Perceptions #200118

BORN AGAIN - "CATCH-PHRASE" OR "CONCEPT?"

by Norman Bales

I like "born again" as a concept, but I loathe it as a catch phrase. As a catch phrase, "born again" becomes the buzzword of religious professionals. It almost seems like they think constant repetition of the phrase guarantees public acceptance. As a concept, "born again" describes the most significant thing that can ever happen to a person.

The promise of a "born again experience" attracts easily persuaded people into the lair of religious con men. Power conscious egotists sometimes invoke new birth terminology as a part of their arm twisting sales strategy, often labeled "evangelism." Self-appointed prophets gain leverage over others by pointing the finger of accusation toward the sins of their audience while attempting to hide their own under the "born again" banner.

When Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again," he wasn't thinking about two classes of Christians - ordinary Christians and born again Christians. In the kingdom of heaven a "born again" person and a "Christian" are one and the same.

"Born again" is a way of describing a change that takes place in human life when a person takes God seriously. It is appropriate to describe a baptized believer as a "born again believer" because a new relationship with God has been established. A born again person has a new set of goals, a new set of ethics, a new sense of purpose and a new way of relating to people. The born again experience has enabled that person to discard the old baggage of shame and guilt.

I will never forget the birth of my oldest son. My in-laws and I sat outside the delivery room awaiting his arrival. After several anxious hours, we heard the baby's cry. A few minutes later they moved him from the delivery room to the nursery and I got a quick glimpse of him at the elevator door. I looked on the face of a child who had committed no wrong. He had never been disobedient to his parents. He had never spoken a bad word or contemplated an evil act in his mind. He was a new born. Spiritually, we are like that, when we become God's children. It's a thought that is absolutely mind bogging to know that we get a second chance at life.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone; the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

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