Being Born Again

Catholics will sometimes be asked by Protestants if they have been "born again." How is a Catholic suppose to reply to this question?  What does it mean to be "born again"?  Let's take a look at what the Bible says about being "born again," and see how Catholics should answer this question.

The term "born again" comes from John chapter 3 where Jesus says to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (verse 3). Nicodemus seems to be confused about what Jesus is saying, so Jesus expounds upon it and says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (verse 5). Notice that in these two statements, Jesus equates being born of water and the Spirit with being born again.  They are the same thing.  So if we can understand what it means to be born of water and the Spirit, then we will understand what it means to be born again.

Catholics and a Relationship with God

I hear the accusation many times from Protestants that Catholics do not have a relationship with God.  Is this true?  Of course not.  You see, we have a REAL and CERTAIN relationship with God through our baptism.  In baptism we became children of God, and God became our Father.  In baptism we received the life of Christ within our hearts, and became members of God's own family. This relationship with God is real, and something of which we can be sure.

But do all Catholics have a close and growing relationship with God?  Unfortunately, they don't. Let me use my wife and I as an example. We were married August 22, 1992.  Because of our wedding, we have a real and certain relationship.  After all, we are husband and wife.  But wonder if we never spent time talking to each other, or sharing our lives with each other? We would still have a husband and wife relationship, but that relationship would not be close and growing.  Our relationship will only begin to grow when we take time for each other, and share with each other our lives, hopes, dreams, sorrows, fears, joys, successes, failures, etc.  It is through these things that our love for each other becomes deeper and more intimate.