A new moment
"The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 15
Photographer: Christian Coker Location: Charles River, Boston, MA
I learned something new yesterday about being “born again.” Many Christian Scientists have been asked over the years if we’re born again Christians. Well, in one way we are since it was Christ Jesus who called for us to be born again. And we clearly are followers of Christ Jesus! Today this phrase, “I’m born again!” is most often associated with fundamentalist Christians or even Christians who aren’t always tolerant of views that are different from their own. But the term actually began to be used around a century ago (as I learned yesterday!). In fact, an Internet search turns up this background information about the very first known use of the phrase in October 1914 in the Reno Evening Gazette. Here’s exactly the words appearing in that Reno newspaper: “It [Christian Science] gives man the opportunity of being born again.” Well, the Internet isn’t 100% accurate (who knew? ;) ). There are several testimonies in the Fruitage chapter of Science and Health mentioning that phrase a few years earlier than 1914. But even if Christian Scientists got the ball rolling a century ago in that Reno paper, it’s important that the term not be distorted. There’s so much truth in that simple comment. Like no other religious teaching, Christian Science does show truly how to be born again. Try affirming from time to time that we truly are being born again. I’m pretty sure we’re going to find ourselves in the middle of a transformation!
Thanks for that analysis, Amy. It was very helpful.