brown@rochester.UUCP (Chris Brown) (05/23/84)
Two (serious) questions about born-again Xians: 1. Is there a particular born-again church, (like Presby, Metho, Ch. of X, etc.)? Or if not are there individual congregations that encourage their members to call themselves born-again? Or is it purely a personal thing that can happen to any individual within the context of an Xian church? 2. About dogma. Lots of literature I've seen emphasizes Jesus' place in the scheme of things (as opposed to the Trinity, say). Jesus as creator, for example. Is that part of the born-again dogma, or IS there a born-again dogma? Thanks! CBrown (brown!rochester)
nlt@duke.UUCP (N. Tinkham) (05/25/84)
From Chris Brown: > Two (serious) questions about born-again Xians: > 1. Is there a particular born-again church, (like Presby, Metho, > Ch. of X, etc.)? Or if not are there individual congregations that > encourage their members to call themselves born-again? Or is > it purely a personal thing that can happen to any individual within > the context of an Xian church? Strictly speaking, the term "born again" (borrowed from John 3) is, as I understand it, synonymous with the term "Christian", or at least denotes the same class of people. (No, I do not want to re-hash the discussions about the definition of "Christian".) However, among those who stress the importance of an adult conversion experience -- turning away from the sinful elements of one's life and making a conscious, explicit commitment to Christ -- the term "born-again" is used of people who have had such an experience. There is no one "born-again" denomination, although the term is used more freqently in denominations which stress conversion and adult baptism (Baptist, for example) than in those which baptize infants and stress the nurturing role of the church in bringing children gradually into the faith of their family and community (Anglican and Lutheran churches come to mind here). > 2. About dogma. Lots of literature I've seen emphasizes Jesus' place > in the scheme of things (as opposed to the Trinity, say). Jesus as creator, > for example. Is that part of the born-again dogma, or IS there a born-again > dogma? It's hard to describe a single "born-again dogma", as "rebirth" is an experience which cuts across denominational lines. As for the literature to which you refer, perhaps you could give me more detail before I pass a verdict as to whether it is representative; it's hard to tell just from what you've said. N. Tinkham duke!nlt (Duke University)
jlp@inmet.UUCP (05/26/84)
#R:rochester:-707200:inmet:11600018:000:1072
inmet!jlp May 25 15:59:00 1984
The methodist notion of the phrase "Born Again" is the doctrinal understanding
of the need for salvation through spiritual regeneration. "Born Again" is not
constrained to any particular denomination. Denominational differences seem
to magnify particular phrases with respect to the salvation experience. Thus,
one local assembly will say "you must be born again", while another will say
"you must be saved", while yet another will say " you must be baptized". The
essence of each is the fundamental understanding of the salvation experience.
One who is born again is one who has recognized that God sent not his son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. One who is born again is
one who confesses Christ as a personal savior, as well as Lord of their life.
One who is born again is one who, out of that sense of confession, and in a
demonstration of obedience, submits themself to water baptism - an outward
symbol of the inward change, as well as the symbolic burial of the dead sinner.
The Organ Keyboard of
Jerryl Payne
{ihnp4,esquire,harpo}!inmet!jlp