Catholics (?) I just noticed someone saying that there's no such thing as 'born again' ...?

Question

I *think* the poster was Catholic as she was saying she worships on Ash Wednesday. Okay, I understand that the term 'born again' has taken on a negative slant in the Catholic church --- or so it seems, as many Catholics seem to call evangelicals 'born agains', almost as an insult.

Now, I honestly don't mind if I'm called a 'born again' or a 'fundamentalist' or whatever as a label or even as an insult. But is it *common* amongst Catholics to believe that there is no such thing? If so, what is the explanation for this scripture?

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Answer 1

I'm a Catholic, and I'm not familiar with Catholics who use "born again" as an insult. I don't doubt you, though; there is almost an infinite variety within the Catholic Church (hence perhaps the name Catholic). I've known non-Catholics that use "fundamentalist" as an insult. As far as I'm concerned, its just a description.
I have never heard that there is "no such thing" as "born again;" obviously Jesus said we must be born again. I always understood it to mean making a decision to trust Christ; this is ritually marked by baptism. In the Catholic Church, of course, infants are baptized, based on their parents' decision. They have to make their own decision later when they are old enough to understand.

Answer 2

I think only a very few Catholics think the label "born again" is an insult- just like almost all Protestants don't think Catholics worship Jesus' mother, etc.

If being "born again" brings one closer to Jesus, every Christian should praise it.

I think the question of being born again hinges on when the act occurs. For Catholics (and many Protestants), this occurs at Baptism, whether as an infant or an adult. For many other Protestants, Baptism has to be a conscious decision undertaken by an teenager or adult.

Answer 3

The Protestant church as all of us comprehend it does no longer exist as we communicate yet i'm effective somebody else might have had subject concerns with the Catholic Church later and destroy off and initiate his very own Christian church. The Catholic Church does not blame the Protestants for something. The pope on the time of Luther and Calvin did disagree with them and a few others. however the Church in no way differences in basic terms through fact some people do no longer like this is traditions and regulations. God in no way differences for this reason the Church that His Son began in no way differences. there have been some undesirable seeds interior the Church like there are in all religions. however the principles, Traditions, dogma, teachings of the scripture and the religion has in no way replaced and in no way will. that's what makes the Church good and the only that God's Holy Spirit oversees. The call "Catholic" got here numerous hundreds years after Jesus walked the earth. however the Catholic Church is the unique church that Jesus began with the 12 Apostles. you will possibly could desire to reread the gospels, Acts, and others.

Answer 4

Catholics believe in all these steps you have to take to reach a mature "Catholic". I was born and raised Catholic. Left that church because it was so repetitive that it never gave me spiritual growth. Sundays were like a broken record. I knew that when I knew every word about to come out of the father's mouth that it was time to seak my feeding else where. Glad I made the change. I'm so much closer to my maker now that I really do feel the spirit now. Don't worry about what they think of being born again. They are all like programmed robots.

Answer 5

i don't think catholics use or relate to the term "born again" as other "christian" religions tend to. also, the catholics i know in my area of the country as well as catholic relatives from europe we don't go around quoting the bible either. it just isn't done by any catholics i know. now, there are a lot of catholics who don't think anyone who is a non catholic are true christians. i think that's probably an old belief and not too common anymore. i also think that is why a lot of other ppl hate catholics for those old beliefs. catholics now adays sort of mind their own business -- or at least the ones i know. also perhaps the born again term isn't spoken by most catholics because once a catholic always a catholic. and if you happen to come to be a catholic out of the blue -- you don't think of it in terms of being born again. it's just wierd. we all need to learn to get a long -- esp. all us "christians".

Answer 6

It's right up there in the enigmatic sayings of Christ. Like, unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot have salvation....that sort of thing. Catholics get ticked off by how far the fundamentalists take an obscure teaching and make it THE major teaching and harang Catholics with it.

It's like a broken record, honestly.

Answer 7

Look up the word Heretic in the dictionary.

You will find that the definition says that anyone who rejects Catholic beliefs is a heretic. Those who call themselves fundamentalists or born again are -- in the eyes of Catholics -- heretics. Catholics do not react to the phrase "born again" -- they react to the connotation -- which they regard as heresy.

Answer 8

As a Catholic myself, I can say that St. Boniface (the first person who posted) did a good and accurate job of clearing up that misunderstanding and is in accordance with what we, as Catholics, believe.

God Bless

Answer 9

Being a former Catholic (27 years), no one really thinks about 'born again' Christains. Why? It makes no sense. What? You somehow possess knowledge Catholics do not? Honestly, my family of origin doesn't even think about it. Neither do most priests I know. It seems that YOU obsess about this. Who cares? All paths lead to God. Period.

Answer 10

Born again simply means being renewed. Catholics and Protestants agree that to be saved, you have to be born again. Jesus said so: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

When a Catholic says that he has been "born again," he refers to the transformation that God’s grace accomplished in him during baptism. Evangelical Protestants typically mean something quite different when they talk about being "born again."

For an Evangelical, becoming "born again" often happens like this: He goes to a crusade or a revival where a minister delivers a sermon telling him of his need to be "born again."

"If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe he died for your sins, you’ll be born again!" says the preacher. So the gentleman makes "a decision for Christ" and at the altar call goes forward to be led in "the sinner’s prayer" by the minister. Then the minister tells all who prayed the sinner’s prayer that they have been saved—"born again." But is the minister right? Not according to the Bible.

Often people miss the fact that baptism gives us new life/new birth because they have an impoverished view of the grace God gives us through baptism, which they think is a mere symbol. But Scripture is clear that baptism is much more than a mere symbol.

In Acts 2:38, Peter tells us, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." When Paul was converted, he was told, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).

Peter also said, "God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:20–21). Peter says that, as in the time of the flood, when eight people were "saved through water," so for Christians, "[b]aptism . . . now saves you." It does not do so by the water’s physical action, but through the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, through baptism’s spiritual effects and the appeal we make to God to have our consciences cleansed.

These verses showing the supernatural grace God bestows through baptism set the context for understanding the New Testament’s statements about receiving new life in the sacrament.

Thus, I consider myself ‘born again’ every time I renew my baptismal vows, receive the Holy Eucharist, confess my sins to a priest and amend my life.