Someone has recently called me saint. I bristle at it because of the underlying presupposition: my kindness trumps her worthiness as a person.
Is our relationship dependent on my kindness {if so, we are in a world of trouble} or her worthiness as a reflection of the imago dei {image of God and sturdier ground}? I am not a saint because I am kind, I am kind because she is worthy. She is kind to me because I am worthy of her kindness.
But we’ve all called someone a saint.
Today is All Saints Day and in living out the great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews 11 and 12 references, it is good to stop and remember, by name, those who have gone before us. Last year I wrote about my Grandma Young.
From the Shanghai church service a few weeks ago. You’d of cried too.
The term saint is a loaded one, and rightly so! But if we lift it up too high, we exempt ourselves of living lives worthy of the calling we have received. Review for a moment those included in the list. Noah, drunkard at one point. Abraham, lied about his relationship with his wife more than once. Jacob stole his brother’s birthright. Joseph, obnoxious punk younger brother. Moses, murdered a man and had to be kicked in the pants to talk to Pharaoh. Rahab’s name is consistently associated with the word prostitute.
These were all commended for their faith (vs 39).
In Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
What exactly am I asking us to dare—falling on the mercy of the Holy Spirit to enable us—to do? Without doing any extensive research on a technical definition of a saint, today I meditated on what it means when I say “She’s a saint” or “He’s a saint.”
They have aspects of their life or character I am drawn to because of the way it reflects an attribute of God.
They are willing to get dirty/be hurt by those they are in relationship with. There is a realness to them that is like the worn off parts of the velveteen rabbit.
They cheer, poke, nudge us to do and be better because they know that God can use anyone, redeem anything, and restore what the locust has stolen.
Would you dare to be saint, commended for your faith? If so, would start by replying in the comment section with a simple, I will? Let’s see if we can get at least 20 to be brave. You can also comment on my definition of “being a saint.”
P.S. I met some old Chinese nuns today. Yes, Joann, two others, and I were bell hopping at five Catholic churches in Beijing. Stunning. More later.
I will… And I like your definition of a saint. I especially appreciate how you defined it based on how we use it today rather than based on its origin or even strict dictionary definition. Gave it a sense of real life. Inspiring too.
I will. I wan to be real. I want to be brave enough to let God show through the worn and stretched seems in my life. He has done so much for me. I KNOW he can restore what has been taken, lost, or given away by mistake. I am worthy because He is worthy!
Thanks again, Amy, for the encouragement and the challenge. You mix the two together well!
I will. To do otherwise is to deny the work He has done in me, and continues to do in me as I live in community. I would emphasize that part of your definition. It is within and among the Body, the community of followers, that we exercise our sainthood. I am seeing the redemptive power of living confessionally (can I make that a word?) in such a community as we bear one another’s burdens, extend grace and mercy, accept that the piece of the imago dei we each display is contained in flawed and broken vessels, speak truth though we risk hurt and more mess because we love one another, and remind ourselves to not forget who we are in Christ. We ARE “God’s holy people” (see several of Paul’s letters).
I will.
I appreciate your posts. It strikes me that the NT teaches that we are Saints, (God’s holy people) because of our position in Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. I know you were getting at something else, but I will put in my 2 cents. Blessings on you !
Cindy … thanks! And I agree — I was trying to find the translation that used the word “saints” instead of “witnesses” in Hebrews 11 and decided it wasn’t germane to this post, but most definitely to sound theology!
I’ve long appreciated Paul’s letters “to the saints in …” and have gratefully and humbly accepted that honor as one meant for me, as well as, for others who make Him their Savior and Lord. I take and cherish it just like the title of “child of God” and “joint-heir with Christ.” As you stated here, I think it reminds me/us of the high and lofty calling we must commit ourselves to every day. Thanks for this important reminder of who and whose we are, Amy!
me too, I love that phrase “to the saints!”