst for some pretty distraous consequences on account of mans false illusions about his superiority.
Now if our mental heath is dependent upon the environment we have grown up in! Then Darwin's theory of the survival of the fittest would most definitely come into play and the world would be a very unfair place, would it not. Just ask your local Rabbi! But that's not happening is it?
Ok! Now ask yourself if there is a God...Where in the world is he in all of this, I mean why would he create man and then let him of the leash only to mess up the backyard and scare of the neighbors. Is this the loving thing to-do?
If you look at the last 2000 years we have had one religious war after another. The middle east, northern Ireland, The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, WW2( Yes Hitler believed he was doing gods work by eradicating the Jewish population), Bosnia . So if God is a religious God I sure don't want to meet him and most defiantly not on a bad day.
Maybe he is in corporate America? Then again they don't really have a head just a breathing mass of hungry share holders and some for some reason known only to themselves are always hungry for more and will never be satisfied and yes maybe there are some corporations that do genuinely care, can't think of any at the moment lol. But they do care about their public image and the good old bottom line and if you have ever had a pink slip then you know all about corporate unconditional love, no security there!
Now I don't think he lives in statues or religious artifacts because if that was the case you could buy him take home and pop him up on the mantel piece or nail him to the wall or better still stick your old bath tub out in the front lawn end up and depending on which God is in vogue proudly display it, kneel before it, and ask it lots of questions even pray to it. I have news for you whether its made of wood, alabaster or a precious metal it wont answer you back and if it did your property would be declared a scared spot and there goes your peace and quiet as you struggle home through the candle awed multitudes.
I have lived in this country (North America) since June 25th 1988 and while I love the vastness and beauty of this contentment I'm not in love with American Christianity. My journey through the American churches has been sadly disappointing. I came here with a passion for God and all that he has to offer us. I expected (naively) that the church here would be just as passionate, but I was greatly disappointed. You see I had and still have a wonderful love for god and the glorious wonders and life he has to offer through an intimate relationship with him.
Over the past 20 years I have only met a hand full of people who were thoroughly passionate about God, the vast majority had a knowledge about him or were more concerned about their status before others or telling other Christians how they should live their lives or building their own kingdoms and bringing converts into the same bondage as themselves. In short I believe God brought me to this country to teach me how to love the lost sheep of his flock and it has been very hard class to take! Many times I have wanted to quit. But as I slowly progress and gain his understanding of unconditional love I gain understanding of how he feels by the churches rejection of his love. All God wanted in the very beginning was a relationship with Adam and eve. It was so simple! God having healthy fellowship with his creation. They talked about everything and laughed at each others humor , there were no big list of rules to follow except one don't eat the fruit of just one tree....that was it! Yes we all know the rest of the story and the resulting fall out. The world has not lived in peace since and will not until it surrenders its false illusions of grandeur and superiority at the foot of his throne and accepts the free gift of his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
There is no other way, the struggle has been going on for centuries and will continue until Jesus returns to claim those that love and follow him and those that have rejected him will tragically not enter into his eternal peace and life everlasting.
So where is God? He is here right now ready and willing to enter your life and the best way to ask him in is to ask him or his
Hello Steph,
I am a born again Christian who has lived for the Lord since I was a child. You ask some very good questions, and make some very good points. I am a person of great faith and maintain a regular prayer life. However, I totally disagree with those preachers who talk about the prosperity doctrine. It cannot be found in the Bible. God promised to supply your needs. He did not promise to make you rich.
Jesus said to let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God. He did not say to take a sword and beat the gospel into people. Leading by example is what Jesus meant.
I think that some people become judgmental without quite knowing it. However, that was never in God's plan. Jesus said plainly, judge not, lest you be judged.
As one who has been involved in the church for a long, long, time I understand your questions about ministers who take money and spend it on luxuries for themselves and their families. I have come to believe that the tithing structure in most churches should be changed and the management of church money should be changed. I believe that the minister should not be paid more than the mean income of the congregation. A man who lives above the standard income of his people does not understand the people and cannot offer the advice in a pastoral way that is appropriate.
But, in spite of all this I am still a follower of Jesus Christ. I did not sign on to follow a person who may or may not lead me in the right way. I try to follow the leading of the pastor, but the same Bible that instructed us to obey them that have the rule over you, also said to know them that labor among you.
I became acquainted with Jesus Christ a long time ago and I find no fault with him. I need nothing more. That is why I am still a Christian. People wil fail you. Jesus Christ will not.
I'm so excited you're interested in coming to know the Lord. I've been letting myself doubt - a sin in itself and especially dangerous for born-again believers to give into - that anyone really cares about God at all anymore. After all, our society in itself constantly pushes that everyone just do what thou wilt and forget all consequences. However, there is always a price to be paid for every action, both in this life and in eternity.
As for your quest, when you seek the Lord with all your heart (begin by reading the Bible for yourself and asking God - aka praying - to reveal it to you; don't go to others yet to explain; let God prove to you that His Word doesn't come back void), He will be found. Being born-again can only occur when you see yourself as God already sees you - a lost soul that is currently poor, miserable, blind and naked despite your own attempts to cloth it with works of righteousness, which are as filthly rages before the Lord. God has 10 commandments. If you've broken even one (e.g., Jesus says that if you've ever been angry with someone, you've murdered them; sin starts in the heart and is eventually manifested by outward, bodily actions - like in cursing someone out when angry), you're guilty of breaking all 10/the Law (this is what He'll judge non-born-again people by when they stand before Him on the Day of Judgment; born-again people will be spared if they appear before Him clothed in the righteousness of Christ: lived the rest of their lives in submitted obedience to Him as the Holy Spirit led after being born-again).
Once you realize you're a sinner like God already sees, call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. For this, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, died and rose again - to give eternal life to all those who believe on Him, even His name. This is how one becomes born-again. Then, to grow you must continue following Christ with the rest of your life - this is why born-again Christians don't drink (we're not to be drunk on wine wherein is excess/gluttony but to be filled with the Spirit; in order to keep in proper fellowship with God, we must continually strive to now walk in the Spirit so we don't fulfill the lusts - lying, anger, sexual lusts, etc. - of our flesh; we don't want to fulfill fleshly lusts because this cuts off our fellowship with God again as no flesh can glory in His presence; when we do sin again, though, we have the privilege to confess our sin to God who is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness committed during our re-rebellion: the continual mercies and everlasting lovingkindness of God displayed in a believer's life).
We go to church regularly to fellowship with other likeminded believers as people generally conform to those they hang with most. As well, where two or more are gathered in the Lord's name, there He is in the midst - we've even more of the presence of the Lord and His mind is manifest in a greater way in our midst when we fellowship together by which the Lord then uses us to reprove and edify one another (hence the sermons, testimony time, prayer time, etc. we practice while together). Church is the actual body of believers unified by the Holy Spirit who gives us the mind of Christ to live by when we're gathered together physically or just in the Spirit like happens in private and corporate prayer. It's not a place or event as false forms of Christianity generally showcase today - just going to "church" to do God a favor or even earn merit with Him, etc. but not walking away changed more into the image of Christ - from glory to glory He's changing me.
By the way, if you read this comment and then begin reading the Bible you'll see I've used scripture throughout. The only way to understand any of this really, though, is to tell God you want to believe and then let Him lead you to begin literally trusting Him from His first words in Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning, God created ...", not chance like evolution claims) to the last word in Revelation 22:21 ("Amen.").
Hope this helps.
As a Christian I avoid using the term "born again", not because it's incorrect, just because of the stigma that it carries. Most people have a false perception of what it means and they can't get passed that terminology.
As far as some of your points are concerned, I think you must have had experiences with the wrong type of people or churches. In terms of giving money to the church, I do so regularly, but I've never felt pressured by the church, and I have been a church goer my whole life.
The same thing goes for the judgement issue. I don't feel that my church or those that I am friends with a judgmental. Many churches today are very welcoming and receptive to anyone, but that's not the common perception.
Most Christians today only talk about their faith, not walk it. If the Christians really did stand up and walk their faith this country would not be in the situation it is today. Slaughtering millions of innocent children is not a characteristic of a Christian nation. God blesses the righteous actions of a righteous nation. "The prayers of a humble man availeth much." This nation is not humble. Christians are not active in spreading their faith. They are not active in showing Christ's love. We have blended in with a nation of hypocrites and shallow feelings.
I agree with you Alexius. Most of us (Christians) believe that once we're saved then everything is set-we're gradually transformed by the Holy Spirit until Christ's character becomes our own. And that's the problem; we're seeing that few Christians are being, "Transformed from within by the renewal of our minds". We walk, the vast majority of us, not as Christ walked, but trying to supress our sinful desires that are still with us rather than cooperating with the Holy Spirit as God "works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure". You can blame it on many things....I place the blame on false doctrine.
1. THE Lord has said that until a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Let alone ‘entering’, he cannot even see it. The bodily eyes see only physical and material things. But God is a Spirit, and to see Him and His Spiritual Kingdom we must be born of the Spirit (John 3:5-6), and then not only will our spiritual eyes see Him, but we shall also reign with Him.
When a man repents of his sin and turns to God, then the Spirit of God works in him, and he is born anew and becomes a new creature, and then and there the Kingdom of God, or Paradise, begins in him. Christ said to the thief on the Cross. ‘ To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). This shows that the Lord had full knowledge of and authority over Paradise. He did not say, ‘ Perhaps after sometime you will be with me in Paradise,’ nor that, ‘ I shall go there first and get permission from God, and then arrange for you.’ But as an owner speaking with authority of His rightful possession He gave this comfort to the dying thief, and took this the firstfruits of His Cross with Him to Paradise. So those who now are crucified to sin and the world with Him are on that very day born again, and entering Paradise, or the Kingdom of God, feel a wonderful joy and peace in their hearts. Worldly- minded men can neither ‘see’ the peace of Paradise, nor can they understand what is the meaning of this new birth, or of the Kingdom of God.
2. The Lord gives every man his chance to repent, and be born anew, and enter into the Kingdom of God. He knew what kind of man Judas Iscariot was, and how he would betray Him. Still He did not treat him with harshness, but gave him the precious opportunity of living with Him. No one can say that He did not give an evil man his chance. But Judas committed the great folly, that, instead of repenting of his sin and coming back to Christ, he went out and hanged himself. So nowadays there are many who commit Judas’ sin, and instead of entering into Paradise and the Kingdom of God, they go to their own place, and are punished (Acts 1 : 25 ).
‘His own place,’ or hell, means a condition in which man by he exercise of his own free will, in disobedience to God, creates a state of suffering within himself. Hell is not the name of a particular place because if it is a place, then God, Who is present in every place, would then have one part of His being in hell-and that can never be possible. But hell is a state which does not exist in God, and the true worshipper, who is in spiritual union with God, will be saved for ever from this state of sin and its suffering.
Wherever God is there is heaven, or the Kingdom of God, but God is present everywhere, therefore heaven is everywhere. Knowing this, His true worshippers are happy everywhere, and under all conditions, whether in pain or discomfort, whether among friends or among enemies, or whether in this world or in the world to come. For they live in God, and God lives in them eternally; and this is the Kingdom of God (Luke 17 : 20 –21 ).
Outwardly, the sinner may appear to live in a state of ease and luxury, but he can never get rid of the disquiet of his heart. If indeed he could enter heaven, that also would be hell to him, because hell is in his heart itself. He cannot enter the Kingdom of God till his heart is changed and he is born anew.
3. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Love, A man of God saw in a vision that he had gone into a strange country. When he arrived there he was astonished that the people of that land came out and welcomed him with joy, as if he were a long-lost brother, or a friend who had just returned to them. He went into the city with them, and saw great mansions in which were all kinds of furniture, but their owners had gone out and lest them open. He asked some of the men why this was, and they said, ‘There are no thieves here. As long as men’s hearts are locked up to God, so long do they need to lock their doors. But when the door of the heart is open to God, and He lives in it, then there is no need to put a look on any door; for where the Kingdom of God is in the heart it is the Kingdom of Love, where each serves the other in love and desires only his good. Once there were two brothers here. The younger brother learned that the elder had need of some goods, so he took a quantity and set out to take them to his brother’s house. It also happened that the same thought of helping the younger had accurred to the elder brother. They were moved by love alone, and without either saying anything to the other, each set out for the other’s house with some goods. They met on the road. When each saw the unselfish love of the other, they embraced in real happiness. This is the way we should help and love one another, and seek good of our fellowmen.
When the stranger had gone on a little further, he saw a man and an angel meet as true brothers, and begin with one heart worshipping Christ, the Incarnation of Love. On seeing this the stranger’s heart was filled with inexpressible love and happiness, and instinctively be exclaimed, ‘Without doubt this is the Kingdom of God, and our real and eternal home for which the heart of man longs.’ Although heaven begins in man’s heart while he is in the world, yet it continues beyond this life in that state where there is neither suffering, nor pain, nor death, nor tears, but endless life and unbroken joy.
Hello
You said:
"What I'd like to examine is what apparently causes a person to decide to take their otherwise fairly normal life and dedicate it almost exclusively to Jesus."
Now here is a deception. Anyone who tells you THEY MADE THE DECISION to follow the Lord Jesus Christ has, in effect, told you a lie. This in turn tells you that they are not Born Again even if they say that they are.
John 6:44 (KJV) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
We have to be called by The Father in order to follow The Lord. Salvation is in His Hands, not ours.
The term "born again" has been much abused for so many years now.
The Scripture you say that technically REQUIRES a rebirth is not a requirement at all.
Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he will not see the kingdom of God unless he was born from above and it was no requirement at all because one cannot make himself born again, nor can he do certain actions in order to be born again.
It is something that God Himself initiates, and accomplishes in a person.
Those who would make "accepting Christ as Savior" the pre-requisite or the "key" to becoming born again often quote the Scripture you cited, plus John 1:12 which says "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
But, notice that colon after "name" ?
That is there because the next verse is a continuation of what is being said, which is, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
In other words, Jesus was telling Nicodemus that unless God had made him regenerate (born from above, born again) Nicodemus would never understand what Jesus was saying, evident in his question on how can somebody be born again, should he go back into this mother's womb ?
Other misconceptions.
Repent and be born again. False. You repent BECAUSE you are born again.
Accept Christ, and be born again. False. You accept Christ or receive Christ, BECAUSE you are born from above (Christ said, "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they know me".
Hey
I totally understand, that was really good. Jesus is amazing.
Thanks for baring your soul regarding being born again.
Love one another in truth. Let us love one another...
Seek the truth diligently Steph, and oh, by the way, great smile - you have been saluted! http://hubpages.com/hub/Use-Your-Beauty-For-Good
I agree with ColeMartin. Lead by example. Agape Love. Read the whole Bible the truth is all there. I have a good friend that left his wife because she became a born again Christian and they started going to small groups and she would throw him under the bus in front of these people. He couldn't take it anymore and now the words Born Again has left a bad taste in his mouth which is unfortunate. I hope one day he will change his views and not be afraid of the word Born Again.
This is a good example why Christians should be careful with their actions. We are to bring people to Christ not push them away.
Thank you for your Hub Steph!
Hi Steph, I followed Seasons for Life over here and am glad I did. You raise a question a lot of us wonder about but are too afraid (or polite) to ask directly to those who claim to be born again.
Totally agree -- my experience with those who claim to be "Born Again" has not been positive. These seemingly narrow-minded, uptight zealots proseltyze and judge anyone who is not the same kind of "christian" they are (small c used for emphasis). I'm sorry, but if Catholicism is good enough for the Italians, Irish, French, Mexicans, Filipinos and various other groups around the world, I find it arrogant that someone would put "my" brand of Christianity
below theirs.
To me, if you are a Christian your actions will speak for themselves (or as the song I used to love as a young girl says, "And they'll know we are Christians by our love). Why do you have to qualify it with Born Again?
Hi i never gave much thought to "born again christian" until my sister in law converted she has changed by distancing herself from her own brother & family i am disappointed in the change as i thought christians loved all but to me it seems they can only love you & be with you if you are "born again" how can they now convince us they are the right religion when they are judging us yet Jesus never did we believe & love the Lord but it makes us wonder about this group the negativity they are creating it feels as though they read the bible but dont understand or interpet it correctly really disappointed a religion ruining a family.
Hi Steph,
I am of the Catholic faith and have been spending time with a "Born Again Christian" who seams to look down on those of any denomination of Christianity other than their own. It has been a struggle to communicate concerning matters of the scriptures. I have grown and am growing in the process with a greater understanding of my own faith.
One thing it seems is a great amount of difference between the "Born Again" and Catholic faith stems from the Catholic's tradition and rituals which seems to be perceived as evil by the "Born Again" sect. From what I can tell, there are more similarities than differences with the two and these are what should be focused on to achieve a commend ground for those who have an interest in doing so.
To be a Christian you need to be "born again" so I'm guessing most, if not all denominations of the Christian faith have some point of the excepting process that they promise to give their life to Christ. I propose that to be "born again" is part of the process of becoming a Christian no matter what form it takes; a Born Again Christian is a redundancy for all Christian are "born again" by it's very definition.
i started reading and kinda just started skipping through about halfway down (this is a loooooong thread) so if i repeat something someone else said, sorry in advance
not sure the beliefs on everyone here but from what i read most seem to be of christian/catholic belief to some extent or another so i wanted to give a slightly different point of view as an agnostic for lack of a better fitting description
i can't say i dont believe in god, nor can i say i do, but the same philosophy applies to just about every aspect of my life, in my opinion, its downright conceited of any person to either proclaim or disclaim the existence of any entity without proof, you cant say god exists without proof and you cant say he doesnt, but that theory also applies to many other subjects, aliens, ghosts, etc etc. now that i have explained my point of view and probably made a few enemies, let me continue on with the subject.
in my opinion, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, that being said that same right entitles them to not have the beliefs of others forced down their throats and thats where my opinion becomes a point of contention with some, let me cite 2 prime examples of what i mean from personal experiences
1: when i was about 16 years old (35 yrs old now) i was at the local mall with a friend of mine, we were typical teenagers hanging out at the mall on a friday night, outside the doors smoking when we were approached by a slightly older gentleman approx. 23-25 yrs old or so who started a generic conversation with us, so we obliged and started chatting with him, all seemed normal....until we decided to go back inside and find the rest of our group, his "parting" comment to us was (i will try to get it as close as possible but you will get the rough idea) "by the way i am a member of XXX church on XXX street and we would love it if you guys stopped by to our mass tomorrow night" to which we both replied, politely, no thanks man not interested, this gentleman then proceeded to follow us around the mall for almost an hour until he broke my final straw when we sat down at a table in the food court to eat and he took it upon himself to sit at our table with us and continue on, i had had enough and happen to be on real good terms with the head of security so i had the gentleman escorted away from us and warned by the local PD...sadly it doesnt end there, about 2 weeks later i saw this same guy near a corner store by my house and he then followed me all the way to a friends how yeling behind me about how i would be damned if i didnt come to his church
2: this example is much shorter as it was only a single encounter with an individual although this one went way further in its briefness than the other i believe, i was hanging outside of a local convenience store wearing my jean jacket, and as was the style in the 80's and 90's i had patches of bands and such all over it, the back patch on this jean jacket was the cover of Mercyful Fate's Don't Break the Oath album, the guy proceeded to literally start screaming at me at the top of his lungs on one of the busiest streets in our city that, and this is an exact quote i remember it vividly, my "soul belong to satan" because of the patch on my jean jacket
in summary, the way i see it, everyone has a right to their belief, but when you try to force that belief down someone else's throat you have carried it over a line that you had no right to cross, if you want to walk up to someone and say "do you have a minute so i can talk to you about my religious beliefs" thats just fine, but if they reply with "no" or "i am not interested" then you need to say "ok" and just walk away...or find another subject to discuss, if you push the issue beyond that then you are no longer exercising your rights you are now infringing upon mine, and honestly, if you cant think of another subject to discuss other than you religious belief, then you need to review your religious belief because if it has reached a point of becoming all consuming, then you have reached a point where its just flat out unhealthy
SirDent says:
2 years ago
First things first. Where you wrote : (I do a good enough job of that myself, thank you very much.) We shouldn't even judge ourselves. We will always see where we fall short.
Know this right now, that I am a little dense at times and I think this may be one of those times. I am not exactly sure what confuses you about the phrase born again Christians. One must be born in the spirit as Jesus told Nicodemus. It is spiritual as you stated. But one must follow Christ also. The term "Christian" means little Christ. The "world" today has turned it into a profanity.
I am not trying to be argumentative. Maybe I should read it again later, because I just don't get what you mean.