It is clear from Scripture that God, in the creation we know about, desired to make persons who could share, to some degree, the characteristics of himself. In this he gave some power like the achievement of goals, some insights like self-awareness and progress – the list can well be extended. He also made mankind to find wisdom in both nature and learning, so to give love, patience, mercy, service – meaning for existence. God sees some meaning for himself in serving the creation he inaugurated. Even with the divine gift of self-consciousness, mankind is not God, and never will be, but we have, as Shakespeare noted in Hamlet, god-like characteristics. Saintliness is part of the image of God, reflected in righteousness. This ultimately leads to a special fellowship with God, if the self-conscious creature chooses. It relates to freedom, the freedom to choose destiny, or, at the least, the destiny we would like to have for ourselves – if we are wise enough to manage faith principles. The Psalmist made clear that the reflection of God’s peace may be set aside in the folly of turning back to the husks from the manna of God. (Psalm 85:8) There are interesting analogies here. One emerged when a tested group was provided better potato chips (less fat and salt) but rejected them for the old-style, somewhat rancid, chips that had become common to their tastes. Not unusual for forming human preferences, but revealing our intensity about accrued habits. Almost no smoker suggests that the first drag on a cigarette was pleasant. The habit had to be learned.
This reality drama of many playing out a god-like person in the context of mortality can’t be done without some assistance and direction. To accomplish the divine purpose, we need to understand and apply factors that include identification with God. The practical application is expressed in modeling. One models his or her life after Christ, who lived out on earth terms God meant for mankind to accept and do. In him we learn love, righteousness, compassion, service, devotion, work and meaning. We are aided in the process by Scripture, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and compliance to growth in spiritual life and integrity. All this, taken together, is the process to sainthood. Because it takes a whole life to progress to the goal, which is not fully reached until after death, we summarize the theology in the concept of status (reality of what and where we are) and standing (justification). The Christian has a standing before God of the perfection of Christ. Christ, in his sacrificial offering of himself, secured that ransom. His purpose is now to help the Christian move toward that standing. As long as the direction is followed the person is seen as making practical the current privilege status of sainthood. Seeking the goal is the objective. God loves seekers.
Sainthood belongs to Christians, with God’s help. It is found in Christlikeness. The Apostle Paul informed Christians that, like him, they should be followers of Christ, which is to reflect the character of Christ, and to seek to make it characteristic for oneself. The definition of saint may be perceived otherwise in this or that context, but this is one context in which the Scripture uses it. The carnal person may make it a matter of derision. He or she may make improvement in personal life a matter of derision. So, one is derided as a goody-two-shoes or a better-than-thou person. What is missed, even by some who aspire to Christ-likeness, is that a part of the saintly sojourn is humility. One is struck by the humility of Christ. For he who could call for legions of angels to rescue him, but submit to the crudity, the ill treatment, and ultimately to the ignominy of the cross, tells us something about saintliness that may not be understood. The doubter would simply believe that the claim for supporting angels was not true. The Christian permits Christ to defend self, but Christ does not. Since humility has its perfect work we too accept in Christ’s name whatever is given. Values and conducts are found in what Christians do in their private selves (individual) and what they do for others (social). Whatever earthly rights are due mankind, they are identified as rights for others, even if denied to me. The individual responsibility to God is first priority, and that may mean surrendering some rights appropriate to all. In this is part of saintliness, and spiritual warfare. Democracy rightly focuses on rights. Christianity focuses on integrity of the individual in Christ, and service to mankind pointing to the provisions of the gospel, a primary concern. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020