Today I heard some women agree that the term "born again Christian" is often perceived as being "stand-offish" or "exclusive." The group thought it might be nicer to refer to themselves as "followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ."

I, of course, disagree.

I have seen too many folks who call themselves "followers of Jesus" who have never made a commitment to place their faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is too much of a gap between being a "follower of the teachings" and being a Christian who is "born again"--or, as the Message puts it, "born from above."

In too many of the standard brand churches--Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ (many folks would call those and others "mainline churches")--membership in the denomination is predicated on having gone through some sort of an initiation ritual. In most of these churches that ritual is infant baptism. It is generally agreed that if a person has been baptized, either as an infant or an adult, her continuance in the faith and ultimate entrance into heaven is assured. To be sure, there are MANY mainline churches that call their members to a life of commitment to the work of Jesus Christ and encourage an assurance that the person is "saved" by virtue of either her baptismal vows or her definition of a time when she has received Christ as her personal savior; frankly, however, these churches, at least in the United States, are few and far between. What is left in the remaining churches are members who consider their spiritual well being to be contingent on maintaining membership in the church in whatever manner the local congregation dictates--be that adequate pledging, attendance, holding church positions, even moving into ordained ministry. These are people who would be more than correct in holding that they are "followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ."
But ask them if they have made a choice to place their faith in him and his work and oftentimes the work of God is obscured by the work of the follower.

As a human, made in the image of God, I may have many good qualities. But one thing I cannot do is take care of the fact that my sin nature, brought about by the act of Adam and Eve in the Garden, separates me from God. Eternally. There is NO way that I can bridge that gulf by myself. It is only be the work of Jesus Christ on the cross that the gulf can be removed and the relationship repaired. As I place my faith in that work, I am put into relationship with God and assured that my sins are forgiven and I am in possession of eternal life.

No one can achieve that position by simply following the teachings of Jesus. It is an act of faith to make the choice to accept his work that brings about reconciliation. Followers are hangers-on; believers are heaven bound.