Page 77 … Born Again, again
You then allude to 1 Peter 1:23 to somehow claim that Vanessa and I do not “understand the Word of God” because we have apparently not been “born again” to your satisfaction … I sincerely wonder, Lucy, how many times I will have to explain how Jesus felt about this concept before you will finally choose to listen? How many times and in how many threads will I have to explain that his definition of “Born Again” has nothing at all to do with the “born again” favored by your evangelical, Paulinist dogma? … No matter – it is an important theme, so I will Joy-fully explain it for you & yours again now.
First of all, Jesus was relatively clear in John 3:8 about what he meant by “Born Again”, and in light of all the other self-reflective statements he makes in the New Testament (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 etc – statements you have conveniently dismissed &/or ignored up to now, I might add), it is quite clear that Jesus most certainly did not want any of us (gay or straight) to become “Born Again” by worshiping him. No, such a conservative, traditional definition is Paul-inspired & church-made, and has nothing at all to do with The Way of Jesus Christ – a Way that is to be followed (i.e. boldly emulated & enlivened), not worshipped.
Secondly, in the ancient Greek texts, Jesus actually called being Born Again being “born from above” (with the Greek word used being anothen, meaning “from above” — or “from the beginning” – or “from one’s origin” – or “again as a little child”). Thus, this is a phrase that essentially meant that we are all to continually renew our entrance into Jesus’ here & now “Kingdom of Heaven” (see Luke 17:20-21 + Matthew 10:7 et al) by repeatedly returning to ways of being that have us treating others with Humility & Appreciation & Caring & Kindness (in essence becoming an embodiment of Divine Love); often doing so via the purposeful sacrifice of our own desires in order to enhance the Peace &/or the Joy of others (see John 1:12 + John 3:8 + John 13:34-35 + Matthew 18:3-4) … Indeed, THIS is what it meant for Jesus to be truly “Born Again” (& again … & again … & again … & again) … Please consider:
“[And Jesus said,] ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus then asked him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born again?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of both water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it but know not where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born again of the Spirit.’” ~ John 3:3-8
“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state becomes worse for them than the first.” ~ 2 Peter 2:20
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: that you show Love towards one another … My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit and become my disciples … If you continue in my Word [i.e. the application of his teachings], then you are truly my disciples; and you will thereby know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 13:35 + John 15:8 + John 8:31-32)
;