The phrase 'born again' has taken on a lot of baggage over the years and been used in a divisive way. I remember chatting with a lady in a Christian Bookshop in a Welsh seaside town and explaining how I was a Presbyterian minister and was looking for a particular theological book. She looked me up and down and said, "Never mind that you think you are some sort of minister, are you born again?"
I had no idea how the question related to the volume I was trying to find, and realized that the what the lady really wanted to know was if I identified with her particular brand of evangelical Christianity... which stressed the importance of being able to testify to having had a conversion experience. If I didn't then it was pretty clear the conversation was over. I would need to be properly saved!
When you look at the phrase 'born again' in Greek it is ambiguous. This partly accounts for the confusion on the part of Nicodemus. It can literally be applied to childbirth, but has a secondary meaning of being 'born from above'. Jesus appears to be using it in the latter sense, but Nicodemus in the former.
"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!" (John 3:4 NIV) Later in verse 8 Jesus explains to Nicodemus that He's speaking of 'being born in the Spirit'
Rebirth is a necessary component of genuine spiritual experience. How we reach such a place in our own pilgrimage is not so easy to define. For some folk there are definite milestones. For others it's just a daily process they have felt involved in throughout their whole lives.
To myself one of the genuine marks of a person being spiritually transformed is their sense of joy. If they are brandishing religious phrases around like weapons that discriminate and separate, then I'm left wondering what kind of spirit is driving them. One from above? One that is about re-creation and renewal and rebirth? Or are they operating from a different agenda. This also seems to be a tension within the account of Jesus talking with Nicodemus.
The late and great singer Billy Preston has a wonderful little gospel song called 'Born Again' on his little known 1978 vinyl gospel album 'Behold!' It just oozes joy. Give it a listen :-) Whilst full of theological musing and scriptural verses it defies stuffiness and invites you to get on board. It's stayed in my head over the years to such an extent that whenever anybody uses the phrase 'Born Again' it automatically starts playing in my brain.
And of course... that causes a smile. Because births... and rebirths... have a habit of doing that! May your spiritual journey be one that causes springs of joy to flow. And... of course... if you are able to join us on Sunday... that would be great. But if not, then maybe become a much blessed blog-follower. Whoever and wherever you are... have a great rebirth!
And.. yes... for you musicaholics ... this is the same Billy Preston who played the awesome keyboard break in the Beatles rooftop performance of 'Get Back'... and had a hit with 'That's the way God planned it' on their Apple label (in the clip playing with Jools Holland). R.I.P Billy.
Billy Preston played with the Rolling Stones as well as the Beatles. Not a bad musical pedigree!
ReplyDeleteI've always been put off by the seemingly unyielding insistence of many that to be a Christian one must be "born again" (like your example of the woman you met) Thanks for sharing Billy Preston's song. Now I'll think of that when I hear "born again"
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