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85 percent of Americans consider themselves Christian, many for the wrong reason.

Q. Can I be born a Christian, can infants "be saved" and what is being "Born Again".
A. No you can't be born a Christian, there's no need for infants to "be saved", they are. Being "Born again" may not be what you think it is.

    There is a mind set that has, at times, been fostered by churches, tradition, misinformation, well meaning family members, and pride, that one can be a Christian by birth. Lets state a non-shakable fact. You aren't a Christian by birth, either by family or location, your a Christian by rebirth. None of the Apostles or founding fathers were born Christians. Some of the greatest writers and defenders of the faith came from backgrounds, that were either non-godly or down right pagan. Some of the best supporters of the Christian faith started out on a quest to smear or discredit the faith. That's the great thing about Christianity, if you do a full study of it, you'll be convinced it is true. The more you study the more it makes sense. I'm not talking about the person who comes into it with a preconceived idea of what the Christian faith is. Not the one who looks for text to be taken out of context to support their own feelings. I'm talking about the person who's looking for truth, whether they believe or not. If they are seeking the truth from the heart, they will find it. Jesus is the truth, and He stands up very well under the closest inspection.    

    Back to rebirth.   If you are a Christian, and even if your not, you have heard the phrase "born again". If I'm talking about God to someone I don't know, I will hesitate to use the words "born again". Not that I'm ashamed, not because I'm not born again (for I am), but because what those two words mean to different people. Jesus taught that everyone must be born again. The person he was talking to was a religionist leader by the name of Nicodemus. When he was told by Jesus he needed to be born again, his response was how can a man go back into the womb and be reborn (Jn 3:1-8). That was the only thought the people of his time would have had. It was at this time that Jesus told him, that one who is born of flesh cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, one has to be born of the Spirit. This rebirth is a byproduct of Salvation (for more check What is Salvation?).

     At that time there was only one meaning to being "born again". I wish it had stayed that way, but today saying your "born again" can mean any number of things. One problem is that the church has used this term loosely. Some have applied the term to political and social agendas. Another problem is the term has been hijacked by sudo and non-Christian groups and people. New age religions will talk about having a rebirth, people will leave a spa and claim they feel they have been "born again". If you see a stirring movie, have a great meal, quit smoking, or change a job, all can lead some to claim they have been born again. People use the words to describe a feeling, which it never was intended. It is a position that the Christian is, not the way they feel. A church can not be born again, The "Church" (Christians) are born again (check what is church?). A movement is not born again, neither is a political party or action group.

    Mention born again to some people and what comes to mind, is someone who hates smoking, drinking, dancing, music, TV (unless it's a televangelist), movies, long hair, most people who don't speak English, and anything "fun". Some of those things may not be good for a Christian, but none will stop you from being saved, and being born again. To some what comes to mind is a preacher in a bad three piece suit, hair greased back, holding a Bible screaming in a southern accent "put your hand on the TV". Others think of political groups or nuts like David Koresh and Jim Jones.  Being "Born Again" just means that your have been saved and have had a rebirth of the, and in the, Spirit. That because of this rebirth you are now a member of the family of God. I shouldn't say "just means", because you must be "Born Again", and it is very important, but one must be careful how they use the term, or it waters down it's meaning.

    This rebirth comes from a personal decision by an individual to accept the gift of Salvation. Let no man make you believe, that since he slapped you in the head and said your born again, you are. Because this is a decision that is to be made with forethought, with your mind and heart, one cannot be born a Christian, or made a Christian by others. You must have Salvation to be saved, you must be saved to be a Christian, Salvation is by your acceptance. You aren't accepting anything before your born, so you can't be born a Christian. After all Jesus said, you must be "Born Again", otherwise he would have said, you just need to be born.

    Can infants "be saved"? Since Salvation comes from a decision that must be made, and infants can't make such a decision, then what? Some men over the years thought that Baptism would be a good solution. That would force God's hand and he would have to save them. People, you don't force God to do anything, it was, and is, an inappropriate use of Baptism. Some thought if a young child died before being saved, they would just float around this cosmic waiting room called purgatory. This was expanded to adults that might have been baptized but weren't very nice. What was cool was the church could get you a "get out a jail free ticket". Of course that ticket wasn't free, and if you didn't have the money, or couldn't perform a service the church needed, it was "too bad-so sad". At first this may have been well intended, though ill-conceived, it soon proved to be a big money maker. After all, who could enjoy life with a loved one suspended between heaven and hell. It was a wrong teaching, but it did finance some really impressive buildings.

    What then does God do? First we have a loving God who holds a special place in His heart for children. Infants and young children go to heaven, whether they are baptized or not. How young is that. Well different people and cultures have different ideas on this. Some try to put a calendar age on it, which I don't believe you can do. I can't picture Jesus checking birth certificates, then looking someone in the eye saying, I'm sorry your birthday was last week, your going to have to go to hell. I do believe in what is called the "age of accountability". This is a age that is different for every person. God is very fair. When that is, varies on who you ask also. Some use the text of when you know your right hand from your left, others different verses.

     Now I'm not one to over spiritualize the Bible, I believe the Word will say just what it has to say, unless there is reason to think there is more to it. The Bible never contradicts itself, all text must mesh with the rest.

    First rule of logic is, "A" and "B" can't be the same thing, at the same time, in the same way. Also when your studying the Bible ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and discernment. God won't give you "new" meaning about what your reading, but He will many times clear up confusions that you have. Some things aren't for us to know at this time, those text also won't interfere with what we are to understand.

    So back to the left hand from the right. I can teach a awfully young child which is his right, and which is his left. Does that mean the child understands the concept of right and left, not really. He just knows one is called right, and one is the left. I think this refers to the age that a person can discern concepts like, right and wrong, left and right, true and false. After all I've had people say to me "your other left dummy", does this mean I'm exempt from judgment...no I'm not. Make sure if you have a child at home, to make the presences of God known. Speak of Him, explain why your doing things that are right and good, and how that makes God pleased. That child will ask, and that's when you can expound on the subject. Don't drag the child down to the church and tell him you've got to take a dip in that pool, and say your going to love Jesus, or your going to burn forever and ever. All your going to get is a scared wet kid that thinks God is someone who is hateful. Also don't plead and beg, or lay a guilt trip on the child to accept Jesus. Very young children want to please their parents and will say the words just to make mommy and daddy happy.

    In either case the child will grow up remembering saying and doing what their parent wanted. Remembering they were told, that they were saved. But is that person saved, maybe. You can't be saved just because someone else wants it. The person themselves, needs to want it. But many people are walking around today with a false sense of Salvation. Easy beliefism, and answering a alter call because it was the thing to do, is leaving many lost. So with the kids be open and informative at a level they can understand. You'd be surprised how quickly they will want to know Christ themselves.

    Let me mention a very important point now. You MUST walk the walk, and talk the talk. A child can spot a hypocrite faster then anyone. The Gospel lived is better then the Gospel preached. And God hates few things more then a hypocrite.

Last modified: 12/15/07

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Proverb:30:4: Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in His fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His Son's name, if thou canst tell?

Proverb:30:5: Every Word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Proverb:30:6: Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Re:22:18: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Re:22:19: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Re:22:20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Re:22:21: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

 

 

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