Who is really 'born again'?
Pastor Charles Cooley
2/7/08

In the Biblical book of John, a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus to talk about His message. Jesus' response has caused much confusion ever since.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ... unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." - John 3:3-5

Since that time, the term 'born again' has meant different things to different people. Evangelical Christians today have used that phrase to indicate acceptance into the body of Christ. Being 'born again' often is reduced to going forward at an altar call and saying a prayer acknowledging Jesus as the Savior. Among the more Orthodox churches, not even this is required as babies are enrolled by their parents through infant baptism. However, often little emphasis is placed on a changed life-style. As a result, there is not much difference between the moral condition of those in the Church and those out of it! Thus we see as many abortions among those in the Church as out of the Church; as much infidelity, as many divorces, as much lying, etc. George Barna, Christian pollster has found that this problem has now affected the voting habits of the so-called 'born again.'

"If the election, nationally, were to be held today, what we would find is that 40 percent of born-again Christians who are likely to vote in November would choose the Democratic nominee for president, whoever that happens to be," says Barna. "Only 29 percent say that they would side with the Republican nominee, whoever that happens to be."
 
Among that demographic, the 40 percent to 29 percent margin leaning Democratic is "essentially unheard of" in the last 20 years, notes Barna. On top of that, a slightly higher-than-average 28 percent of born-again Christians are still undecided on who they will support for president, according to Barna's research.
 

Born-again Christians' political loyalties shifting from GOP

Jeff Johnson - OneNewsNow - 2/7/2008 6:00:00 AM

The only way someone calling themselves 'born again' could put their stamp of approval on those promote abortion, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, stealing (which is what taking money from some and giving it to others without their approval is called), is if they are not really 'born again' or if they believe their spiritual life can be separated from their temporal life. The truth is that we will be judged by the fruit we bear, no matter what professions we make. The same Jesus that taught the concept of being born again also taught that those who are truly born again will bear good fruit.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus by their fruit you will recognize them." -                                                                                           Matthew 7:15-20

The Church today has welcomed 'false prophets' into their midst by confusing what it means to be 'born again'. No person who is truly born again would ever condone abortion or vote for someone who did. Jesus taught that anyone who treated these little ones this way would have been better off if they had not been born! They would never condone homosexuality when God calls it an abomination.

The world is afraid of the truth of God's word being applied to our personal and national life. They have passed laws trying to limit the Church from applying God's plumb line to politics, especially at election time. They say, "You must separate Church and State!" But, God's word teaches us that if your faith does not affect your life and your country's life, it is not the Christian faith taught in the Bible.

If we are truly 'born again' our lives will be affected in noticeable ways. When the true Church came together in the Book of Acts, they demonstrated what being 'born again' really meant.

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God ..." - Acts 2:46, 47

It is time to preach the whole gospel to the Church. It is time to declare what it really means to be 'born again.' Jesus cannot be your Savior unless He is your Lord also. And if He is Lord in your life, you can no longer live as though you are still in the world! The good news is, if you truly want to be 'born again' and are willing to surrender your whole life to Jesus, He will help you be transformed.

We must remember how John the Baptist preached the gospel, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ... The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." - Matthew 3:7-10.

The truly born again will be changed. They will not be perfect, but they will be changed and they will look different than the world!