when I ask why it is wrong I don't mean to ask what the Bible says or what church authorities say. I want an argument for why it is wrong. I know many Christians appeal to the Bible solely for their morality (or so they think), but now base my morality on trying to base it on basic principles and arguing rationally from them.
This is a reasonable stance
You want to
understand this world you find yourself living in. I urge you to
turn towards Him not only in your effort, but as
the main way of making this effort. I suggest you need a definition of G-d: the power it took to put the Earth under your feet.
Who better to help you understand things you don't yet understand? (And again, we're all in the same boat)
I think it is a fair point that someone saved my not be able to continually sin, but is that really the case? I don't know.
DISCLAIMER: what I'm about to say, will be refuted by some. That's ok. Taken as intended, it's still a strong point. That which is spirit is spirit, and that which is flesh is flesh. (Note that this is
directly related to your thread topic, of being born again)
Our Spiritual entity, the "new (wo)man," is not going to sin. Our flesh certainly does. This leaves us caught in the middle, in a contradiction, a contest of wills, and en epic clash. It's a marathon race, not a sprint. Does this mean that Jesus gets out of the car as soon as you drive 1 k.m.h. over the speed limit? (Or whatever example you can think of of the most trivial stepping over the bounds of the law)
It comes down to making a conscious choice, to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This should be your name's sake, since it is full of paradoxes! It is simultaneously the hardest thing any of us can ever do, and a light burden, an easy yoke. It is the most rewarding thing any of us will ever do, and yet this world will call us fools for what we miss out on. We labor, to enter into that rest ...
I wouldn't equate being born again with saying a prayer nor being baptised. It is the inner transformation, whenever that is. If there is no inner transformation what is the point in using the word born again which implies a change? I guess you might think something magical and undetectable happens at baptism, but I see no reason to think this, especially infant baptism. If there is nothing different about a real Christian other than having gone underwater then its probably not worth it.
This can make Lutherans get all huffy, having a pet theology challenged like that - but it's perfectly Scriptural:
"And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:"
Dead ritual is just that - dead.
I have spoken in tongues before. I still can, which does make me question if it really is tongues or perhaps it proves I still am Christian. More likely is perhaps that the act of tongues is physical and but meaning spiritual.
If I may, don't worry about "proving you're still a Christian." There is simply no frame of reference for any thought like this, Biblically. If you want to "make your calling and election sure," 2 Peter 1 shows you how. And praying in tongues has
nothing to do with it
I urge you to break away from teachings of man that you already realize don't make sense, and to use the noggin' God gave you. Praying in tongues is indeed a physical act, and since it has a Spiritual "dimension" to it, it is
but one way to bring these 2 realms together. If you do that (unite Spirit with flesh) by every means available to you, things will become clearer.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it