I’m often asked: “Do you believe in the saints (as in the saints of the Bible, not of my favorite NFL team)?
The answer is: “yes, I very much believe in the saints.”
In the Bible, saints are people who have been “set apart” for God’s service. Saint is the most often used word in the New Testament to describe people who are part of the community of believers who worship and serve Christ.
Here is the difference. In the Bible, “saint” describes the normal follower of Christ. It does not describe a super-Christian or a person who serves in unusual ways. It does describe the person who has been set apart for God’s service. All of us have been set apart for God. We are called to follow and serve Him.
The very fact that some Christians are designated as saints leads us to think we do not have the responsibility to serve and follow Christ. In our way of thinking, that becomes “St. Patrick’s” job not my job.
Should we pray to saints? Once we see saints as the normal name for believers, we can see this logically does not fit. Theologically, we should only pray to Christ, “the one and only mediator between God and man” (1 Timothy 2:5).
How does St. Patrick fit in all this? He certainly should be honored. He lived in the fourth century after Christ and took the Gospel to Ireland. He didn’t drive out the snakes, that’s a myth. He did share Christ with a whole people. Like St. Billy Graham and many others, we should honor those to whom honor is due, but we should worship God alone.
Let us use our day to honor God with all our life, as people who have been set apart for God’s service.
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4 Responses
“May the Strength of God pilot us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Salvation, O Lord, be always ours, this day and forevermore. AMEN.” prayed St. Patrick
Driving out the evil snakes in the heads of man enough to allow men to see the presence of God in each and realize the need to act as one for the benefit of all, is the greatest Miracle of any age.
Thanks!
Blessings.
Great explanation. Love the geoligical facts.
I have been concentrating on the things Baptist and Catholics have in common, and less on the differences. One of the areas most misunderstood is the catholic’s view on saints and Mary and Joseph. I was raised Catholic and was taught to honor Mary and Joseph, and the saints has well. There are catholic prayers to Mary, Joseph’s and the saints, but not worship. For example prayers to Mary are for intercession or we ask her to ask Jesus on our behalf, since she is closest to Jesus in the Cathoilics view. While their are some basic and significant differences Between Baptist and Catholic, i always thought There was a misconception of honoring saints and the first family with their own prayers, but we worship only God, as Baptist do.
First Baptist Church of Covington is inspiring, as we travel closer to an understanding of Jesus and what is truly means to have Jesus in every corner of your life. My wife Deborah and I truly thank you and FBC of C for helping us understand the importance of everyday Christian life, and the knowledge of scripture.
David Naquin
Than you so much.