Do all Christians recognize saints?
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
October 18, 2010 9:08am CST
In the early Christian church all believers were called saints, in fact the term Christian was first used as a derogatory word. Eventually however it became acceptable and only a very few people, such as Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostles and martyrs were thought of as saints. In the tenth century however, the Roman Catholic church began the process of the canonization of saints. This was probably because there were so many different people from all over the world that many Christians, were beginning to revere as saints, sometimes with only local stories passed around by word of mouth as proof of their Christ like ways. Today the Pope has the final say on who is to be considered a saint. I know that some other churches observe certain saints days, but don't most Christians refer the apostles as saints? If this is true, why are they saints and not others?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Oct 10
In our church, all the believers are saints. So not only the Apostles are saints, but I am also one even though I have not done any great work or caused any miracles to happen. So the Roman Catholic way of making only important Christians who performed miracles to be Saints is wrong. And the Pope is wrong since we have to go to God through Christ and not through man.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Oct 10
Our church is Canadian Reformed and we base our lituregy, etc. on what Paul wrote in his epistles. Of course, we do not know how the ancient Roman and Greek Christians wrote their bymns, but I am determined to find out.
@biznesminded (41)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
Why are they saints and not others? - this is because there are really no such thing as saints. Saints were just invented by the catholics authorities. Even Christ don't know about saints, even the apostles didn't know about saints. So how could they be credited in heaven if they don't even exist in the bible?? You know what other priests wrote about them? they are just made for business affairs of the catholic administration. Who the first saint the catholic recognize? apostle peter? geez.. even in history books, they can't even give the exact date or even the year of when apostle peter became a saint. Why is this? again it is just invented by satans followers.
@lipstick2009 (1236)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
I have been a non-sectarian protestant for over 20 years now. Non-sectarian because i dont really belong to any congregation and i go to a protestant meeting and i even enter the church. I don't believe in saints or saints icons when i started becoming a protestant. True i enter a catholic chapel but i never really prayed to a saint for help. I just talk to God directly.
It's the Catholic church that made those apostles as saints and other good people too.I know they are good people but still i don't believe they have the power that we were made to believed that they have.
1 person likes this
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
If the bible is concern all people who believe in God through Jesus Christ, they call it saint's. Not only Jesus disciple, Mary, Pope or other recognized people but those who have faith in God that is the true saint.
@c_grovino_d (74)
• Philippines
18 Oct 10
i believe that only the church, through the pope, has the authority to declare saints after considering the works and life of each individual whose name has been brought forward for canonization.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
18 Oct 10
No, I don't think most Christians refer to the apostles as saints, at least the Christians I know don't. They do hold a special place, but only because they taught what they knew of Christ. Their teachings are the bases of Christianity, but they were just people and not due any spiritual worship.
Saints are those who follow Christ according to the Bible, so in that sense, they are... and so is every other Christian. The Catholic church may have changed their view of saints, but the Protestant church did not.
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