Post by Sheila on Mar 28, 2024 15:32:08 GMT -5
Some Christians may not like my answer to this question. All believers are saints. No, none of us are perfect; however, many places in the Bible tell us we are saints.
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and perhaps some other denominations don't see it this way. According to their teachings, a saint may be anyone who is Heaven. There are also some living people who may referred to as saints if they're "recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God". The actual title of Saint being bestowed on a person must be "officially and authoritatively declared a saint by the church". [1] If you're like me, you're probably asking who gave the "church" such an authority? Does this rule appear in the Bible? Perhaps someone reading this can help those of us asking this question by giving us the chapters and verses where this authority is granted.
Throughout the Old Testament, saints are mentioned in many places. Some people would have us believe sainthood only applies to the super-faithful such as Moses and Abraham. However, many more people seem to be called saints in verses such as Psalm 31:23 where it says "O love the LORD, all ye his saints; for the LORD perserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer". There isn't anything in the surrounding texts that designates the use of the word to a select group of believers. God preserves all the faithful from that time, not just the patriarchs and prophets.
The argument can be made - although not successfully - that the term "saints" being applied to all of the Old Testament faithful, not just a select few, doesn't carry over into New Testament times and on into the future. That testament of the Bible does distinctly give examples that "saint" applies to all Christians, regardless of their level of holiness or closeness to God. Here are just a few examples:
- "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man [Saul] how much evil he hath done to the saints in Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). Saul persecuted every Christian he could get a hold of, not just the super-holy or those designated as saints by the church.
- "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). The Holy Spirit intercedes for every Christian, not a select few designated by a church. And, because every Christian can pray directly to God through Jesus, there's no need to pray to a "saint", then have the Holy Spirit intercede with the "saint's" prayer.
- Paul address his letter to "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are in Colosse" (Colosians 1:2). This can, perhaps, be used as a proof text to endorse the separation of some Christians from the super-holy who have been designated as saints by the church. But read the previous two verses and the information provided again. If all Christians are called saints, then "saints and faithful brethren" can refer to the same person or people. It would be no different than when Jesus is addressed as the "Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ". "Lord" and "Savior" are both titles and descriptions of the same person; thus, any Christian can be introduced as both a "saint" and a "faithful brother".
All authentic Christians, not those who profess to be something they aren't, are saints in God's eyes whether they are still alive or already in Heaven. It doesn't matter if the Christian is brand new to the faith or has been a Christian for decades, they're all saints. To be given the title of "Saint" because the person walks closer to God or has done great deeds for him is God's choice, not that of a church. There's no problem using the life of a Christian as an example to be followed. The problem arises when a person is raised up as being so much better than any other Christian. They aren't any greater than anyone else. In fact, Jesus said "for it is the one who is least among you who is the greatest" (Luke 9:48) [2].
1. "Saints"; Wikipedia entry.
2. The New International Version of the Bible.
* All other quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and perhaps some other denominations don't see it this way. According to their teachings, a saint may be anyone who is Heaven. There are also some living people who may referred to as saints if they're "recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God". The actual title of Saint being bestowed on a person must be "officially and authoritatively declared a saint by the church". [1] If you're like me, you're probably asking who gave the "church" such an authority? Does this rule appear in the Bible? Perhaps someone reading this can help those of us asking this question by giving us the chapters and verses where this authority is granted.
Throughout the Old Testament, saints are mentioned in many places. Some people would have us believe sainthood only applies to the super-faithful such as Moses and Abraham. However, many more people seem to be called saints in verses such as Psalm 31:23 where it says "O love the LORD, all ye his saints; for the LORD perserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer". There isn't anything in the surrounding texts that designates the use of the word to a select group of believers. God preserves all the faithful from that time, not just the patriarchs and prophets.
The argument can be made - although not successfully - that the term "saints" being applied to all of the Old Testament faithful, not just a select few, doesn't carry over into New Testament times and on into the future. That testament of the Bible does distinctly give examples that "saint" applies to all Christians, regardless of their level of holiness or closeness to God. Here are just a few examples:
- "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man [Saul] how much evil he hath done to the saints in Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). Saul persecuted every Christian he could get a hold of, not just the super-holy or those designated as saints by the church.
- "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). The Holy Spirit intercedes for every Christian, not a select few designated by a church. And, because every Christian can pray directly to God through Jesus, there's no need to pray to a "saint", then have the Holy Spirit intercede with the "saint's" prayer.
- Paul address his letter to "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are in Colosse" (Colosians 1:2). This can, perhaps, be used as a proof text to endorse the separation of some Christians from the super-holy who have been designated as saints by the church. But read the previous two verses and the information provided again. If all Christians are called saints, then "saints and faithful brethren" can refer to the same person or people. It would be no different than when Jesus is addressed as the "Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ". "Lord" and "Savior" are both titles and descriptions of the same person; thus, any Christian can be introduced as both a "saint" and a "faithful brother".
All authentic Christians, not those who profess to be something they aren't, are saints in God's eyes whether they are still alive or already in Heaven. It doesn't matter if the Christian is brand new to the faith or has been a Christian for decades, they're all saints. To be given the title of "Saint" because the person walks closer to God or has done great deeds for him is God's choice, not that of a church. There's no problem using the life of a Christian as an example to be followed. The problem arises when a person is raised up as being so much better than any other Christian. They aren't any greater than anyone else. In fact, Jesus said "for it is the one who is least among you who is the greatest" (Luke 9:48) [2].
1. "Saints"; Wikipedia entry.
2. The New International Version of the Bible.
* All other quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Copyright © 2024 by Sheila Rae Myers