Do you know what will be involved for the recently deceased Roman Catholic Pope, John Paul II, to become a saint in the eyes of his church? The report that he was put on a “fast track” to sainthood only means the removal of a mandatory five-year waiting period before the process is normally begun. Mother Teresa, who died in 1997, was also put on a fast track and she is still only part-way through the process as we write. It takes time, money, testimonies, and miracles for the canonization of a saint.
For a Roman Catholic to be declared a “saint” requires: a five-year wait; then a presentation of a case for the prospective saint to his or her local bishop who approves the candidacy; next a postulator is appointed to review evidence of a “heroic love of God and neighbor” from witnesses and admirers, and to examine the candidate’s writings. A church official called a “relator” sifts through the gathered evidence and prepares a position paper which, when presented to the Pope, may gain the prospect the title “venerable.” Depending on the evidence of “miracles” attributable to the prospect upon prayers to him or her, the title “beatified,” or “blessed,” may be granted. Further miracles are called for before the candidate is finally canonized as a “saint.”
By comparison, the process by which one biblically becomes a saint is simple. But note this: though it does not take the time, money, testimonies, and miracles demanded by the Catholic process, it demands a life of dedication to the cause of Christ! To begin with, the English word “saint” comes from the Latin sanctus which, in turn, is a translation of the Greek hagios found in the original texts of the New Testament. Hagios simply means one who is holy and has thus devoted himself to the service of God.
Those whom the New Testament regards as Christians because of their belief in and obedience to the commands of Christ, are called “saints.” Members of the church in Philippi are addressed this way: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). Paul, after writing about the prior sinful life of those in Corinth, says of the Christians there that “such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Sanctified is from the verb form of hagios.
The apostle Paul says that “we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). He goes on to tell us to present ourselves “as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification” (Romans 6:19). We become holy or sanctified, therefore, by our obedience to Jesus’ command to be baptized. That is not the end of the matter, of course, because being holy involves daily practice throughout our lives. The apostle Peter says, “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:15).
Instant sainthood! You can be a saint (holy one) today by obeying the gospel call to “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38). You will rise from baptism to “walk in newness of life” and should then “consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:4, 11). Don’t put it off—do it today!
Mel