And when I say that I’m not talking about when the Apostle Paul is addressing a church in one of his letters and says something like…”grace and peace to all the saints” at _______ church.
No I’m not talking about that. The church today actually does need a far better understanding of that truth. But that we will save that for another time and place.
Here’s what I’m talking about. You ready?
I’m referring to the tendency of Christians to elevate other Christians onto pedestals. Creating a realm of “Christian stardom” where only super Christians or saints can hang out.
Let me give some examples:
How about Martin Luther King Jr.
Here is a man that stood for justice, equality, love for enemies and non-violence.
There are numerous books about him, streets named after him and there is even a national holiday.
Yet out of his many admirers’ how many of them are striving to live out lives of non-violence and justice? There are many that love to quote him or read about him but few that are actually trying to live out what he taught.
Or take Mother Theresa for example.
All around the world people speak well of Mother Theresa. Non-Christians, rich, poor and people from all walks of society would say they admired the life she lived.
To many Christians she is a prime example of what it means to give your life to the poor and her testimony is very powerful.
My question is: If millions around the world would agree that she is a great example to follow….why isn’t there more ‘Mother Theresa’s’ around now a days?
The list could go on and on. Jim Elliot. The missionary that died along with four other men trying to bring the gospel to a tribe in South America. Billy Graham. The popular evangelist. Shane Claiborne. Author of The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President.
Name your Christian superstar or “saint”. Whoever it is.
Here’s the problem:
It’s easier to name a street after Martin Luther King Jr. then it is to live out what he stood for.
It’s easier to have a coffee table book on Mother Theresa nicely placed in your home in suburban America – then to live in the filth, dirtiness and death of a place like Calcutta.
Heck, it’s even a lot easier to wear a cross necklace then it is to pick one up and follow Him.
Do you see what I’m saying?
We make saints out of people to
make the lives they lived (or live) seem unattainable.
We have to make what they did (or do) super human because otherwise we might have to make the same sacrifice and pay they same price they did (or do).
So, please I am nothing special. Just because I gave 11 months of my life to travel as a missionary does not make me a “super Christian”. I’m just another Christian like anyone else back in the States that decided to take a step in faith.
In fact, “super Christians” don’t exist.
All there are, ever was and will be are:
Humble men and women willing to lose their life to save it (Matthew 10:39) , head over heels in love with their Savior (Ephesians 3:19) and understanding the power they have in Jesus. (Ephesians 3:20)
That is all Jesus has never been looking for. From his very first disciples(read John Macarthur’s 12 Ordinary Men) until now Jesus has never been looking for the super anything or the saints that really don’t exist.
So, let’s stop making “saints” of people and start living out the radical lives He has called and enabled us all to live!
One Last Thing:
I’m no saint.
Don’t write me off that easy.
