The Catholic church is moving forward on their process of recognizing the late Pope John Paul II as a saint. Since a French nun’s recovery from Parkinson’s disease, after she had prayed to the pope, has been declared a “miracle,” John Paul will be “beatified” during a ceremony on May 1. Once he is “beatified,” Catholics will be able to publicly worship the deceased pope. After “beatification,” a second miracle will have to be “verified” to canonize him as a saint.
If you read through the New Testament, it becomes apparent that the Catholic traditions described above are completely foreign to the gospel. Nowhere do we find anything about a pope, let alone praying to or worshipping this man. We read nothing of “beatification” or “canonization.” One of the few familiar terms in the first paragraph is “saint.” Yet even this has been changed from the simple definition we find in the Scriptures.
According to Catholic doctrine and tradition, the late Pope John Paul II is one step closer to being canonized as a saint by the Church.
According to the New Testament, I am already a saint, along with everyone who faithfully follows the Lord.
The word translated “saint” in the New Testament is from the Greek word hagios, which means “holy one.” Who are the “holy ones”? A small class of Christians, or all Christians? Peter described Christians as “a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). Paul said those who are “in Him” are to “be holy” (Ephesians 1:4). The Hebrew writer addressed the Christians to which he wrote as “holy brethren” (Hebrews 3:1). Therefore, all Christians are to be holy ones or saints.
Other passages in the New Testament can also be used to show that all Christians are saints. Paul addressed the Roman epistle “to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints” (Romans 1:7). Those who are “beloved of God” includes all Christians. Therefore, the saints are simply Christians.
Before becoming a Christian himself, Paul (Saul) would “lock up many of the saints in prisons” (Acts 26:10). Who were these saints that were being imprisoned? Luke tells us, “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). The saints were those men and women in the church.
It should also be noted that while those who have died could be called saints (Matthew 27:52), the above passages clearly show that the living can also be saints (contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church). Other New Testament passages show this as well, including the following — Acts 9:13; Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Ephesians 1:1.
So as the Catholic Church moves Pope John Paul II closer to the exclusive title of “saint,” the New Testament teaches that all Christians — those in Christ and in His church — are saints.
How does one become a Christian and, therefore, become one of the saints? He must believe that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 16:16), confess that faith (Romans 10:9-10), repent of his sins (Acts 2:38), and then be baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). From that point forward, one must be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), serving Him faithfully the rest of his life (Revelation 2:10).
Well said….
Dear Brother in christ,
I wish if all the people who are spending their valuable time and possesions in doing research about the faults in catholic church,spent it usefully in what Christ commanded them to do,the world would have been a different place.I have not heard from any catholic that they worship saints.I have heard that “no evil will prevail against it-the church”
So let all the Christ’s followers pray that no evil should prevail against it.
R.Pereira,
In the spiritual battle we are currently engaged in, those on the side of Christ are to be “destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God… taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Error cannot be ignored as if it doesn’t matter. It must be dealt with. Sadly, many people have been deceived by the Catholic Church. This article is my humble attempt to get people to see the truth on this point.