It's truly amazing that those who are not afraid to refer to themselves as "born again" - which is a wholly Scriptural term - receive such scorn from those who think such beneath them. The Eastern Orthodox say:
Serapion of Egypt, a fourth century contemporary of St. Athanasios summarized Eastern Orthodox theology:
"The Anointing after Baptism is for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, that having been born again through Baptism and made new through the laver of regeneration, the candidates may be made new through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and secured by this Seal may continue steadfast." (http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7112)
Also, from the Liturgy of Baptism, the priest says: Form the Image of Your Christ in him (her) who is about to be born again through my humility.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church freely uses the term "born anew", "born of God" and "born from above". The Baltimore Catechism still says:
315. What is Baptism? Baptism is the sacrament that gives our souls the new life of sanctifying grace by which we become children of God and heirs of heaven.
Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
310. Why are Baptism and Penance called sacraments of the dead? Baptism and Penance are called sacraments of the dead because their chief purpose is to give the supernatural life of sanctifying grace to souls spiritually dead through sin.
Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Also, I have no problem with using born from above, born anew, or born again as they basically mean the same thing. It is regeneration of the spirit into a new nature. We become children of God when we come to Christ in faith. I also doubt ANY Protestant denomination would have any problem with using that phrase. There is plenty of balance, don't worry your little head about it. Call me a BAer if it makes you feel good. It doesn't change who I am in Christ. It is futile to continue in this "let's you and him fight" charade. Why not give it a rest?
Now, besides this terminology, the problem, as I pointed out, is that he BAers, as an adverse reaction to Presbyterianism (which is why the Presbyterians call you damnable heretics) went to the other extreme from them In both cases, the virtues, separated from each other went crazy and over-extended. That is the clear problem with the BAers -- there is no balance and it just veers to the laugh-sing-dance and ignore oblivion model
Both extremes are wrong and by deviating further and further from God's word, the BAers end up with "burning in the bosom" arguments to contradict the Calvinist logic.
The Anointing after Baptism is for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, that having been born again through Baptism and made new through the laver of regeneration, the candidates may be made new through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and secured by this Seal may continue steadfast.
Thank you so very much, dear sister in Christ, for posting these wonderfully illuminating passages!
I think Cronos is hampered by a stereotypical caricature of "born again" folks as snake handlers and/or given to speaking in tongues, etc. To me, this is a sign of crude bigotry at work. In light of the above passages, perhaps he may wish to rethink his position. I certainly hope he will....
I just hate it when Christians beat up on each other over such nonsense.
I have been born again, just as you have boatbums. The history of this amazing conversion, this epiphany, is very like your own.
But I do not speak in tongues; and neither do you, dear sister in Christ.
Thank you so very much for your eloquent testimony!
As I said, it’s not that you guys don’t have something right. The problem is that the BAers, as an adverse reaction to Presbyterianism (which is why the Presbyterians call you damnable heretics) went to the other extreme from them In both cases, the virtues, separated from each other went crazy and over-extended. That is the clear problem with the BAers — there is no balance and it just veers to the laugh-sing-dance and ignore oblivion model