According to a certain religion, it takes two miracles to make a saint.
Now I do not necessarily rule out miracles, if by miracle we mean a special, divine intervention or supernatural occurrence, in the 21st or any century for that matter. But, the doctrine of praying to men, women and/or children, however holy they are considered to be, for miracles and wonders rather than to God, who is alone sovereign and almighty, is a departure from biblical truth.
Saints in the New Testament were believers, folk in the Christian community, who were sanctified by the Holy Spirit. They were not elected or beatified by a religious hierarchy, a holy huddle, high ranking priests, ecclesiastical elders, a college of cardinals, mitred ministers or clever clergy.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the young churches he wrote to the saints there, those in that Christian assembly or fellowship. There was no canonization process. They believed and they were baptized.
John the Baptist, in the words of the Lord Jesus was great, Matthew 11:11, yet he performed no miracles. Please read John 10:41. Yes, he performed not one miraculous sign. But today we have a false doctrine that declares that two miracles must take place before sainthood (canonization) can be conferred. Canonization is a classic case of man made religion. It has absolutely no basis in the Bible. This falsehood is not found in any New Testament document or ancient text and was not held by the early church. Prayer to the "saints" is not a divinely revealed truth at all. Such intercession makes human beings into mediators. This tradition comes from religious men who were not moved by God, nor did they speak words from Him, but it is a human construct, made up to satisfy religious appetites.
People want heroes, don't they? John Henry Newman is a hero and a saint to many people today.
Now I do not necessarily rule out miracles, if by miracle we mean a special, divine intervention or supernatural occurrence, in the 21st or any century for that matter. But, the doctrine of praying to men, women and/or children, however holy they are considered to be, for miracles and wonders rather than to God, who is alone sovereign and almighty, is a departure from biblical truth.
Saints in the New Testament were believers, folk in the Christian community, who were sanctified by the Holy Spirit. They were not elected or beatified by a religious hierarchy, a holy huddle, high ranking priests, ecclesiastical elders, a college of cardinals, mitred ministers or clever clergy.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the young churches he wrote to the saints there, those in that Christian assembly or fellowship. There was no canonization process. They believed and they were baptized.
John the Baptist, in the words of the Lord Jesus was great, Matthew 11:11, yet he performed no miracles. Please read John 10:41. Yes, he performed not one miraculous sign. But today we have a false doctrine that declares that two miracles must take place before sainthood (canonization) can be conferred. Canonization is a classic case of man made religion. It has absolutely no basis in the Bible. This falsehood is not found in any New Testament document or ancient text and was not held by the early church. Prayer to the "saints" is not a divinely revealed truth at all. Such intercession makes human beings into mediators. This tradition comes from religious men who were not moved by God, nor did they speak words from Him, but it is a human construct, made up to satisfy religious appetites.
People want heroes, don't they? John Henry Newman is a hero and a saint to many people today.
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