In John 3, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus says to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answers, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”

The Greek word anothen can be translated in several ways. The King James Version translates anothen as “again,” which is the basis of “born again”-ism. An ongoing debate over whether to translate this as “again” or “from above” continues among Bible scholars. Still, there is no doubt that the “born again” wording has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of modern evangelicals.

John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and others employed “born again-ism” in the English and colonial revivals known as the Great Awakening in the mid-1700s. For them, being born again meant living a new life of righteousness. The focus was less on individuals than on whole families, communities, and the nation embracing God’s righteousness. 

In the Second Great Awakening (1800-1830), born again-ism focused on “soul-saving”—plucking individuals one-by-one from their destined fires of Hell. This kind of born again-ism shaped American Evangelicalism from Methodists and Baptists to Jesus Freaks and the independent mega-churches. Best known for the born again-ist “altar call” is Presby/Baptist Billy Graham, who made it the core of his worldwide ministry. 

When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, he addressed not just an interested individual but a representative of 2nd Temple Judaism—a Pharisee and member of the ruling Sanhedrin. For Nicodemus—and all Jews of his day—salvation was a matter of identity, of being a child of Abraham. Jesus makes it clear that finding a place within the favor of God has little at all to do with one’s national identity, but everything to do with finding our true identity in him (being born of water and Spirit). In baptism, every earthly identity dissolves away. We become united with Christ and in Christ, or we do not enter the kingdom. 

Furthermore, the original meaning of being born again (or, more accurately, “born from above”) morphed in practice through time. The preachers of the First Great Awakening believed that a reborn nation would necessarily exhibit all the signs of true righteousness. Not much later, America’s farm communities were crisscrossed by traveling evangelists who set up their tents and made their pitches for altar calls, saving souls and counting their numbers. By the 20th century, being born again can mean as little as having made a “decision for Christ,” end of story. 

The problem with contemporary born again-ism is its resemblance to fast food: quick decision, quick sale, done deal. It’s one-night stand evangelism, designed to gratify the evangelists. 

In contrast, we long-termer evangelicals (Presbyterians) are more interested in long-term marriages, not one-night stands. As such, our focus has never been on the “decision” but the long-term commitment. 

Being born again is rightly understood as being born from above, living a new life given to us by Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit as we walk by faith the long road of obedience. And while it is right and good to plan for special moments and extraordinary experiences (like summer camps), these are seen in proper perspective—as starting points—but nothing more. 

Evangelical gratification is served by “datable conversions”(as if there were such a thing) and convenient guarantees given on God’s behalf (“You said the sinners’ prayer? Good—you are therefore saved forever!”). But all these methods may be Christian vanities—more focused on the evangelist’s need for success than the actual good of the “convert.” 

Brothers and sisters, we are in this thing for the long run—it is a marathon, not a sprint. And though it may run afoul of contemporary sentiments that expect everything and anything to be custom delivered, as-you-like-it, fast food or Amazon Prime; we play a different game with different goals and a much, much different destination. We are in it for the long haul, which shapes our focus, outreach, and substance of our proclamation. God gives new life, new birth, and salvation to all whom it pleases Him to provide. He chooses; our work is merely a response. 

May God lead us all to respond in faithfulness! †