The Born Again Christian movement is a major component of evangelical Christianity. One website describes being born again as “becoming children of God through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.” It is a spiritual renewal. Often born-again individuals talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus. In the 1990s, many adopted the slogan “What would Jesus do?” as a guide to their lives.
What a transformed world this would be if indeed Evangelical Christians saw themselves and the world around them through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus believed in those oppressed by society, for example beggars, lepers, and prostitutes. On the other hand, he spoke out against the evil influence of the love of money and wealth. He said that the meek shall inherit the earth, meaning those who are not filled with ego and who assert themselves not for their own gain but for the benefit of others.
If Jesus were alive today, there is no question but that he would fight against the extreme inequality in the world, whether it regards income, education, opportunity, access to health care, housing … anything essential to well-being. He would be against all prejudice and discrimination based on color. He would be against the pursuit at all costs of money, success, and power, often trampling on the welfare of others.
As to the two issues Evangelicals are most fervent about, abortion and homosexuality, Jesus was silent despite both of these “sins” being present during the era in which he lived. Abortion was in fact legal under Roman law and had been practiced since ancient times. A Christian bible reference site says, "Surprisingly, abortion is never mentioned in the Bible." It goes on to say that the various passages often cited as support for the pro-life position were by their context clearly not intended to speak to the issue of abortion.
Given all the things that Jesus and the gospels commented on, the omission of any reference to abortion is indeed surprising and, one could argue, definitive. Clearly, it was not something that either Jesus or the gospel writers felt strongly about. So even if one reckoned that he was probably against abortion in “normal” circumstances ... that is to say not rape or incest or threat to the mother's life ... there is no support for the virulent nature of the pro-life movement.
Again homosexuality was not uncommon in Jesus' time and was the case since ancient times. While one can't say from silence that he approved of homosexuality, one certainly has no justification today for the virulent Evangelical position against it. Further, I think there is evidence that he would not be
against homosexuality because he looked into people’s souls and believed in the power of love. After all, he welcomed Mary into his fold despite the fact that prostitution was a violation of the commandment against adultery and punishable by death under the laws of the Old Testament.
In fact, Jesus frequently encouraged his followers to not follow the letter of the law of the Old Testament, which Evangelicals cherry-pick for their convenience. For example, following it on men lying with men being an abomination, but not following it regarding adultery and many other sins that were punishable by death. It’s either all the word of God and thus immutable and to be followed to the letter, or it’s all subject to interpretation.
The tragedy of born again Christians is that the Jesus they are in direct contact with is not this Biblical Jesus. Nor are they in touch with the divinity that is within us all, that they were born with, as taught by the mystical tradition of Christianity (Gnosticism) as well as the mystical traditions of all the Abrahamic faiths. (See my post, “Ever Wonder Why the World Is the Way It Is?”)
Instead, they are in touch with Jesus as he has been interpreted by their teachers. And that Jesus is a very different Jesus from the soul revealed in the New Testament. Jesus was a very gentle, tolerant man, except when it came to the evils of lusting after money. Evangelicals as a rule, however, are neither gentle nor tolerant and they view wealth as a valid goal.
My prayer is that Evangelicals turn to the Jesus who is revealed by his words and truly do what Jesus would do. See themselves and the world around them through the eyes of Jesus. Then not just they will be truly reborn, but by example they will lead to the rebirth of all, regardless of faith.
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