(John 3: 1-17, Genesis 12: 1-4a)
Folklore tells us that a leopard can’t change its spots, that a scorpion will always sting, or that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
On the other hand, faith relies on the fact that anyone can change their ways and become a new person. After all, it is through Jesus that we are born again. I have to confess that I have an aversion for the whole idea of being born again. Not to take anything away from people who have newly and enthusiastically come to a life of faith, but from what I’ve experienced the whole notion smacks too much of an individual salvation that is self-centred and self-righteous. The phrase can also be translated as being “born from above” which points to a source and origin beyond ourselves. Maybe it’s a minor point of difference, but for me it’s an important one.
It was a dark night when Nicodemus slipped out into the streets. Looking all about, over his shoulder and around corners, he took care not to be seen or noticed. He was putting his career and credibility on the line by arranging to meet with a troublesome, backwoods preacher who was making enemies of some very powerful people.
He is deeply troubled, facing questions that he cannot answer, riddles that he cannot solve. Nicodemus arrives at his secret meeting and cuts to the chase. He wants to know more about Jesus, who he is, how he does what he does, if he might possibly be the Messiah.
Jesus interrupts with a cryptic reference to being born from above and proceeds to walk Nicodemus through the notion of baptism (being born of water and spirit), trusting in the unknown and unseen, and hints at the coming events of crucifixion and resurrection. This is a pivotal point in Jesus’ ministry; not only do we have someone of the established power structure and social system seeking, and believing, in Jesus, Christ himself declares that the promise of eternal life is met through him.
Here is where we find the classic verse John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. It is a message of hope and promise, especially at a period in history where it was dangerous to be Christian. While it removes fear of death, it has also promoted the same selfish, self-interested idea of salvation that pushes me away from the overly fundamentalist, evangelical understandings of God, Jesus and the church. It is ironic that this scripture where Christ is trying to teach the religiously righteous Nicodemus not take things so literally, is itself interpreted literally!
What do we have to unlearn ourselves and come to Christ in innocence and trust? Is that what is meant by being born from above? ...To be born from above requires water and the spirit, symbolic death and resurrection. What would it mean for the church to be born from above? We have spent generations building up and protecting our traditions, heritage and legacy. In the face of some real struggles of finance and governance, we need new tricks. Or is there a chance that the institution has to symbolically die first? That is a terrifying proposition.
We know that following a new course through life is not easy. Consider that Abram was called to leave the country of his ancestry to venture to an unknown place. He was in a place where his roots ran deep and wide, in the land of his father where all the years of work and investment had made him a success.
We are meant to be people of a journey, spiritually moving forward to a new place. Whether we look to Christ hoisted up on a cross or to a healing serpent on a pole, we seek God’s assurance and promise of salvation. And I don’t mean a salvation of “it’s OK whatever else happens to the world, as long as I have my place in heaven” type of thinking.
Being saved, or born again, or born from above, is a recognition of the bigger picture, honouring the spiritual reality of our existence and seeing our connections to one another and to creation. In light of such teachings, the question still boils down to asking: can a person really change?
Nicodemus, Abram, you and I, the church itself, cannot help but be changed by experiencing God’s spirit, Christ’s teachings or the spirit of community. Are we born from above, or saved, or born again? I don’t think it matters what we call it, we just know that we are different because of it. We are not alone; thanks be to God.
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