I’m sure an image comes to mind the moment you
hear the phrase, “I’m a born again Christian.”
Of course it’s rooted in the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee
Nicodemus where Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be “born again.” Nicodemus doesn’t get it and the conversation
unfolds in an almost ridiculous way as Nicodemus tries to figure out how to
climb back inside ones mother’s womb.
But the way many people who call themselves “born again” understand it
is almost as off the mark as Nicodemus’ understanding.
The word in
question is the Greek word It has a double meaning. It means both “born again” and “born from
above”. The way Jesus uses it requires
us to keep both meanings at work simultaneously.
Often when people
talk about being “born again” they are talking about a personal conversion
experience that has happened to them.
That’s not only not what Jesus had in mind at all, but it also misses
the double meaning of the word.
The idea of being
born again does indeed suggest being born into a new way of thinking and being
as a human. Including the idea of being
“born from above” moves the focus to what has been done for us by Jesus. Here are the words from biblical commentator
Gail O’Day, “Contemporary usage of ‘born again’… emphasizes personal change
more than the external source of that change: the cross.” (New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 9, Pg.
555)
I’ve met far too many people who are
smug about being “born again.” They use
it like a slogan and look down long judgmental noses at people like Lutherans
who don’t do much with the idea. When
someone does that he or she has completely missed the point of being born
again. Born again is not a religious
conversion experience. It is an entirely
new way of recognizing reality as it has been created for us by Jesus.
We live in politically charged
times. It seems like whenever either
major political party has a legislative win they hold a press conference to
tout what they have done. There may be
speeches and those speeches include praise for backers and supporters.
Indeed it is good to thank people who
have worked to make something possible, but there is also a lot of, “I’ll
scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine,” kind of thing going on. It becomes an exchange of glory and a
condemnation of opponents. The focus is
on what we did, and it tears down the losers.
The new way of recognizing reality as
it has been created for us by Jesus is totally different. There the focus is first and foremost what
Jesus did for us. When Jesus died on the
cross he did not do so because he was a depressed man who felt he was worthless
and had given up on life. No, Jesus was
full, strong and capable. He could have
changed things any time he wanted and in any way he wanted. But he chose to let things happen as they
did. It is always ironic that just as
the religious leaders are trying to thwart God’s plans by killing Jesus they
actually are carrying them out.
A phrase I like to use is, Jesus did
not give up his life. He gave
away his life. Giving up is quitting
and admitting defeat. Giving away means
that you know you have something of great value to offer and you are providing
it to someone else because it will be a benefit to them.
There is a true selflessness involved
when you give away and don’t have any expectations of a return.
Truly being born again/born from above
– and I think it’s best that we use both, not just one, even though it’s
awkward – means that you have moved your life’s orientation away from the: give
and take,
I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine,
Let’s make a deal,
sort of life. It’s when you
can make every decision of your life, whether it be big or small, based on what
Jesus has done for you, and you know you have been saved by his work. Therefore everything that you are – all you
skills and abilities, your money, your connections, your education, and
everything becomes tools you can implement to bring about God’s kingdom.
But this is very very radical
thinking. It is a very radical way of
life.
If you bought a house in your lifetime
what was going through your mind as you selected it or shopped for it? Maybe things like whether you liked the floor
plan or not, or how new the roof and furnace was, maybe the condition of the
electrical and plumbing systems. Certainly
things like price and location were factors in your decision.
I would love to see the look on a
realtor’s face if someone went in and said, “I need to buy a house that will
best equip me to share the love Jesus has for me. What do you have that’ll fit that bill?”
How did you choose your car? Size, age, price… How about how well it would equip you to be
an evangelist.
I’m waiting for a Christian clothing
store to open up that will carry fashions designed to maximize our
effectiveness at spreading the gospel.
If such a store ever opened do you think it would stay in business long?
And of course, ideally you’d choose
your spouse based on which person in this world best compliments your life of
discipleship in Christ – in other words, finding a partner who best helps you
to work for God’s kingdom.
I can’t speak for everyone, certainly
not the women, maybe you are truly better in this, but as a guy I can tell you
that men don’t go checking women out and ranking their attractiveness based on
the sophistication of their faith!
That, however, is the radical life
reorientation that comes from truly being born again/born from above. It is building life based on what Christ has
done and then seeing everything –everything - that you are as a tool you can
use to share Christ’s goodness with others.
Being born again doesn’t mean you’ve
got a stamp of endorsement on your “Get into Heaven Free” card. It is a way of being focused on what Christ
has done.
From
that perspective I think we all fall short, way short. At least I do. Maybe you’re better than me. Thanks be to God that God is loving and
patient and kind with our sinful failings and that God will forgive us over and
over and over again as we forever struggle to get it right, and seem to forever
fall back into the dark ways of the world which so foolishly promise us
happiness apart from God.
The full character of God has been revealed
in Jesus. Our gospel reading included
the ever famous John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only
son so that those who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life.” God is love.
God wants there to be light, life and joy among his people. God’s love knows no bounds. God’s love is afraid of nothing. God’s love can do anything.
May you wake up every morning and
remind yourself that you are loved by God, and know that you are born
again/born from above. Your life’s orientation
is on what God has done in the past and what God is doing through you.
God does not want to condemn the
world. God wants to save the world. In fact, through the cross of Christ God has
already saved the world. He invites you
to live out that reality and share it, so that indeed all may know of God’s
great gift and be willing to accept it.
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