The Mystery of the "Born-Again" Experience  

A while ago I used to occasionally take part in a Discussion Forum for philosophical and religious topics, where posters were anonymous, as it is usually the case. At one time a teenaged but mature and intelligent girl, very popular in that Board, posted a topic on being "born again", asking the other Christians if she should enter into that experience, and what the implications would be, if she did. The young girl, who said she was an Episcopalian, also mentioned that she was living "in a predominantly 'born-again' fundamental area".

Let me quote here some of her own words: "I am presently dealing with so much in my life which requires me to show love and compassion and strength. I am not sure that I am able to deal with it alone. I have this overwhelming need to surrender these burdens to Christ...but I don't know how. (...) Another pressing problem for me is the question: Can I be born again and yet be faithful to the church of my parents, and grandparents and many past generations...especially in a time when that fellowship is hurting so badly?"

The above desperate questions reveal a misunderstanding of the "born again" spiritual experience and the correlation of it with Christian fundamentalism. However, I am afraid that this confusion, far from being due to the poster's young age, is common among Christian Fundamentalists and their critics all over the world. In a book by Robert M. Price, entitled: "Beyond Born Again: Towards Evangelical Maturity", which the author considers "an attempt to put away childish things", he ironically mentions "the requisite passwords and shibboleths: 'Christ is my personal savior,' 'I'm born again'." Needless to say that the very title of the book reveals that Mr. Price has not personally experienced what it means to be truly "born again". If he had, he would know that a genuine "born again" experience is the very "requisite " of spiritual maturity. I am not talking about "evangelical maturity" here, because the very label, "evangelical", denotes herding and immaturity, while the "born again" experience is open to all, regardless of religion or doctrine.

It is tragic for Christianity that the so-called "born again-ers" have selfishly misused and abused the concept of spiritual regeneration. By misinterpreting it, they have formed a militant cult of Christian fundamentalists that allegedly includes even the warmongering President George Bush into its ranks. In this article I shall make an attempt to shed light to the mystery of the authentic "born again" experience, using quotations from the Bible itself, the very book that, although it is not infallible and inspired in its entirety, contains many spiritual truths useful for soul edification. We find the words "born again" only once in the New Testament, and I shall quote the relevant verses, in order to be able to analyze the deeper meaning of the words attributed to Jesus.

<Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, an archon of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? > John 3: 1-12

Here we have Jesus, for the first time in his ministry, speaking about the "new birth" to a man called Nicodemus, a teacher of the Old Testament Law. Apparently Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was talking about. For this Jesus reprimanded him. As a teacher of the law, he ought to know about spiritual regeneration, i.e. the "born again" experience. Let the Christians who are deceived into believing that they are "born again" the moment they accept Jesus as their Savior contemplate on this. How on earth would Nicodemus, or anyone else for that matter, would be "born again" before Jesus' so-called atonement on the cross? Nicodemus persisted asking Jesus how this would be possible, but Jesus gave him no specific instructions as to the way one could initiate his own new birth. Instead, he answered cryptically, as he did so many times in his teaching: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." In other words, it is up to the "wind", i.e. the Holy Spirit, to initiate the "new birth". That's all Jesus said, leaving Nicodemus and the Christians wondering: "How can these things be?"

From the above conversation it appears that there is no specific "recipe" to affect one's "new birth". It just happens to some people, as the Holy Spirit wishes! One can have all the knowledge of Scriptures, be a Professor of Theology, have PhDs in Divinity, be President of Evangelical Associations, or Christian Youth Ministries, be the writer of dozens of Christian books and articles, be a master of apologetics, etc. etc., but still not be "born again" of the Spirit! In fact, this is not only possible but it is usually the case, as it appears that the Holy Spirit disdains too much head knowledge. As St. Paul said, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. (1 Cor. 8:1b-2) Wasn't this also the reason that Jesus had chosen his disciples from among humble and uneducated people?

As regards the other popular Christian deception that wants Christ dwelling in someone from the moment he/she accepts him as Lord and Savior, here is another Biblical passage that clarifies the issue. In his letter to Galatians St. Paul writes: "My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 4:19). It couldn't be clearer than this! Christ does not enter one's heart accepting someone's invitation. Instead, the Christ principle, i.e. Christliness, is gradually formed in one's inner being and manifests outwardly, as we submit our will to God and follow the example and teachings of Jesus.

Coming back to Nicodemus' question, can we affect a "born again" experience in ourselves? In my humble opinion, if we are looking just for the experience, then most probably the answer is "NO"! But if we forget about the experience and, out of pure love and gratitude, humbly submit ourselves to the guidance of our "inner" Higher Self, i.e. the Holy Spirit within, after repenting and forgiving all, not expecting any reward here or in the afterlife, then we will definitely experience the mystery of "new birth", a foretaste of heaven. The "born again" experience Jesus was talking about will come when we least expect it, and it will cause such a dramatic change in our life that everyone will notice. However, the truly born again person will never advertise his sacred spiritual experience nor boast about it. He/she knows that by the grace of God he was transformed, and this humbles the regenerated one all the more. And, I repeat, the "born again" spiritual experience is available to all people regardless of head knowledge, religion or creed. It has to do only with the purity of one's heart. This is why Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Mat. 5:8)

Going back to the girl's question on the Discussion Forum, "Can I be born again and yet be faithful to the church of my parents", it should be obvious to the discerning reader of this article that a truly born again person will never face such dilemmas. The regenerated one walks daily by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and is not concerned with traditions and the opinions of others. His/her only concern is holiness, no matter what the cost may be.

About the Author

Maria Seferou was born in an agricultural family of Dendron, a small village of Peloponnese, Greece. She studied Civil/Structural Engineering at National Technical University of Athens and had a successful 20-year professional career both in Greece and in England. For the last 22 years she has been a writer of non-fiction books and articles on religious, philosophical, political and social issues.