The born again myth

Possibly because of embarrassment by the contradictions of nominal Christians, a fairly recent movement of new, "improved" Christians has arisen...the "born again" believers. For these people, it is not good enough to say you are a Christian. Anyone can do that. To be accepted by a born againer one must say he is "born again".
(It never crosses their minds that people can just as easily lie about being born again as they can lie about being Christian!)
Justification for the myth comes from a statement Jesus made to a religious leader: "Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." However, explanations for what "born again" means range from mere statements of faith to dramatic behavioural changes. (See the Holiness Myth)
Generally, however, a "born again" mythologist believes that he is a Christian because he said a little prayer, asking "Jesus" to come into his "heart", and stating that he was sorry for his sins. This ritual is often referred to as accepting Christ as your personal Saviour or saying the sinner's prayer.

The fact that there is no support for such a myth anywhere in the teachings of Christ does not daunt the born againers however. As with so many primitive religions, people have religious experience while performing the ritual and credit the ritual itself with powers that it doesn't actually have.
To understand what it really means to be born again one must study the rest of what Christ taught. He said we must become like little children, in utter dependence upon our heavenly Father for all our material necessities. When someone asked Christ what he needed to do to have eternal life, he instructed the man: "Go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come and follow me." (Luke 18:22) On another occasion, he told a group of people, "Anyone who doesn't give up everything that he owns cannot become a Christian." (Luke 14:33)

This gives us a clearer picture of what Christ meant by being "born again". There is no hint of a "sinner's prayer", or asking a name into one's heart to be born again.

The Born Again Myth Bible References

Luke 18:22: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

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