50% of Christian College students no longer "born again Christians" after graduation

[chri'stina 190]

is it a requirement to be 'born again christian' in order to be a good christian? or is it like a sect or something.. my 'american family' is methodist.. my MIL is a pastor actually, and I've never heard anything like born again christian, is that another subdivision of christianism? like baptists or mormons or episcopals etc?

As Cerise said, you would probably get different answers from different people. In my own opinion, being born again just means you have asked Jesus to be your savior and forgive your sins, and that you want to live the way you believe He wants us to. The term comes from Jesus' own words, His analogy of being born again, meaning being born afresh in life---a fresh start, a new way of living, etc. You also signify that fresh start by being baptized, leaving behind the old and starting new. In my opinion anyone who has accepted that Jesus died for their sins, raised from the dead, believes he is the Messiah, and wants to try to live the way He wants us to, is "born again". To me it's a term that represents a change in life. I still don't understand how it became a weird term. I guess it may be Christians' fault for that, but it's from words Jesus said in the bible to show how it is when you accept him and change your life.

So in my opinion, anyone who believes Jesus is the messiah, died for them, and rose again, and is pursuing Him as Lord is "born again", no matter what denomination they say they are. It crosses denominations. I know there was mention of Baptists and stuff. I am not baptist, I am non-denominational meaning I don't belong to one sect only or believe in only one church as being the true church. To me it's not about your church but your heart and what you believe, no matter what church you are in-catholic or protestant.

"born again" in the Bible:

John 3

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7Y ou should not be surprised at my saying, 'You[c] must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

And another place in the bible:

1st Peter 1

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.

This isn't something that people made up suddenly, it's actually used in the bible and that is why some Christians say it. It's also symbolic of when you do accept Jesus as the way to God, the part of you that was separated from God comes alive-the spirit. That's just my attempt to answer.

Edited August 20, 2006 by stina&suj

[pedroh 21]

so if i got baptised when i was a kid, means that im a born again christian?

[dani_christine 0]

so if i got baptised when i was a kid, means that im a born again christian?

being "born again" has less to do with any physical act...and more to do with the condition of your heart. if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, that He died for your sins and that He rose again...if you have come to a place where you accept that you yourself are not righteous, and that the only thing that can pay the price of your sins is the grace offered through the blood of Jesus...if you accept by faith that grace so freely offered to each of us...then you are truly born again.

[PlatyPius 5]

I'm a Born Again Pagan.

[chri'stina 190]

so if i got baptised when i was a kid, means that im a born again christian?

being "born again" has less to do with any physical act...and more to do with the condition of your heart. ....

I agree