by Geoff George Paxton

Created on: April 14, 2010   Last Updated: April 24, 2010

The Church is not for Saints; but it is for sinners.

“Woe to you hypocrites, sinners.” Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, who were so inflated in their own importance, that they closed the doors to those who needed to find the kingdom of heaven. They failed to recognise Jesus for their long-awaited and long-expected Messiah, because he did seemingly strange things, like eating with tax-collectors and sinners. 

When they challenged him, he told them three parables, of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (prodigal son), and how there would be rejoicing in heaven over one who was lost being found and brought back. Those who are lost are, in the terms used here, sinners, and a long way from being saints. The elder brother behaves just like the Pharisees, “I am good - a saint - why does my father do anything for that dirty rotten sinner?"

Who, or what, is a saint? Let us leave aside those that have been elevated by the judgement of men (Popes or others) to be entitled Saints, or even more lofty, ‘Doctors of the Church’. 

A saint is simply, anyone, everyone, who has accepted that Jesus Christ, through his love and blood poured out on the Cross, has paid in full the penalty for their sin, and has accepted the eternal life that he freely offers and gives.

There is a moment of decision involved, which Paul calls ‘being justified’, made right with God. Following that decision a process begins, which Paul calls, ‘sanctification’. Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth, and addressed the saints and sinners there as: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 1:2-3)

Look carefully at what he says. They are not 'called saints', but 'called to be saints' as they go through the process of being made holy, sanctified.

In Mark’s account of the complaints about Jesus eating with sinners, Jesus answers, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus is for sinners, not the righteous.

His Church should take note and follow his lead!

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