That's the beauty of it, Random.  It's a free gift, and we are free to accept it or turn it down.  Nobody should feel compelled to accept it.  If it were a forced decision, we would all be a bunch of robots.   Furthermore, I understand how some people can look around at people who claim to be "born again," and decide, "If that's what being born again means, you can count me out."  I didn't look at any man or woman to make the decision, if I had, I too would have passed up on this free gift of salvation.   Humans will disappoint you every time.  The more a human tries to live a holy, godly life, the more the more that person fails, because that person is trying to accomplish something that is impossible to accomplish through human determination alone. 

Which is why I'm not "born again."  No need.

To be "born again," simply means to be redeemed, to be born of the spirit, and forgiven of one's sin by accepting the free gift of atonenement for sins and eternal life.  Being born again doesn't mean a person suddenly becomes immune to divorce, or to any other personal and/or moral failures.  I don't equate being "born-again," with a "look at me," type of orientation.  This is grounded in pride, hypocrisy, and narcissism, and this "look at me," sort of focus is equally distributed across the population of believers and non-believers.

To comment on your point, Hardliner, Jesus seemed to focus more upon hypocrisy and pride, and was very gracious towards the woman at the well, for example, who was caught in the act of adultery.  It was not that he condoned such behavior, but that he emphasised pride, and not sexual sin, per se, as the root of all evil. 

Those who wear Jesus on their sleeves are often "born-agains," which I always thought was a strange moniker, since all Christians must be "born again of water and of the spirit." Christian journalist Gretchen Passantino wrote that, "All Christians are born again, there is no other kind." With all of their "look at me, look at me, look at me" tendencies, born-agains have the highest rate of divorce at 34%. Catholics and Lutherans have the lowest rate at 21%.

These "look at me" born-agains should read Matthew 6, verses 5 through 8.

Doc wrote, "I believe that although Jesus hates pride and hypocrisy, he also wants to forgive hypocrites, and that his grace is sufficient for these folks as well.   "

I'd go along with that.  While some Christians look upon non-conformist sexual conduct as the most egregious and hair-teaing sins in existence, there are other people -- maybe like me -- who look upon hypocrisy as the most loathsome category of sin.  To keep Christianity in perspective, yeah, hypocrites are just as entitled to forgiveness as well.

And that "forbidden fruit phenomenon."  Indeed, that one has such precipitous effects and consequences.

 

Hardliner, your point may also apply as an explanatory hypothesis, possibly accounting for the high rate of divorce among "Christians."  Yes, having a "real" relationship with Jesus is something much different than claiming the title for the sake of appearances. 

I believe that although Jesus hates pride and hypocrisy, he also wants to forgive hypocrites, and that his grace is sufficient for these folks as well.   I also believe that only God knows the heart, and only God knows the "real" Christians from the false ones, (although the slogan "If it walks like a duck..." may apply in certain cases).  I further believe that all human beings have engaged in hypocritical behavior, though there are certainly those who seem to have adopted hypocrisy as their standard mode of operation. 

As far as the tendency for some to have an attitude of shame as it pertains to sexual matters, and to sexuality as a whole, you are absolutely right.  The tendency to regard sex as a shameful act can contribute to all sorts of sexual perversions, and can cause sexual affairs to sparkle with something I refer to as the "forbidden fruit phenomenon." 

Waaaaalll, Doc, before I can opine, we need to draw some distinctions.

Are we talking about a person who really and truly has a committed relationship with Jesus Christ?  Or are we talking about people who wear Jesus on their sleeves and say all the right cliches so that people think they are highly devoted religious folk?

Let me put it this way.  If I wanted to fool around -- and score big -- I'd start attending some of the big, loud-mouthed megachurches here in town.  You know, the ones that preach fear and shame of our sexuality while low-cut jeans, plunging necklines, push-up bras and Britney Airhead hairstyles fill the pews?

I'd even bring my wife.  In churches like that, everyone is "available" -- and I don't care whether she's wearing a ring, how big it is, how well dressed and clean cut her husband is, or how many kids the couple has.  Almost everyone that I know in the Jesus-on-my-sleeve-and-in-your-face category has cheated.

But if you really carry your faith in your heart, I'd imagine that cheating occurs rarely.  Those wedding vows would actually mean something to you.  Read the Book of James.  Need I say more?

 

I don't know about the cheating aspect, but there is a higher divorce rate among Christian marriages in the U.S. than in non-Christian marriages. I was surprised to find that out, and there are studies and statistics to prove it.