Are We Not Saints Too?

I feel sad for Catholics. Their church elders teach that only special people who performed a miracle and lived an exemplary life could become saints. According to Holy Scripture, all who serve the Lord are saints.

Moses called the descendents of Israel saints even though their conduct was far from what we would consider saintly. Deuteronomy 33:2 KJV) was Moses' last word to his people. "And he said, 'The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.'"

Even the Psalms call the faithful followers of God saints. Psalms 30:4 (BBE) reads, "Make songs to the Lord, O you saints of his, and give praise to his holy name."

Prophets also called believers saints. Daniel 7:18 (BBE) says, "But the saints of the Most High will take the kingdom, and it will be theirs for ever, even for ever and ever."

One of the greatest examples of how Christ changes vile sinners into saints was Paul, formerly Saul. Acts 9:13 and 14 (BBE) reports the astonishment of one believer when he was told to go to Saul, the very one who persecuted the church. "But Ananias said, 'Lord, I have had accounts of this man from a number of people, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And here he has authority from the chief priests to make prisoners all who give worship to your name.'"

This Paul also knew that all Christ's chosen believers were saints. Romans 1:7 (BBE) says, "To all those who are in Rome, loved by God, marked out as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

And if that isn't enough, the members of the church universal are called saints. No distinction is made in the Bible between miracle-working apostles of the first century and us today. Revelation 19:7 and 8 (BBE) reads, "Let us be glad with delight, and let us give glory to him: because the time is come for the Lamb to be married, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her it was given to be clothed in delicate linen, clean and shining: for the clean linen is the righteousness of the saints."

If our Master doesn't come back by Thursday, I hope to post about a proverb and its relevance in our lives..

Are We Not Saints?

One disagreement I have with the Catholic denomination is that they think only those folks chosen by their church council are saints. That's not what the Bible teaches. Christ is the one who chooses and all those who believe in him are in that category.

A quick look at the New Testament books proves that all believers are saints. Acts 9:13 (BBE) shows how the early Christians considered themselves to be saints. "But Ananias said, 'Lord, I have had accounts of this man from a number of people, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:"

Some folks might argue that those church leaders in Jerusalem were all those who had been with Jesus. Therefore they're the only ones who the Lord sanctified. Look at what Paul wrote in Romans 1:7 (BBE) about those gentile Christians in that city. "To all those who are in Rome, loved by God, marked out as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 16:1 and 2 also demonstrates that Paul regarded all followers of Christ as saints. "It is my desire to say a good word for Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae: That you will take her in kindly, after the way of the saints, as one who is the Lord's, and give her help in anything in which she may have need of you: because she has been a help to a great number and to myself."

But sainthood isn't some new Christian rank. Even in the Old Testament, God's people were called saints. Deuteronomy 33:2 (KJV) explicitly states, "And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he  shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery  law for them."

And Psalms 116:15 (KJV) shows that the saints were living people, not those who had died. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Psalms 89:5 (KJV) also shows that the people were the ones called saints. "And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the  congregation of the saints."(

I could quote so many more scriptures where God's people are called saints. I'll save that for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many followers of Christ feel inferior to the saints of old but they needn't feel so. Those ancients were just as fallible as we are or maybe more so.

On Saturday, I'll post about a satirical comedy group and their take off of the Woodstock festival in 1969.