Christians - what do you understand by 'born again'?

[KayHarkerInTheBackOfTheQuattro]

I've just been reading something in one of Jehovah's Witnesses magazines which I agreed with half of, and then massively disagreed with the other half.

Got me pondering on the different ways Christians of all flavours understand that phrase. I don't really use it very much myself any way, but what do you understand by it in your faith?

Well, people deliberately describing themselves as a "born-again Christian" does make me, not exactly cringe, but expect a particular mindset. Because, as has been mentioned by a few people here, all Christians are born again. Therefore those who are making an issue of the fact that they are "born again" are often making a distinction between their version of Christianity and any other flavour, and come across as making a point that they consider themselves to be "better" than others, which is rather missing the point of Christianity.

Just because certain language is biblical doesn't make it intelligible to everyone. I choose not to use 'born again' in general conversation because it is misleading to most people. I'm very happy to talk about the concept that it expresses. Making people cringe is counter-productive.

But you could argue that avoiding a term because it is misleading to "most people" is giving into the ways of the world.

The bottom line is that Christians are born again and it is saying that you are ashamed of the gospel to shy away from this proclamation.

I don't get the hostility to those Christians who are on fire for Christ, but if that is your belief then go ahead and reclaim the notion of being born-again.

I was christened when I was only a few weeks old.It is up to me whether I am a Christian or not, but I don't need to be born again.

scienceteacher - it's biblical to say that we're washed in the blood of the lamb - but not necessarily helpful as a conversation-opener! If a term is misleading, I think it's helpful to avoid it until there is an opportunity to explain it properly.

Thanks, cornflake girl, I agree. Really, I am not ashamed of the gospel! (and feel a little resentful about being accused of such, actually).

If I were doing a bible study with someone about what it means to be a Christian and was able to turn to John 3 and explain the term in context I would not hesitate to use it. I think it expresses a spiritual reality as I said in a previous post, and expresses it wonderfully. To bring it into a normal conversation and expect people to understand by it what the bible means by it would be to misunderstand the nature of language and communication - and would doing the gospel a disservice by obscuring it rather than explaining it.

What is a normal conversation? I don't think I have ever discussed the term with a 'normal' person (whom I assume by the context of this thread is a non-Christian .

I find the term 'born-again Christian' is a total redundancy because I believe that all Christians are born again. If someone does not feel they are born again, they are surely denying a biblical truth?

Even Christians who were baptised as infants still realise that they have made a decision to follow Christ and not the ways of the world, even if they don't know or remember when that happened exactly.

I'd avoid the term "born again" for the same reasons that I avoid calling myself a feminist - the term has come to be associated with things beyond the true definition, so when people hear it they get a picture in their mind which has a lot of extra meaning beyond what I am trying to say. If I end up in a longer, genuine, conversation about faith, I might explain it and why it doesn't mean what they assume. But I don't get into that level of conversation every day in RL, so I try to make sure I don't confuse and mislead people when we've only brushed the surface.

scienceteacher: Of course all Christians are 'born again', and if you had bothered to read all my posts you would have seen that I believe that. I am not asserting that there are two sorts of Christians, those who are born again and who are not. A Christian who does not believe they have been born again has misunderstood what John 3 is saying about how a relationship with God begins.

What I am saying is that in secular culture generally and in some church cultures as well there is a common misapprehension that a 'born again' Christian is happy-clappy, intolerant and probably american, and that there is such a thing as a non-born again Christian. I do not believe this. But there are many people who do.

I therefore find it unhelpful when I am talking to people who do not define themselves as evangelical Christians or indeed Christians at all to use the term 'born again' unless I have the opportunity to explain it properly.

I did not say 'normal person'; I said 'normal conversation' by which I meant a conversation not especially about Christian things in which an off-hand reference to being 'born again' would be alienating rather than illuminating.

Thanks for your input everyone. FWIW, yes, I think all believers are 'born again' as a descriptive of their spiritual position. I don't use it as a phrase in everyday conversation because I don't talk about John 3 every day. But I think it references being made alive again spiritually so that we can 'see' with spiritual eyes what we couldn't when we were dead in sins.

It does have 'baggage' and therefore I wouldn't use it as a descriptive of myself - not because I'm the slightest bit ashamed of the gospel, but rather because people wouldn't necessarily think of the gospel if they heard that phrase - they'd think of Benny Hinn rallies and scary gold-plated Christian TV.

I haven't a clue what it means. I'm with Nicodemus on this, who I strongly suspect was a bit 'ASD' himself too.

The conversation between Jesus Christ and Nicodemus in the 3rd chapter of the John gospel is enigmatic and mysterious.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, F7 he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8)

I don't think that anyone can announce that they're born again based upon the above, and those who do so are equally quick to tell others that they are not born again and need to do something about it. But take that last bit: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Anyone who reads that with a humble and perceptive spirit will be blown away by it and just shut up about being born again.

catholic here.... i think its tambourine waving happy clappy crap.

Ummm can I enter the fray here?

I'm with procrastinatingparent and AMIS on this. I don't like to use the term born again beacuse of the image it thows up but Jesus himself does say that we must be born again spiritually speaking. So when the Holy Spirit blew in my direction and I made the decision to place my life in God's hands it did, in a symbolic way, feel like I was beginning my life again with a clean slate. However it was my spirit that was reborn/ made alive to God and spiritual matters - God moved in to my life, so to speak, by His Holy Spirit. I think it is kind of a reundant phrase too - if someone is a Christian then they have been born again spiritually. It's like that phrase "commited Christian" ugh.