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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (659390)	11/10/2004 5:53:06 PM
From: Johannes Pilch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

But it should be underlined that many Protestant denominations do not regard being born again in a revivalist light, but see it as baptism. Indeed, but when Shep refers to "born again Christians," we know, almost of a certainty, he means those who see the concept in a revivalist light. In truth, even the revivalists don't see it as simplistically as it has been portrayed here. The idea that these people think you merely need attend a revival, respond by holding up your hands and hear a preacher say "you're born again," is just ludicrous. For them, the actual revival meeting is merely a vehicle whereby the gospel can be given to people. It is just a meeting - an uneccessary meeting. The important thing, and almost to a person they will tell you this, is that you hear the gospel and that by the gospel the Spirit comes down from heaven to give you life, provided your heart is receptive to It. Through that new life you acquire a real and living relationship with God. When this takes place, whether at a revival or whether in your living room, then and only then are you "born again." It is not mere experience either. It is a radical change in spirit that begins to affect everything in the believer. These changes take place at varying speeds, depending upon the believer and upon how God chooses to work in him. Even the "revivalist" type closely associates baptism with being "born again" because to them baptism will naturally flow from the spiritual reality of the new birth. The confusion so many churches have is caused, I think, because so many churches think they can formulate when these spiritual events take place. One says it happens "at baptism" and another says it takes place when you accept Jesus by praying a certain prayer. Well, I think they are too rigid, based upon my own experience. I didn't pray to Jesus (you can't really and sincerely pray to Someone you simply do not know) and yet I had certainly experienced the rebirth long before I was baptised. I conclude that all one needs is an utterly sincere heart before the cosmos. The God of heaven will give you the Spirit to discern the truth of His Son's efficacy. Ding. Dinnertime