I hope you don’t mind if I share a personal experience I had over thirty years ago. It is still fresh in my memory. I can see each face that was in the room and I wonder if they remember this conversation that we had.
I have shared this before on Facebook but I hope you won’t mind me sharing it here with you.
A long time ago I was asked by some students who worked for me “Are you one of those born again ‘Christians’?” I could tell by the question that this was an opening from the Lord and I could also tell that I wasn’t what they were asking.
Let’s read this morning’s verses and then I come back and give you my answer to their question.
“Friends, when I came and told you the mystery that God had shared with us, I didn’t use big words or try to sound wise. 2 In fact, while I was with you, I made up my mind to speak only about Jesus Christ, who had been nailed to a cross.
3 At first, I was weak and trembling with fear. 4 When I talked with you or preached, I didn’t try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God’s Spirit show his power. 5 That way you would have faith because of God’s power and not because of human wisdom.” I Corinthians 2:1-5 CEV
So I asked the student posing the question what he meant by Christian. He said that his aunt and uncle were always telling him you can’t do this and you got to do that and if you don’t you’re going to hell. And they are “Christians” so am I one of those?
I took a deep breath and answered “No, I’m not a Christian like that but let me tell you what I am”. My office area was filled with students because it was midday and they always came to hang out in my office. They all got quiet and gave me their attention.
“I am a Christian because Christian means one who is like Christ. I am born again because that means I have been given new life by Jesus. He has forgiven my sins and made me new.
I am a fanatic because I trust the Lord with everything I do each and every day. I pray over my grocery list. I pray for my kids to be healed and my husband to be safe at work. I pray for you (calling a student by name) to pass your Algebra test and for another student to find something valuable that she had lost.
I believe that God wants to be involved in every part of my life and I also know that He can handle it so much better than I can do on my own.
I don’t live by a long list of do’s and don’ts. I live by relationship with a Heavenly Father who loves and wants the best for me and I want to do nothing that would displease Him. And when I do fail, because I do, I go to Him and find His forgiveness. His love isn’t based on my goodness – it’s unconditional!
So I guess to answer your question, yes, I am a born again Christian. I’m a fanatic who believes that God wants to show me his love and his power and I pray that each one of you will want a relationship like that too.”
That day the Lord opened the door for me to talk with and pray for many of the students in that room. I thank Him that my life wasn’t filled with religious words and condescending looks but with real life relationship. And from that day forward I have tried to live and teach Jesus in a practical way that cowboys, farmers, ranchers, students and just plain folks could understand.
So today I encourage you to live a life that draws questions. And the answer to questions should always be Jesus and His amazing love!