Lent 2 (A) What Does it Mean to be Born Again?



Lent 2 (A) What Does it Mean to be Born Again?


March 15, 1981

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell


In a recent Gallup poll 84 million people 18 years and older claimed to be born again Christians. That fact alone may explain why all three candidates for the Presidency in the last election laid claim to the experience of being ‘born again in Jesus Christ.’


The term ‘Born Again’ or ‘Born Anew’ or ‘Born from Above’ has its origin in this week’s Gospel. Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling body in the Jewish community, comes to Jesus by night with a question, “What must I do to experience the kingdom of God?” (in other words), how can I personally enjoy, the mercy, love, power, and peace of God? how can I have the freedom of knowing that I am truly in God’s favor? How can I rest assured through all the changes and chances of human existence that my life has meaning, purpose, and a Godly destiny?


I believe that we must assume that Nicodemus was a good man. He knew God’s law and, as a member of the Sanhedrin, measured up to the law with his life…. better than most. Still, there was something missing that created a restlessness, a discontent, an emptiness, a persistent yearning. 


And Jesus said, “Nicodemus, you must be born again!”


What a shocking thing for an old man to hear! You mean…start over – become a dependent child again – for sake all of my knowledge and experience and enter Kindergarten? Jesus, can a leopard change his spots? Lord, you are talking to a man with a public trust, I am the guardian of a nations’ tradition. One of the reasons I came to you under the cover of darkness was the fear that people might interpret my visit as an endorsement. You must know that you are seen by many as a threat to our tradition.


Then Jesus explains…. Nicodemus, the assurance you are seeking is a gift. It comes from within your own inner begin. It is a state of being that comes to life when your spirit and God’s spirit truly meet. It is our genuine acceptance of God’s eternal YES!


But Nicodemus is slow to let go of his old concept of earned righteousness – and Jesus gets more direct; Nicodemus, you are a teacher…you have taught Jeremiah, where he says;


Jeremiah 31:33 

"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people".


    Or how about Ezekiel;


Ezekial 36: 26-28

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to observe my ordinances.” 


Or Psalm 139: 7

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?” 


What does it mean to be born from above…. its knowing and accepting that we are the object of God’s heart. Even though we are unworthy.


Example) Over 200 years ago, John Newton, a drunken sailor, got off a ship on the docks of London. He was a salve trader and an alcoholic, a street fighter, a man who had morally hit bottom. As he was weaving his way through the streets of London, Newton passed a little Methodist mission hall where he heard singing. He felt compelled in his heart to go in. Inside the people were singing about the grace of God, and the preacher spoke of God’s holy love for everybody! When he gave the invitation to come to Christ, John Newton made his way to the front, and surrendered his life and was born anew. 


Later he wrote a hymn:


“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I’m found,

Was blind but now I see.”


Unless you are born from above you can not see the Kingdom, Nicodemus.


Merely going through the motions is no guarantee of being born again. 


In 1976 a Billy Graham Crusade drew 434,100 people to Seattle’s Kingdom. During the eight days, approximately 18,000 people ‘came forward’ to be born again and profess faith in Christ. A survey taken a year later revealed that of the 18,000 – only 1,285 or 15% ended up as active church members. 


Now, if you think you would like to be born from above or if you believe that you have been born again and would like to grow in that gift, let me offer some observations; 


  • It is God who takes hold of us and not the other way around.


  • Some effort must be made to put yourself in a position where God’s Spirit will have a chance to meet our spirit.


  • Through the traditional approach of mediation, prayer, study, fasting, service, worship, participating in the sacrament – people have put themselves in position where being born again from above can become a reality. 


  • In my experience, being born again is not a once and forever event, but an on-going process. 


By taking a tiny step in faith, we can see the possibilities of an even more significant venture in faith. If we stay open to God, He will see to it that we will not get stuck in our ‘comfort zone.’


We will see what Nicodemus was invited to see – that we can become new again, and find the mercy, love power and peace of God from within us.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way

 Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way January 26, 1992 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell I’ve been a priest for 40 years and I’ve been to my share of annual meetings. To be perfectly honest, I have not particularly enjoyed the responsibility of standing in front of a widely diversified, and in some cases, highly opinionated group of vote packing parishioner who now have the opportunity to talk back. I used to have this nightmarish fantasy that someone would jump up at the meeting and tear into something, or somebody, or me with breath taking precision. It never happened. In forty years, it never happened. But I submit to you that chairing the annual meeting was for me an annual test of my faith. I can see our Lord smiling at me, a teacher of faith, and saying, “Remember: I am with you always… no matter what… even at annual meetings.” The annual meeting, as I remember, with the smallest attendance, was at St. marks in Evanston, Ill. There the Rector insisted that everyone read their r...
Read more

Epiphany 5 (A) Is There a Believer in the House?

Image
Epiphany 5 (A) Is There a Believer in the House? February 8, 1987 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell Have you ever been at a public gathering and heard this announcement: “Is there a doctor in the house?” Usually, hearing that means that someone is experiencing some kind of physical difficulty. We all hope that someone with medical training (a doctor) will emerge out of the crowd and do the necessary and right thing! Perhaps the most important role of the doctor or paramedic is to assume leadership. I am always impressed to see how much influence someone trained and confident in their field commands the respect of any bystanders. Good directions can prevent uninformed “helpful” suggestions, that are not actually helpful. Example: While I was serving at St. Mark’s in Evanston , a lady fainted while on her knees in prayer. Her limp body ended up under three pews. In the process of trying to get help to her, one usher suggested that we slide her body up to the front of the church. And no….no, we...
Read more

Palm Sunday C Irresistible Theology

Image
 Palm Sunday C Irresistible Theology March 19, 1989 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell The world seems to be caught up in a deadly argument. The greater the commitment to an idea, a cause, or a person; the greater the intensity of energy and power that gets mustered for battle.  A simple appeal for support becomes buglers call to make war. When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians , he was in Rome … in prison. Reports had come to him that two women had quarreled in the church at Philippi . Their argument was endangering the peace. His letter is an appeal to maintain the unity of the church. Not even the healthiest church is immune from the danger of evil’s energy unleashed. If the devil had his way, he would destroy all meaningful and nurturing relationships. In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul identifies three great agents of disunity: There is selfish ambition . Those who instead of trying to advance the work… advance themselves. There is the desire for personal pr...
Read more