Dear friends:
It’s hard to hear this week’s story from John’s gospel without being encumbered by its negative trappings. The street corner evangelist or fundamentalist neighbor asks if we’ve been born again as if they’re deeply concerned about our salvation yet utterly certain of theirs. William Sloane Coffin told the story of the privileged and proper Boston matron who, when she heard the words “you must be born again,” reportedly sniffed, “When you are born in Boston, it’s quite enough. You don’t need to be born again.” Come to think of it, “are you born again?” might be the most terrifying question you can ask a Presbyterian.
Besides, we all know it’s a rallying cry, a code word, for a brand of evangelicalism with which we do not always agree. There’s often little nuance or appreciation of human complexity and next to no openness to newness, led by the Spirit, which Jesus says blows where it wills, but absolute, unchanging certainty. It is theological exclusivity that excludes from the kingdom a lot—in fact, most—of the human race.
But I wonder if Jesus meant something entirely different when he told Nicodemus that he must be ‘born from above.’ Nowhere does he say you must be sure of yourself, certain, tough, with ready answers for every question. He simply said: “You must be born anew.”
We’ll explore what that might mean this week as we continue our sermon series “Gospel Lessons from Ted Lasso.” In addition to reading our scripture passage in preparation. I think you’ll enjoy both.
Come, and bring a friend.
Warmly,
