Born-Agains

[transientlife]

Maybe it's just me, but I notice (especially on here) that born-again christians are typically WAY MORE legalistic and literal (dare I say some tread on the fundamental side) when it comes to the Bible and faith than many "born-in" christians.

Anyone else notice this?

Why does it seem that way?

 

[Spike~]

Perhaps they feel that since they missed so much time with God, living a sinful life, that they try and make up for it by being extra zealous.

 

[praying]

I presume "born agains" are much like that in their other walks of life, needing absolute structure to define them and the world around them. I suspect that it gives people a sense of control over their own life mostly but as with all things people will try to make you over into how they think you should be.

I don't think however it is being "born again" that should be used to make the theological disticntion because we are all "born again" once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior or we should be at least. I think the theological line should be drawn more down the traditionalist vs progressive. Change is a hard pill to swallow for many. Change takes away that sense of control one has over one's life therefore in order to prevent that from happening people become rigid and legalistic insisting "it" must be done this way, "it" has always been this way.

One hundred years from now the progressives will be viewed as legalistic it is the cycle.

 

[flicka]

No one is more zealous than a converted anything! Finding something that gives you a purpose or improves your life is a powerful thing. IE: Ex-smokers! When a close friend quit many years ago she became an advocate against tobacco and it consumed her life for a bit. Sure, some casual friendships were lost along the way but she actually got a new career and a husband out of the deal . To me she exchanged one obsession with another but it was a healthy change and she knew it. Plus she is the type that always needs to be obsessing about something or she isn't happy.

Maybe it's like that with some 'born again' Christians? I believe personality type has more to do with it than we realize.

 

[seebs]

Depends on what you mean. I converted to Christianity a while back, and I would say I'm very zealous, but not very literalist.

One thing to keep in mind is that the more fundamentalist varieties are often the more evangelistic, as well.

 

[Crispie]

if you get to literal, youll start believing you eat Jesus Christ flesh and blood for eternal life and that we should hate our family in order to have good faith in Jesus.

 

[burrow_owl]

In general, born agains are certainly more literalistic and legalistic. They're closely related to evangelicals, right? So there ya go.

 

[Nightstrike]

it seems that all christians are born again...
because they know they need Jesus so they repent right?