For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination, producing new metaphors or revivifying old, is not the cause of truth, but its condition. CS Lewis
The Error of the Born Again Teaching
It is imperative that metaphors be revisited for over time a metaphor becomes subject to the loss of its original meaning. The new birth metaphor has suffered this loss and become the backbone of evangelical teaching.
First identifying the pericope (a piece of scripture that has both a beginning and a closing) is important for interpreting John 3:3-15. The beginning of the pericope is obvious as chapter two closes out and the scene moves to the introduction of a new character. The closing verse of John 3:1-15 ends with the phrase 'eternal life'. In the book of John eternal life is the replacement phrase for Kingdom of God (heaven). In our pericope the phrase 'Kingdom of God' is used twice in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. Upon the conclusion of John 3:1-15 the phrase Kingdom of God will not be used again in John's gospel (although the word Kingdom is used in John 18:36 for instructing us that the Kingdom suffers the violence of the world). Jesus’ speech explains to Pilate his Kingdom is not of this world. He does not use the phrase Kingdom of God.
John's choice of eternal life is meant to infuse us with understanding that the power of life come from God cannot be destroyed. That the final word on death is resurrection. In John's gospel 'eternal life' is not 'heaven' it is a present spiritual power residing with in us so that we might overcome the world.
Now we have identified the piece of scripture that encloses our subject 'the new birth metaphor'. The metaphor is presented by Jesus as essential for seeing and entering the Kingdom of God. This reality is a spiritual now/not yet existence experienced by people who understand the spiritual metaphor. The goal of the new birth is not salvation but an essential truth for spirituality or spiritual life.
Jesus' expressed to Nicodemus that he (Nicodemus) should already understand the concept of the new birth metaphor. “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?"
The writer of the pericope (John) allows for Nicodemus' words to stand as part of grasping the intent of the pericope. “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
Now, we can examine the birth metaphor as an ongoing process of spiritual life. Birth is a traumatic experience for a developing human being about to enter the present world.
In the comfort of our mother's womb we reside carefree from distress when suddenly the muscles contract and begin to push us out from our watery beginning (much like creation in Genesis). As the process continues the collapse of the amniotic sac empties our watery world and we feel it upon our skin. We are now moving headlong through a canal so narrow that our skull (not yet fully developed) gives a little to exit from the womb. Suddenly we enter a world of light but cannot yet see clearly. Suddenly we breathe on our own for the first time and our life line is cut. We have entered the world of seeing.
Birth is a traumatic event in the life of a new born child. So is seeing and entering the Kingdom of God. It is a process of learning, and growing in Christ. The Kingdom of God we see and enter is laid upon a present reality that is nothing like the intent of God for the reign of God in the human heart.
This metaphor allows us to understand that 'spiritual life' is like being born from above (born again). Spiritual life is forced into the world with disruption of our comfort and a change of vision and growing experience in the Spirit that our entire understanding of reality is challenged to re-navigate the world as we have known it. Spiritual life is traumatic, it requires new breath (Spirit) and new vision.
Through the new birth metaphor we realize the temporality of the present the complete darkness in which we have been living and a new reality is set before us that requires our growth. Our imagination is invited to realign the present reality with the wonders of God's Kingdom of peace where life flourishes without death as the final word on our existence.
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For all you Wesleyans (like me lol)
Regeneration is a process.
1st Corinthians 1:18
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
