Many Protestants say our Infant Baptism is not enough and that it is invalid.
They say one must be “Born Again” to be truly Baptised.
If you ask them what Born Again means, they will tell you it is the Intellectual Conformance to the Gospel.
For them it is a mere mental/intellectual process that flows from Man to God.
But what is BORN AGAIN according to the Bible?
Book of John tells us how a Child of God is Born(Born Again):
“To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.–John 1:13
Being Born-Again too is not a process that flows from man to GOD, but from GOD to man.
Again Romans 9 says:
Romans 9:
“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls —she was told,”The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
4What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
6It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
For us Orthodox Christians, being Born Again is not an intellectual process, but a Spiritual Process that flows from God to Man and not vice versa.
Intellectual weakness of a baby should not be a reason to Deny Christ to him/her.
For Jesus Christ Himself said: “Let the little ones come to me”(Matthew 19:14).
In John 15:16, Jesus says “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…
A very wise early father of the Church had this advise for doubting intellects:
Saint Gregory of Nazianz:
“Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood.
From his most tender age let him be consecrated by the Spirit.
Do you fear the seal [of baptism] because of the weakness of nature? Oh, what a pusillanimous mother and of how little faith!”
(Oration on Holy Baptism 40:7 [A.D. 388]).
By:
Kevin Thomas
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello,
I have decided to undertake a bit of reading regarding the Orthodox Church and I came across the following comment:
“If you ask them what Born Again means, they will tell you it is the Intellectual Conformance to the Gospel. For them it is a mere mental/intellectual process that flows from Man to God.”
As a Christian (Pentecostal) of over 35 years, I have never heard any respected ‘Protestant’ commentator say such a thing, though of course there would undoubtedly be a few small non-conformist groups that may advicate much the same.
When a person gives their heart to the Lord it is only through the leading of the Spirit of God (prevenient Grace) and when one repents of their sin they are Born Again with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit – this would be the standard belief with both Evangelicals and Pentecostals.
Regards,
Barry
Barry, I think you missed the whole point here buddy, people including the Orthodox have a natural desire to boast of what they have done, ie. Accepting Christ into our heart, keeping the law, being “good” people while ignoring that salvation comes from God to man. Christ accepted us and continues to accept us. God saves whom He wills our taking of His gift is akin to a beggar accepting a handout. The only way we can even accept that had out is because of the energies of God (grace) impact on our sick souls. We don’t mentally or intellectually find God, we are blind to Him, it is His grace which unblinds us. We don’t withold sacramental grace from children or the retarded because God can and dose give them faith by grace. We are buried with Christ and born again in water and spirit.
I think it can be difficult for East and West to communicate with each other because we use different meanings with similar words. In the West, especially with reformed/baptist faiths grace is viewed as Gods good feelings towards bad people where in the East Grace is the energy of God which has an effect on our souls and bodies. We are illuminated to faith by grace and indwelled by the holy spirit as a gift. We are not only declared righteous but we are made righteous. The early formation of Pentecostalism was founded on Fr. John Wesley’s rediscovery of the teachings of the Eastern Fathers. Holiness Pentacostals and Methodist (like my grandmother of blessed memory) called this holiness entire sanctification. In the East and throughout historic Chrisitianty East and West it has been known as glorification and deification through theosis. Theosis being the proccess of God conforming us to his perfection, reknewig our minds and making a new creation in our abiding in Christ. These may sound like strange words but they wouldn’t have been to Pentecostals 150 years ago. I invite you to learn more about the faith of the people who’s opinions we rely on in determining what makes up our Holy Bible. You will see the charismata in the Holy Fathers and you will learn how we experience God daily in our corporate and personal relationship with our Triune God. God bless!
The truth is that to be born again IS something that God does, but it is the filling of the Holy Spirit, being born from above. One cannot be born again unless he or she receives the word of God, as Peter says that those who are born again are born of incorruptible seed, the implanted word of God, that is life-giving and is the sword of the Spirit of God, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). Spiritual birth is from above, but it cannot be conferred upon someone simply through sprinkling water on them. That is not being born again. Spiritual rebirth is a literal washing away of sin and filling of the Spirit of God, which results in sanctification and holiness, which does not occur through rituals, but through yielding to the Holy Spirit and communion with God by seeking His face through prayer