In yesterday’s sermon he noted their title (among several others) - “Born Again Christians Just As Likely to Divorce As Are Non-Christians.” – and says:
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A Profound Mistake
Now I want to say loud and clear that when the Barna Group uses term “born again” to describe American church-goers whose lives are indistinguishable from the world, and who sin as much as the world, and sacrifice for others as little as the world, and embrace injustice as readily as the world, and covet things as greedily as the world, and enjoy God-ignoring entertainment as enthusiastically as the world—when the term “born again” is used to describe these professing Christians, the Barna Group is making a profound mistake. It is using the biblical term “born again” in a way that would make it unrecognizable by Jesus and the biblical writers.
Here is the way the researchers defined “born again” in their research:
“Born again Christians” were defined in these surveys as people who said they have made “a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today” and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as “born again.” Being classified as “born again” is not dependent upon church or denominational affiliation or involvement.
In other words, in this research the term “born again” refers to people who say things. They say, “I have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It’s important to me.” They say, “I believe that I will go to heaven when I die. I have confessed my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.” Then the Barna Group takes them at their word, ascribes to them the infinitely important reality of the new birth, and then blasphemes that precious biblical reality by saying that regenerate hearts have no more victory over sin than unregenerate hearts.
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You can read the whole sermon here.
8 comments
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November 19, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Marie
Interesting take. I have often doubted these statistics. I have known so many Christian couples, and only three divorced (in all three cases there was an innocent spouse). In my home church there have been probably a hundred married couples over the past twenty years. Yet only three divorces. That is hardly a divorce rate similar to that of the unbelievers I know, who seem to be around 50% or even more.
November 20, 2007 at 10:53 am
jamsco
That’s been my experience as well. Also with my friends from Bethel, an evangelical school – very few divorces (two) out of the dozens of marriages that I know about.
January 28, 2008 at 9:53 pm
ICE Incompetence
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July 19, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Aaron
So, let me get this straight. If we sin, we are not born again?
Hmmmmmmmm!?!
God forgive us for our judgmental and self righteous hearts (myself most of all), we know not what we do!!!
In my estimation we need to stop acting as if we have no sin and own up to it, ALL OF IT, and show we are relying fully on God’s grace. I believe a testimony is not, I accepted Jesus therefor, I am all better now. God is not glorified in that, we are! Look at how good I am now, is what we sound like we are saying. Yes, there needs to be change but, Jesus does the changing and sometimes that comes slowly and some times it comes right away.
Also, we need to be careful of the way we sound. We may not have all the answers. Just because we believe with all our hearts we have an understanding of God’s word, does not mean we do. I believe someday we all will stand before God and shake our heads and say, Man I was sure I was right about that. Thank You Jesus for Your patience and mercy, we need it so much, help us to share it with each other!!!
July 19, 2009 at 10:21 pm
jamsco
Aaron,
I think Pastor Piper is saying that generally speaking, Born Again people sin less than others. And if you read the sermon, you’ll see that he has quite a bit of scripture to back him.
July 19, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Aaron
I have a lot of respect for Pastor Piper and would never want to debate scripture with him. I did not listen to his message but, have listened to many of his other messages and read several of his books.
I was talking more about what I have seen on this blog and what I hear when I sit in church and see the people in the back row with no hope because we are all are wearing this facade of looking better then we really are. So the lost feel they could never be that good and either leave or put on a mask of religiosity, just to be accepted!
Please no I mean no disrespect, I just have sat silent for too long, because I felt who am I to say anything to these Godly people. I don’t care what people think about me any more, I have to say something.
Thanks for listening!
Aaron
July 20, 2009 at 9:04 am
jamsco
“I was talking more about what I have seen on this blog ”
If you have been troubled by what you’ve seen on this blog, I’d sure like to hear more about it.
July 20, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Aaron
I appreciate that but, lol, I am the worlds slowest typist and have no desire to debate or tear anyone down. Maybe I read it wrong, maybe you folks weren’t saying that real born again Christians don’t get divorces as much as non Christians. Maybe you were not saying that those who profess to be Christians aren’t really Christians because real Christians don’t get divorces or they would have victory over sin. Maybe it wasn’t judgment I heard but, my own defensiveness because I should live better as a born again Christian. Maybe it was me all along and not all the religious judgment I feel in the church today.
Or maybe it was both, religious judgment and defensiveness. Either way, I pray we all take a look inside and work on our own beams. Thanks for your time and patience. I pray some how Jesus was glorified!
Jesus help us to really love You and others more!!!