Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

• John 3:7

“Over on the river, ferry boats were disgorging passengers in great numbers as a multitude of thousands assembled in a field outside town. Cole later wrote:
“When I saw Mr. Whitefield come upon the [platform], he looked almost angelical-a young, slim, slender youth before some thousands of people and with a bold, undaunted countenance, and my hearing how God was with him everywhere as he came along, it solemnized my mind and put me into a trembling fear before he began to preach; for he looked as if he was clothed with authority from the great God.”
“The sermon resulted in Nathan Cole’s conversion, and in the con-versions of many others. George Whitefield’s repeated visits to America, between 1738 and 1770, led thousands to be born again. The Great Awakening united the Colonies in a way that transcended regional differences, infused the land with spiritual liberty, populated their pulpits with clergymen proclaiming freedom, and laid a moral foundation for the American Revolution.”

• Robert J. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses That Made America

In my recent trip to visit the grandchildren, the oldest of them went with me to Nashville, to sell used books and games.  One of the books that I purchased in return was 100 Bible Verses That Made America by Robert J. Morgan.  As we approach the 250^th anniversary of the birth of the USA, I thought I would do a condensed mini-series on some of these verses, four posts per week for a few weeks – maybe not all 100 verses.

A little over a year ago, I introduced Willie’s husband in the Babs and Harold Conversations.  Willie is Harold’s daughter, short for Wilhelmina, and I had said that she married a pastor.  But it was not until Babs and the Party with a Purpose that Gil Whitefield got his name.  In the Credits, I stated: “Gil Whitefield is a combination of George Whitefield, an Anglican minister, and Gilbert Tennent, a Presbyterian minister, who were with Jonathan Edwards, a Congregationalist minister and evangelist.  Jonathan Edwards was the spark that the Holy Spirit used to start the first Great Awakening in the USA.  Rev. Edwards may have lit the flame, but the flame was fanned by the other pastors of like minds.”

We will get to a sermon by Jonathan Edwards next week, but first George Whitefield.  It is odd that an Anglican priest would be listed as causing a spark that helped lead to the American Revolution, and one that travelled back and forth across the Atlantic compared to a missionary who stayed in the colonies, but his message was the verse above.

The article started by saying that Rev. Whitefield’s sermons always revolved around how we must be born-again.  A woman once complained about why that was the theme of his sermons.  She asked why his sermons always said you must be born-again.  His reply was simple.  “Madam, because you must.”

You can’t argue with that logic.  Even Jesus said it.

These days, I rarely hear anyone say that you must be born-again.  Some seminaries teach that it is a divisive term, carrying a negative meaning today – as language is constantly being changed to keep the upright and righteous confused.  Yes, I think humans change the dictionary constantly because Satan has trained them well.

Yes, when we invent the “computer” for an example, we need a word for that, but the Bible warns that in the End Times, we will be calling things that are bad good and things that are good bad.  We already do that, but with words constantly changing their meaning, we are getting there much faster.

But one time, I asked a pastor why he avoids using the term “born-again”?  He says that some Christians use the term to describe an exclusive club.

I smiled, “Well, only those who surrender their will to God, so that God’s will is our desire can be born again.  That is a fairly exclusive club.  Anyone can do that, rich, poor, intelligent, simple, the worst of sinners, the guy that never says a dirty word.  We surrender to Jesus, and Jesus comes into our hearts.  That is very exclusive, and the club meets on the other side, in Heaven.”

The pastor burst out laughing, “When you say it that way, you are right.”

When we become afraid to say what Jesus said, are we really carrying our cross and following Him?

What if someone asks us, “Why do you not talk about being born again?  Jesus says it is a prerequisite!”

What should we say to that?  “We don’t want to offend someone with a chance at eternal life in the best place ever with an Almighty God who loves us in a dramatic fashion.”

I have read a lot lately about how we need to show our love by talking more about Jesus and how He came to save sinners.  We have the key to the kingdom.  We should share that knowledge with others. It’s the best way to love them.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.