For quite a long time, I was of the opinion that asking if
people are “born-again Christians” is a wrong question, to me, you are either a
Christian or not. But, I thank God for the wise people He has placed in my
life, I was discussing with one of my sisters the other day, and I told her
about my view, she explained to me that there are all sorts of “Christians” now
hence, the need to ascertain what makes someone a born-again. To confirm this, I
read on BBC’s website (Read it here)
that 42 million Britons see themselves as nominally Christian, and there are 6
million who are actively practicing. Can you believe that? Is there supposed to
be such a thing as being a nominal Christian? And to think that we have more ‘’nominal”
than active ones is so disheartening.
I would also like to mention the fact that of these so called
“active” Christians, quite a number don’t seem to have a real understanding of
what it is to be a follower of Christ. I know I’m not a perfect Christian, but
believe me when I say the actions and speeches of some Christians do get me
wondering if they are true believers. You find that people in the church are
amongst several things, quick to judge (when the Bible clearly states that we are not to judge. Matthew
7:1); Don’t “do to others what they
would have them do to them, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12 NIV; Unforgiving (“But if you do not forgive, neither will
your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins” Mark 11: 26); Love only those who love them unlike the
commandment to (“Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous" Matthew
5:43-45); and most importantly, don’t "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” Matthew 6:33.
