Born Again Christian. There has always been something about that title that has annoyed me. I know, Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’m not disputing the facts. It’s just that the title has been like nails down a chalkboard since I was in elementary school.
Born Again Christian
I first heard that term from someone who constantly quoted it at me while trying to shove it down my throat. I was all of nine years old. To me, it always carried a holier-than-thou meaning. I’m not alone. I know a lot of people who dislike it. I once had a youth group teenager tell me that when he heard that term he wanted to ask, “What’s your story?” The teen said it with an eye roll and a snide tone.
I don’t know where the term “Born Again Christian” came into being instead of Christian. I would guess that “born again” people distinguished themselves from people who called themselves Christians but weren’t. As I said, it’s just my guess. So what is a Christian, and what is a Born Again Christian?
The word Christian first shows up in Acts 11:26:
“…. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Before anyone labeled them Christians, they were disciples, which means students, and in this case, a student of Christ’s teachings. When students are well trained, they become apostles. According to Strong’s Concordance, the definition of apostle is simple: a messenger, one sent on a mission.
Some of us were raised in a church, or our parents or grandparents had some attachment to one, and we identify with that. When I was about six, a friend was headed to Mass and asked me what religion I was. I had no clue, so I asked my dad. His reply was, “Methodist.” This is not a religion, but that was my answer when the “religion” question arose. The only time I had been in a Methodist church was at my christening and an event when I was in Brownies.
Nicodemus Born Again
In its simplest form, Christian means “Little Christ.” And then there is the story of Nicodemus, a teacher of Jewish law, who recognized that Jesus had to have come from God due to the miracles he performed.
John 3:3-6: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (NIV)
What was Jesus telling him? Nicodemus understood birth as the physical entrance into the world, but Jesus was talking about a second birth into the spiritual realm. In verse 5 Jesus says you cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless you are born of the spirit (born again). Most people believe it’s the ticket to Heaven upon death. True… BUT, if you stop there, you are selling yourself short.
Did you notice Jesus also says that no one can see the kingdom of God? I believe both seeing and entering happen in two places. On earth, while we live, and upon death when we cross over. We can see and enter into spiritual sight while on earth. God speaks, and we need to hear to reach the destiny he already has in place for us.
By Jesus’ definition, we aren’t a Christian until we are born again. So many people identify as Christian because they were raised around those principles or because of family church attendance. Those who are born again seem to want to identify themselves “correctly.” If you aren’t born again, you can’t enter the fullness of what God has for you, and you will not see the kingdom of God on earth or in Heaven. The following quote gets thrown around in many ways, but I heard Billy Graham say it years ago: “Sitting in church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.” Good analogy.
Who Are Those Born Again People?
Who are those born-again people? Well, some can be the ones telling you you’re going to hell. Quite honestly, I’ve seen a lot of people who think they’d rather be in hell than hang around in Heaven with people like that! Many are not that way. We are just people who’ve decided we want to see the kingdom of God. I know some who are ordinary boring people, I’ve known some who have been instantly delivered out of drug addiction, and I’ve known some who took a chance and cried amid a mess they made. God was faithful and showed up every time.
John 3:16 is probably the most famous and most often quoted scripture.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)
Romans 10: 9: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (NIV)
Yes, it is that simple. Until the next blog, have a blessed day!
