Monday 12 April 2010

Background

The image of being 'born again' is one which produces muchcontroversy and misunderstanding. The popular press will use thephrase 'born-again Christian' in a negative sense, implying afanatical and extreme believer who is perhaps a danger, and who isin some way to be avoided.

Interestingly in today's reading, describing a conversation betweenJesus and Nicodemus, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) doesnot use that phase to translate the words of Jesus.

Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, was a seeker after truth andsensed that Jesus had significant insights to give. In the courseof the conversation Jesus told him that in order to see the kingdomof God it was necessary to be "born from above" (NRSV main text) or"born anew" (NRSV footnote). Clearly more than one translation ispossible - but perhaps both images have something to say tous.

The phrase "born anew" conveys an idea of the new start of theradical reversal of values that is implied when a seeker aftertruth accepts the values of God's kingdom and begins to align theirlife to those values. For some this experience of a new birthhappens in an instant; for others, a longer and sometimes difficultjourney is involved. Accepting the invitation to discipleshipoffered by Jesus means a new beginning, which is as dramatic andsignificant as the one that takes place at the birth of a baby. Theimage of being born again or born anew is therefore a veryimportant one.

However, the idea of being "born from above" is also significantbecause it reminds us that this new beginning is not something thatwe can achieve in our own strength, but that it is actually a giftgiven to us by a gracious god. Nicodemus' question "Can one enter asecond time into the mother's womb and be born?" leads to theanswer "No"! Men and women cannot be reborn physically - butneither can we be born spiritually by our own efforts. We need toreceive the experience of new beginnings as a gift of grace fromGod. To do that will involve meeting with Jesus and, likeNicodemus, being a 'seeker after truth'.

To Ponder

In what ways do the phrases "born from above" and"born anew" relate to your understanding of the invitation to "seethe kingdom of God"?

How can you continue, or begin, to be a 'seekerafter truth'?