I have been accused and offended by several posters claiming I and other people are NOT Christians unless we have been BORN AGAIN!
Who exactly is promoting this concept?
Whcih cults / sects?
I'm a baptised / confirmed Anglican even if I do joke about being Zen Catholic sometimes!
I believe in the resurrection and Christ as Saviour.
How can you say I'm not Christian?
What religious backgrounds are these posters coming from?
2007-09-25 14:27:00 · 23 answers · asked by J V 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Several people have been neg-pointed for the following :
Not reading the question properly
Not identifying thier religious afiliations
Not knowing the difference between an Anglican and Catholic
Quoting bible verses that our Good Lord used when preaching to first century ad jews!
I'm not Jewish or called Nicodemus!
2007-09-25 14:49:00 · update #1
A FINAL REMINDER
The question is
WHAT sects/ cults believe you're not a Christian until you're"BORN AGAIN?"
What sects / cults?
i did not ask for an explanation of the "born Again" doctrine!
I wanted to know its origins as a doctrine!
Please no more the Bible says ...
I wanted to know which section of the Protestant church is promoting this doctrine!
2007-09-26 18:57:21 · update #2
You mean like this person?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao1_Nn5g49V3Z_8BHBOwYaEjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070911143809AAAnERl
They usually claim to be just "Christian," but most of us would call them Evangelicals or Fundamentalists. Some are Pentecostals.
2007-09-25 14:34:03 · answer #1 · answered by Cathy 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The Bible clearly states one must be born again meaning you have to become new in the kingdom of God/Jesus. If you do not enter the kingdom which is a new birth - then you are not His.
The new birth is not just saying come into my heart, Lord Jesus, but is doing the will of the Father that is in heaven. He, Jesus, says not everyone that says "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven so it takes more than just a few words like that. No part of the Bible is there to fill up space, but to be followed. The only place in the Bible we find a way to become a Christian is in the book of Acts. The rest of the New Testament was written to people that were already Christians being told what to do if they sin or part of what they did to get into Christ in the beginning.
2007-09-25 15:38:28 · answer #2 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Catholic Church, baptism which is being born again in water and spirit is the starting point for church membership. An unbaptized infant or adult cannot yet be a Christian unless already baptized. But since your baptism is valid, the Catholic Church recognizes you as a Christian although not in full communion with the Catholic Church.
But the born again poster you saw perhaps is espoused by a Christian sect that claims that if you are not born again in their Church, you could not be Christian or even if you were baptized as a child, unless you undergo an adult baptism, you could not be Christian. Born again Christians are fundamentalist Christians who do not recognize or accept the validity of infant baptism.
2007-09-25 14:47:00 · answer #3 · answered by froy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Much has to do with your definition of the term "born again".
When you come to Christ, you are a new creature, the old is passed away, meaning that He is at work within you, changing you...
That's really all that is really meant by being "born again". The old you is being "reborn" to be someone who is like Christ.
It has nothing to do with speaking in tongues, or being "slain in the spirit" (in case you didn't notice, "slain" means exactly the opposite of "born"), all that hokey-pokey is simply one of Satan's cleverer smoke screens, meant to divert folks from the true experience of the Holy Spirit, which is Christ dwelling within you.
I know I didn't explain it very well, but I hope this answer does help.
2007-09-25 15:01:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The phrase "born-again" means that when you are baptized you re-born again in Christ. You can believe in Christ without being baptized. But being baptized makes you a true christian by allowing you to receive the Body & Blood of Jesus in Communion.
2016-05-18 22:01:24 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on weather you believe the Bible is the word of God or not. If you believe the Bible then here is what it says...if you don't believe the Bible then how can you be a Christian?
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
And all being born again means is that you believe that Jesus died for your sins and that you have asked him to come into your heart and and stay with you forever....that you have a personal relationship with him. If you are Anglican then you have a corporate relationship with Jesus....a group relationship with Jesus. Being born again means having a PERSONAL relationship with him. It is acknowledging that yo are a sinner and that you need Jesus and asking him to save you. It is understanding that we can't work our way into Heaven or buy or way into Heaven but it is by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ that we go to Heaven.
Why don't you just pray and ask God to show you the truth and then just read your Bible every day. You don't have to go to a different church or anything to get saved. It's not about religion it's about having a personal relationship with Jesus.
2007-09-25 14:38:44 · answer #6 · answered by tas211 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Basically baptism is the same thing as being "born again" providing you accepted Christ as your saviour.
I'm not sure where the distinction comes in, it was clear to me when I was a Christian and even as an atheist the doctrine is fairly clear. It maybe that some protestants are not only clueless about science but about other parts of the Christain "family" as well.
2007-09-25 14:34:06 · answer #7 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder."
You may be a "Christian" because you were born into a "Christian" family. You may think because you were baptized (as an infant, I would guess) that you are a Christian. But, by the very fact that you do not know what it is to be "born again", shows that you do not adhere to the very basic teachings of Jesus and do not understand scripture. These are hallmarks of being a "true" Christian.
2007-09-25 14:36:59 · answer #8 · answered by TroothBTold 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
We don't have to say anything, the Gospel of John says it best:
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler 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 and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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, “Most assuredly, 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 the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
2007-09-25 14:35:34 · answer #9 · answered by wigginsray 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
1) Born Again = Holy Baptism
2) So...right there that would include Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Orthodox Christians, Reformed Church of America, most Presbyterians....virtually 80% of all of the Christians on the planet today believe that.
You do the math.
2007-09-25 14:31:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
The Bible. Baptism has absolutely nothing to do with being Christian. It is not necessary for salvation. But being born to Christ is.
Your belief in Jesus Christ as savior makes you a Christian, not your baptism or confirmation.
2007-09-25 14:35:59 · answer #11 · answered by lovinghelpertojoe 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋