WHAT IS A SUPER SAINT?

Perhaps you’ve read the list going around on social media, or on certain Web Sites, that contains the names of many of the well-known Bible characters that were used by God along with a short, cryptic description of each one, such as “Leah was ugly” and “Timothy had an ulcer” of which neither statement is true. Maybe the bright idea behind it was sincere, but I find it to be dishonest, disrespectful and disgusting. Granted, whoever came up with it seems to have been trying to encourage the “common folks” out there who long to be used by God so they can perform great “spiritual feats,” but the approach is immature, incomplete, demeaning, unbiblical, unbalanced, and misleading because, since it’s taken out of context, untrue. It’s like a huge detour sign that leads to a greater emphasis on the human failings of these very human people than on their faith, obedience, sacrifices, sufferings, afflictions, victories and love for God. In fact, the dishonest and unbiblical spotlight on their glaring “negative” qualities is so bright it very well could blind people to the truth of God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost who were in their midst.

Beginning with a wrong emphasis, such as comparing ourselves with others, is like a gate, or door a person opens and steps through onto a path that may seem to be the right way, but dead ends with personal agendas, unrealistic goals, carnal mindsets, and an ungodly attitude. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14:12. Maybe the idea of belittling certain biblical personalities in order to bolster one’s so-called “self-esteem” is emotionally satisfying temporarily, but it’s just that—temporary. It’s like trying to mount a saddled horse by putting the wrong foot in the stirrup and ending up facing the tail instead of the head.

The question is, who was a “super saint”? The answer is, “Nobody.” Granted, we read of the faithful in Hebrews 11, but nowhere does the Bible call anyone a “super saint” for God is no respecter of persons. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Read Romans 2:11-16.) God and God alone should receive all the praise and glory: to list all of the shortcomings of God’s servants in the Bible to try and make yourself “feel good” is no way to give all glory, honor and praise to Him. If you want to “feel good” about yourself, then just remember Balaam’s ass who saw the angel and spoke. I figure if God can use an ass (or any other creature) then He can use me. The truth is, not one of us has ever been “worthy” or “qualified” enough for God to use. To disagree and think you are “qualified” or “worthy” compared to others of being used by God, then you never will be used to glorify Him because not only does God resist the proud, (James 4:6), but He will not endorse a self-serving person with a personal agenda, a rotten attitude or a wrong spirit no matter how “religious” they seem to be.

To comment on a few of the faithful saints “put down” on this one-sided list, first is Noah without whom none of us would even be here. The depiction of Noah is he “got drunk.” But here is what is recorded in the Bible about Noah’s character beginning with Genesis 6:8 which says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” [Emphasis added.] Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” [Emphasis added.] In 2 Peter 2:5 we read that Noah was a “preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” [Emphasis added.] Before we gleefully emphasize that Noah got drunk, we need to consider that no mention is made of Noah falling from grace, backsliding, sinning, disobeying the Lord or losing his faith. The emphasis on Noah’s one-time experience in a world totally changed by a global catastrophic flood is like focusing on an itsy-bitsy bug splatter on your windshield so much so that you can’t even see through the rest of the windshield, let alone focus on the road in front of you.

Personally, my opinion is that Noah had no desire to put himself into a stupor, and because the world’s atmosphere had drastically changed, and oxygen was 50% less, he was caught off-guard as to how the fermentation process was altered. For information on changes to the earth’s atmosphere after the flood, go to https://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/early-earth/atmosphere/. Only God knows what was in Noah’s mind and heart; therefore, since we have no record of Noah being chastised by the Lord, we have no right to pin a derogatory label on this faithful, righteous, obedient servant of God and make him an example of how “even a drunkard” can serve the Lord.

Another saint, Joseph, was falsely labeled as a “daydreamer.” Apparently, this is supposed to encourage habitual daydreamers that they are good candidates for service to God. For one thing, Joseph’s dreams were from the LORD, not from his own imagination, and were for the purpose of preparing Joseph for the path the LORD had planned for him. God often spoke, and still does, to His servants in dreams. A person knows when a dream is of God or not, just as Mary’s husband, Joseph, the earthly parent of the Lord Jesus, was warned several times in dreams of danger and given specific instructions which he followed. Neither one of these two Joseph’s were “daydreamers.” People addicted to daydreaming are prone to end up becoming a “sluggard.” Proverbs 6:9 says, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” Hebrews 6:12 says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Moses was listed as a murderer who couldn’t talk. What?! Does this ridiculous so-called “insight” mean that anybody who has committed murder is somehow automatically a candidate to be used of God? An excerpt from https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/13753/in-exodus-212-did-moses-commit-murder states, “Under Jewish law he did not commit murder. The Egyptian was in Talmudic parlance a rodef — a pursuer; i.e. one who was trying to kill another person or persons. In such instances, the pursued have the right to self-defense. Rava coined the famous Talmudic dictum (Babyl. Talmud, Sanhedrin 72a), ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.’ This principle is not limited to acts of self-defense, but obligates a third party to save a victim from his pursuant, even if this requires killing the pursuer (Sanhedrin 73a): “If one chases after his fellow to kill him, it is permitted to save the chased at the expense of the life of the pursuer. An important point is that if deadly force is not necessary to stop the pursuer, then the pursued or the third-party are obligated to use appropriate force.” A point to remember is, there were no “Ten Commandments” given by God at this time. Furthermore, to stand by and watch someone be beaten to death when you could help, and yet do nothing is to participate in the killer’s sin. Moses was a great man of great faith. (See Hebrews 11:23-29.) And, as for speaking, when you study his life in the Old Testament, you will find that he not only talked to God, but he also said plenty to the children of Israel.

Samson even made the “list” because he had “long hair” and was “afraid.” Therefore, all the men with long hair can identify with Samson, except there are some major problems with that. Samson had long hair because he had taken the vow of a Nazirite and was dedicated to God, and his hair was an identification to that vow. This fact is not in any way an endorsement for Christian men to grow long hair like women (or to look effeminate.) 1 Corinthians 11:14 says, “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” As for being “afraid” there is no mention of Samson being either afraid or fearful in the Bible. Samson’s greatest weakness was his lust for women which is not only shameful, but brought him to a terrible end.

The comment for Job is that he “went bankrupt.” This is downright pathetic. Job lost seven sons and three daughters, along with, not only all his wealth, but his health as well. His wife and friends were not even supportive or comforting, yet through it all he never lost his faith or falsely accused God. Instead of using Job’s so-called “bankruptcy” as a qualifying point for serving the LORD, why not instead ask if what God proclaimed about Job is truly applicable to you. How many can honestly compare themselves with God’s “five point” description of Job, “And the LORD said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” Job 1:8? If you’re “qualified” in these things, as was Job, to serve God, then you’re also “qualified” to suffer as Job did.

“Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Malachi 3:18.)