So that makes me 'born again' when you say that, honestly. I accepted Christ as this when confirmed and do truly believe that. It was an emotional and intellectual change in my life. So I am the exact same as George Bush in this respect(?) There has to be more to this than that...are you hiding something here? A criteria? Doesn't someone have to be 'witness' to this to make it 'official'? Please, I am not being a jerk...I am REALLY trying to find out and have NEVER been able to get a straight answer of 'how you get into the club.' I know in my heart I am there...but...other seem to think I am not. (...and no, it is not a club and I do take it seriously because the teachings of Christ are serious, very loving, and compassionate)

Ok I understand your concern.
Being saved(born again) is a gift. You don't have to work to recieve it. All you have to do is ask Jesus for it and asked for your sins to be forgiven. There is no catch or small print.
Now once you are born again you become a part of the body of Christ.
Jesus said that we need to come together as brothers and sisters to grow and mature. God has placed you here for a purpose.
I'll say it again you do not have to work for your salvation. On that note though there is work to be done. You are saved but you are not supposed to keep it to yourself. It should be shared that way others have a chance to get to know Jesus.
There is no "CLUB". Anybody can become a Christian. People that think that you aren't good enough, didn't work hard enough, or that you don't deserve it just do not get it.
Christianity and the church or not country clubs where only a select few get to join. It is more like a hospitible where sick(sinners) come to get healed(saved). We are called to be the light and salt to the world. People will know you are a Christian by your actions not your words.
I don't want to confuse you so if you have any questions just ask either here or you can private message me.
Also to help you understand better I would suggest you read "A Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren. It give great insight on being a Christian. It is not a straight read through it is designed to be read over a 40 day period along with the Bible. You probably check it out at your local library or most bookstores carry it, not just Christian on either.

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Also I want to let you know it doesn't matter what others think. It is between you and Jesus. You know whether you are saved or not.
Remember Jesus is not only Lord but friend as well and he can answer your questions better than anyone. So talk to him and develop a relationship with Him.

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See, you have this clear in your mind, I very much agree with you too. I have never seen this any other way and quite frankly have no need to see it any other way; I do not question what is in my heart and mind about Christ. But I do get very sad about people and how they use these 'you are or are not' types of rules in such a manipulative way. Why has it changed 'out there' from years past(?), as Christians I don't think it has been as bad as it is now. As Christians do we now value less the works of a person such as Mother Teresa (who was a REAL Saint BTW, without question). Why did modern religious leaders question that SHE is a real Saint, for instance?

I am sure you can quote the exact scripture but will not the true Saint being sitting in the most unlikely places among the poor, weak, and sick...not amoung Kings but the common person?

You are correct and I also wonder what has happened to Christians these days. Many are misguided and being led astray. A lot have forgotten the great commission and the two greatest commandments.
I agree with Mother Theresa being a saint. She truly was a Godly woman.
It pains me to see the Christians of today. In Pauls day(the apostle) Christians brought people by the hundreds to Christ and thousands were saved. They weren't perfect by no means and there was lots of trouble then as well but they at least spread the word.

Matthew 22:36-40
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments

Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Yes they will. They are servants of Jesus and you can find examples all in the Bible: Paul, Peter, John, Timothy, and Barnabas. Even Jesus associated with the common people as well as tax collectors. Jesus was not born in a palace but a common stable. He was born there to show that He came to help everyone and not just kings and the wealthy.

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Paul was a great christian, I would not use his name to discount the struggles of today's missionaries. Your faith is very apparent, however, you'll gain little fellowship talking-down to great sacrifices done by those within your faith. Your intentions are sound, your tactics are lacking.

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He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
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Eternal, I was not talking about all Christians and i know that there are a great many that do go out into the world and spread the Gospel through love, actions and words.
I was talking about the great majority of Americas "Christians" the ones who call themselves Christians but don't act like it.
Church attendence is steadly dropping in the US and people are spending less time with their families; these same "Christians are going to mens' clubs and to gambling facilities. "Christians" have a higher divorce rate than non-Christians. There is a higher suicide rate and a higher infidility rate.
The rate of people joining the mission field is decreasing as well.
The "Christians" I am talking about are the one that think church is a club and a social gathering as well as a status symbol.
80% of Americans claim to be Christian. If that were true couldn't we be able to see it?

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you do not have to go to church to be a devout Christian. in fact most of the things that are done in church today were originaly done in the privacy of your own home. Church is a social gathering, and it should be considered that, because if you are a devout Chrsitian then you should be praising God at all times not just on the Sabbath.

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quidquid Latine dictum sit altum viditur.

Very good vincent, the Gnostic Gospels give the same message, they, however, were deleted from the Bible.

The personal philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth is just that.
A personal belief.
Jesus said to pray alone. And to say the Lord's Prayer.

and I think he was pretty umcompromising and "conflict-oriented"
concerning the temple corruption.