I read with interest one of your readers' recent letters Muslim revert offensive to some on conversion - or reversion - to various religions. The writer (Mr Subang) unfortunately makes a small error in the meaning (to Christians) of the term 'born again'.

The term 'born again' is not applied to someone who left the Christian faith and then returned. Rather, anyone who is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ is 'born again'. The term comes from a dialogue between Jesus and an inquirer. Jesus said (John 3:3) "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again". He goes on to explain that this 'second birth' is a spiritual birth - one in which God creates a new spirit (or soul) inside the person. 2 Corinthian 5:17 puts it this way - "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!".

Mr Subang's letter was referenced by the much more recent letter by Abusabah, Islam the natural state of man. Abusabah states that Islam is our 'natural state' . He seems to imply that a child with no spiritual training will be naturally inclined towards submission to the Creator.

If this is what 'the natural state of man' means, it is interesting to note that the Christian teaching is quite the opposite. Rather than being naturally inclined towards submission to the Creator, the Bible tells us that mankind is naturally inclined towards rebellion, Romans 3:10-12 quotes the writings of David (Psalms 14 and 53), saying "There is no one righteous, not one. not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away".

Very grim.

However, this is the very reason why we need a spiritual re-birth - we have no natural inclination to submit to our creator. Such an inclination can only be spiritually given as a gift from the Giver of all life.