About MaryEllen O`Brien, M.A. Expertise General church history, patristics, medieval, reformation era, enlightenment, modern,
post-modern. If I can`t answer it, I can direct you to a source.
Experience Adjunct professor of theology, author, speaker
Organizations American Academy of Religion
American Mensa Ltd.
Publications National Catholic Reporter, Studies in Spirituality 2005, Ministry & Liturgy, Spirituality & Health, The Catholic New World, Vermont Catholic
Tribune, TheSocialEdge.com, Reviews in Religion and Spirituality,
Seasonal Missalette, Pastoral Patterns, AIM Liturgy Resources - (WLP)
Education/Credentials Ph.D. student, theology, Loyola University Chicago, M.A. in Theology and Liturgy, 2 books: Living in Ordinary Time: The Letters of Agatha Rossetti Hessley, ACTA Publications, 2005 and Living Well & Dying Well: A Sacramental View of Life and Death, Sheed & Ward, 2001
B.A. in Religious Studies
Question What does it imply being a reborn Christian, and how is it different from being a "normal" Christian? How are the reborn Christians organized, do they have certain objectives and is the term born-again Christian more wide-spread in the United States than in the rest of the world?
When did the idea of being a reborn Christian occur for the first time?
Thank you
Answer The "Born Again" Christian moniker is based on a single Bible passage from the Gospel of John, Chapter 3:
New International Version (NIV)
3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]”
4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!”
5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10“You are Israel's teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man.[d] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[e]
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Born of water, born of Spirit. Jesus is speaking, as usual, in metaphorical language. This story is related only in the Gospel of John, which is the "mystical" Gospel. The so-called "Born Again Christians" are those who base their understanding of salvation on this passage. This translates into the "have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior," and the jargon of "are you saved?" "Are you born again?" "Have you accepted Christ?"
"Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?"
"Born Again Christians" are Christian fundamentalists. They believe the Bible with an absolute literalism, believe it is unerring in that literalism.
These are often "non-denominational" churches, the "Bible Fellowships," etc.
Independent churches, and some of the fundamentalist denominations such as Pentecostalists and Baptists would also be "born again" Christians.
They are highly evangelical, "witnessing" and attempting to persuade people to "accept Jesus" in order to be "saved." Their services often have an "altar call" for people who want to be born again to come forward for prayer and "receive Jesus."
These Christians are often deeply suspicious of mainstream Christianity and don't consider what you refer to as "normal Christians" to be "saved" at all.
There is often a virulent anti-Catholic sentiment as well, view the Catholic Church as the anti-Christ. How bizarre that is could be witnessed this week as millions and millions of Catholics mourned the passing of the Pope in what was obviously sincere Christian prayer and worship.
"Normal Christians" as you put it, let's call it mainstream — meaning the recognized denominations, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox, do not interpret the Bible with literalism — but with the tools of scholarship that have taught us much — such as the historical context, the language of myth, literary techniques, parable, poetry, wisdom, experience.
The Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches recognize Baptism as entry into the Christian life — as conversion. Initiatiton sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. With adults these are given all at once in the Catholic Church. With all people, infants and adults in the Orthodox Church, they are given all at once. In the Catholic Church the children of Catholic parents have their infants baptized and they and the godparents and the community itself pledge themselves to teaching the faith to the child.
When the child is older, she or he receives their First Communion, or First Eucharist. Later on, Confirmation. Either way, the doorway to becoming a Christian is sacramental. It is preceeded by a period of preparation for older children, teens and adults who are being initiated. That is called the catechumenate in the Catholic Church, which is exactly what it was called in the early Church.
Many Protestant denominations also view baptism as the gateway, and others do not make it so defined. For some, they may be considered believers who eventually get baptized.
In the New Testament Jesus told his disciples to go out and preach the Gospel, and to baptize in the name of the Father, in his name, and of the Holy Spirit. Repent and be baptized.
The "do you accept Jesus" route doesn't distinguish between what was called in one parable, the seeds falling on good soil, rocky soil, choked soil. There's no preparation, no learning required. For that matter, for many, though not all, of the "born again" churches there is no training for their pastors either — it's "charismatic" choice. They are often self-declared leaders. There is also no accountability to any higher authority, no "government" if you will, which all the major denominations have. Thus if there is division or misconduct, it often results in simply a break-away and a new leader starting a new group down the street.
