Why is it that so many Christian terms are now derogatory in nature?
“She thinks she’s a saint!” is now commonly heard when someone is arrogant and prideful, a know-it-all or a hypocrite. It has become something we do NOT want to be.
Yet God through Paul says otherwise.
If you believe in Jesus then you have been sanctified (made sacred, holy, and righteous) through the blood of Jesus. That we “together with all the saints” (Ephesians 3:18) may know the fullness of God.
We hear all the time, “I’m no saint.” Well, actually, if you’re a believer, you are.
Sure, you can chuck this up to euphemism or a figure of speech. But our words are powerful and we should heed their hidden or implied messages.
Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Jesus tells us “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean'” in Matthew 15:18
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…”
Over time, all languages change including English. New words and expressions are being added every day. Some due to technology (IPad); others, slang (cool or rad come to mind). Meanings change and some disappear all together.
But we should we wary when an underlying spiritual war is taking place. I believe this is the case in this instance and many other ways where sacred words from the Bible are being twisted. As we learned, it is Satan, working through the minds of unbelievers (Ephesians 2:2), who has twisted such words and tried to rob them of their power and meaning.
Our words and our language is as much a part of us as our arm: integral to living. We must treat them as such; monitor its well-being; be wary of what it does/says. And not give in to peer pressure and society’s whims when it comes to berating the Christian faith.
When we hear the word ‘saint’ many of us think of the Saints who have been recognized by the Catholic religion as holy: St Patrick, St Valentine, St Michael, St Joseph, St Francis of Assisi, St Christopher, and thousands of others.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the first definition of saint is what I knew: “one officially recognized esp. through canonization as preeminent for holiness.” Definition #3: “One of God’s chosen and usually Christian people.”
My Bible Dictionary has a fascination explanation of the origin of the word in terms of the Catholic usage (which does not correspond to Biblical usage it points out). But in short, a saint is “a person sacred to God” according to Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary by J.D Douglas and Merrill C Tenney.
I don’t know about you but I LOVE the idea that I (plain, ol’, insignificant me) am sacred to God! I usually think of it as God being sacred, not me. He is sacred to me. Not I am sacred to Him. But it makes sense. Why else would He sacrifice His son?
This is what I love about BSF. The Bible is so rich you can and do spend a lifetime studying and learning about it and BSF prompts me to learn things I otherwise wouldn’t think of (such as being a saint).
I had never heard of all Christians being Saints before now. But if you are in Christ, have the Holy Spirit dwell within you then you are a Saint. You don’t have to do any special works to be one (as I previously believed from definition #1 of Webster’s).
Therefore, I am a saint. And I hope and pray you are too.
Awesome, thought provoking post! I had not thought about the way language changes in terms of Biblical concepts, words, and definitions but you are so right! There is an ongoing attack.
As far as thinking of myself as a saint, I was a lucky little girl whose father whose part time job was directing church choirs. Daddy sang spirituals and hymns from the Southern Baptist hymnal he had grown up with even though his church choir job was not in a Baptist church. The other band directors in town had already sewn up all those jobs, plus Momma was a Prebyterian. The compromise was a Disciples of Christ church for most of my younger years but Momma was not happy because she was Calvinist and very Reformed. When the job at the Presbyterian church came open and it was involved a pay raise, Daddy took the job. I remember the two of us being in the car when we drove past the great big beautiful new church and Daddy looked at me and said, “I’ve sold my soul for filthy lucre.” I didn’t know what that meant because I was only eight year old but it sounded serious. (Mother was much happier there.)
Anyway, Daddy always sang When the Saints Go Marching In to me and I asked him what I saint was and he said, “A saint is anyone who loves Jesus.” Daddy played trumpet so when he sang, “Oh when that trumpet call shall sound, oh, when that trumpet call shall sound! Lord, I want to be in that number! When that trumpet call shall sound!” I knew I wanted to march with my daddy straight through the Pearly Gates. He could also sing Bringing in the Sheaves in some Chinese dialect.
I marched through the house with my own children singing When the Saints go Marching In for years. They loved it. I do it in children’s church and we march, march, march. It’s just one more thing that has been stolen from the church and I’m reclaiming it.
Daddy always said it was one of the songs he wanted played at his funeral and we did. His big funeral had an orchestra and more somber music but his graveside service in another city had When the Saints Go Marching In. We played it slow before the service and Dixieland style afterward to celebrate because I know my daddy is with Jesus.
What a beautiful story, Sweet Mama. Thanks for sharing!
My girls and I play When the Saints Go Marching In on the guitar and I never thought of what it meant until just now! Thanks for reminding me! I’ll have to tell the girls when they wake. They will be so excited!
And I love you, too! If we don’t meet here, we’ll definitely hang out on the other side of Heaven! I pray all the time for this site, the people here, and that it touches who it needs to.
Have a blessed day!
Wholeheartedly agree on the business of being SAINTS! What a blessing to know that is what God call us – His Saints! Thank you for sharing! I am so enjoying reading your blog! Blessings to you Atozmom!
Amen, Sister!!! Yet, in addition not only are you a Saint, you are also a Royal Priest with Jesus being our High Priest!!! It is truly humbling to know who we are in Christ Jesus.
(I Peter 2:9) You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into his marvelous light”
Revelation 1:6 says, “…Who has made us a royal nation of priests in the service of his God and Father.
All Praise and Glory be to our Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ!!!
thank you saint atozmom. cheers from saint Karen
All of this made me cry just reading your comments…how much I miss my daddy and my home state and I wish I knew you all in real life. But the hope we have…we will indeed meet on the other side. Praise Jesus.
What a day this has been…a disappointing day …but I came here and read these wonderful, positive responses…and the awesome Scripture verses from SC.
I am blessed.