What does "born again" mean, anyway?
What is Jesus saying in John 3:16, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life?
Sometimes words are so familiar and have worked for us for such a long time that we don't even question our definitions anymore. But what if the definitions we've been riding on for over a century was off from the start? What is the implication on what we've believed?
Perhaps born again means to wake up. To be awakened by and to the Spirit of God. To awaken refreshed and renewed to a different, everlasting greater Other who is lovingly interested in our lives.
Are you aware that in this particular passage, conservative scholars agree that the "eternal life" Jesus referred to was not heaven?
Eternal life in this instance refers to what life looks like right now if we followed God diligently. It's what life would look like if God's Kingdom ruled completely. It's what shalom is all about - being whole, complete, at peace with each other, world, our God, and ourselves.
Believe isn't simply a thinking thing. In the original language, to believe meant you "got it" intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally. In other words, you understood what you believed, you knew in your heart that it was true, and you lived your life based upon those other two realities. Your believing actions would further solidify your intellectual and emotional convictions. You would live "eternal life" increasingly.
May you be jolted out of your slumber if you think born again is a simple lip-service confession.
May your life be turned upside down with the reality that God is extremely interested in your eternal life - which is right now.
May you fully believe and fully live.
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