2007-10-13 09:56:46 · 11 answers · asked by Lost. at. Sea. 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not as the concept has been distorted...
Scripture doesn't see "declaring" a person a saint after their death. The term in the Greek New Testament is a general term for ALL CHRISTIANS. It is NOT a special designation for a select few.
...We need no intercessor except Christ himself.
1Ti 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only ONE GOD and ONE MEDIATOR WHO CAN RECONCILE GOD AND HUMANITY—THE MAN CHRIST JESUS. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
...from The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology entry dealing with "saints" or "`άγιοις" (hagiois) in Greek:
In the Pauline epistles those who name Jesus as their Lord are called hoi hagioi, the saints. This was primarily not an ethical expression but a parallel to concepts like “called” (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1), “elect” (Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:12) and “faithful” (Col 1:2). It implies association with the Holy Spirit. Christ is their sanctification as well as their righteousness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30), and thus the One in whom they become holy to the true God. “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11; cf. 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:1f.). From the resurrection on, Jesus is the Christ in the power which operates according to the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4). Holiness is a condition of acceptance at the parousia and of entering upon the inheritance of God’s people (Col. 1:12; Acts 20:32; 26:18). In all these cases holiness implies a relationship with God which is expressed not primarily through the cultus but through the fact that believers are “led” by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). As in the OT, holiness is a pre-ethical term. At the same time, as in the OT, it demands behaviour which rightly responds to the Holy Spirit.
2007-10-13 10:03:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Not the concept, but the Saints. I believe they're all around us and some of us are also saints. We're surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, some have gone on ahead of us to the goal, some are behind us in the race, some cheer us on from the stands, and many are running alongside us.
I can and do ask their prayers on my behalf and for others, and look to them as models and encouragement as well as helpers.
Buddhists call them boddhisatvas.
If you look in Revelation, you'll find some are presenting our prayers in Heaven as bowls of incense.
2007-10-13 20:42:58 · answer #2 · answered by Fr. Al 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This will likely not be a popular answer. Yikes :-). I respect everyone else's beliefs and don't wish to offend anyone, but this is my opinion on the matter:
Do you refer to a person who has died and gone to heaven, but has done something on earth labelled as "great" or at least worthy of public veneration? Also, isn't a saint supposedly capable of interceding for people on earth?
If this IS what you refer to, then no, I don't beleive in the concept of Saints. IF saints could intercede for people on earth, why don't they obliterate some of the suffering that is going on in the world. In my mind, one miracle, whether "real" or attributable to synchronicity does not make up for the loads of suffering that is left untouched by "saints"; those presumably capable of intercession.
Paris Hilton and other stars have been classified as "icons" and "notorieties" by the majority, and have somehow been entitled to public veneration. But if this concept is slightly scrutinized, it sounds pretty ridiculous, at least, to me.
I think saints in this life are really those who are kind, empathetic, endeavour to make a positive difference in all lives, are non-discriminatory, understanding, lack greed, ego, and self-righteousness. Whether these are religiously clad people and whether they are "entitled" to sainthood by the majority isn't important, in my mind. I think real life saints are humble, simple people full of heart that fly under the radar in terms of recognition, but are special all the same.
2007-10-14 20:00:06 · answer #3 · answered by Kynysca 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes I do very much so. Can I mention how the celts looked upon extrordinary people? Oh ok. Hee heee I like to harp on some times. I believe the saints are people who have themselves been on a special journey and have indeed inspired many to do the same. Wether or not they we can ask them for special favours I`m not sure but, I do know that when life is becoming a struggle for what ever reason I can call on their story to show me the strenghth to carry on.
2007-10-14 07:07:21 · answer #4 · answered by finn mchuil 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Saints are all who are born again of God. They are not the "Catholic Church" concept of saints, and are not to be prayed to.
Romans 1:7 To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2007-10-13 17:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by dooltaz 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I just think Saints as people who did great things, but the church exagerated the story and made them saints. Atleast it ment like two birthdays for a person.
2007-10-13 17:02:48 · answer #6 · answered by Buffy 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
St. Patrick essentially went to Ireland to commit a holocaust on the Pagan people of Ireland. Where is the saint in that I ask? We glorify these people becuase they are supposed to represent the holy embodiment of god, but most of them were not good people.
2007-10-13 17:05:14 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to Scripture all true Christians are saints
2007-10-13 17:02:36 · answer #8 · answered by cheir 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes, people pray to saints in order to allow them to act as intercessors to God. They are holy people who are close to God and therefore can understand Him as well as understand us better. They can bring our petitions to God in a different way since they know more as they are already in Heaven.
2007-10-13 17:04:34 · answer #9 · answered by designmm 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes, revelation book talks about 144.000 ones.
2007-10-13 17:03:37 · answer #10 · answered by sxanthop 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋