The Truth About Sainthood
Part I

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By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


Meaning Of A Saint
         A saint is:
  1. The saints are the living people of God. It does not matter whether they are dead or alive.
  2. Somebody who is honored by church after his death.
  3. A member of a religion who after his death is formally recognized and designated as having lived a life of righteousness and holiness.
  4. Somebody who has gone to heaven after death.
  5. A virtuous person, particularly a good or holy person.
  6. A person who is exceptionally kind and patient in dealing with people or situations.
  7. The title given to those who have been virtuous to a heroic degree.
God’s Confirmation of A Saint
         The saints are the living people of God. It does not matter whether they are dead or alive. God made this clear, when Elijah told God that there are no more saints in Israel except himself (Elijah).

18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." 1 Kings 19:18

King David also pointed out that fact that the saints are the living people of God saying,

16 When they envied Moses in the camp,
And Aaron the saint of the LORD,
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,
And covered the faction of Abiram.
18 A fire was kindled in their company;
The flame burned up the wicked.
Psalms 106:16-18

The World Conditions For Making Somebody A Saint
         The following are the conditions established for making somebody a saint by human beings, especially by the Roman Catholic Church:
  1. Definition of a saint.
  2. Performance of one/two miracles.
  3. Beatification - a study of life history - an intensive examination of the life, writings, and reputation of the person under consideration.
  4. Forced death (martyrdom).
  5. Exceptional performance in religious or humanitarian life, by way of righteous hard work and devotion.
  6. Exhuming (digging up the remains, bones).
  7. Canonization by man, especially a religious leader or popular acclamation.
  8. Canonization cannot be decreed until 50 years have elapsed since the death of the candidate.
  9. Lengthy investigation over many years.
  10. Etc.
The Performance Of Miracles Is Not A Condition For Sainthood
         Even Jesus warned His disciples that the performance of miracles are the condition for righteousness. When Moses turned his staff into one snake, the Egyptian magicians there and then produced ten snakes. Here the testimony of Jesus:

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20

Other Error About Saints
         Other errors – false beliefs and practices- about saints include the following:
  1. Building and naming churches, shrines and places after the saints.
  2. Praying to the saints.
  3. Forming associations in the names of the saints.
  4. Wearing medals and scapulas.
  5. Erecting images of the saints.
  6. Assigning roles to the saints.(St Christopher deemed to safe lead travelers, St Anthony finds lost items, etc). All these beliefs and practices are idolatry. Also, they are foolishness, stubbornness and madness.
  7. Assigning of days of celebration (day of feast) to the saints.
  8. The halo drawn round or over the heads of a saint.
All these beliefs and practices are irrelevancies, and as such the acts like acts of foolishness. In the world and to the ordinary humans, the beliefs and practices seem to matter, but in spirit they are unnecessary and are not recognized in heaven.

The Path Of Truth Is Spiritual Science
         According to Microsoft Encarta, 2009, “The Roman Catholic Council of Trent (1545-63) affirmed that it is a good and useful thing to invoke the saints on account of the benefits to be obtained from God through their intercession.” However well the churches may defend this practice, it remains idolatry in spirit.
         Religious leaders should not be just those who attended a theological college, seminary or convent. They should be spiritually awake, enlightened and experienced. It is quite disappointing that most of the present day ministers of God lack these very essential qualities. That is why religions have created so much confusion and crisis, instead of uniting humanity.
         The evidence that this assertion is true is both clear and glaring to religious leaders, their members and the general public. And this is the evidence – the teachings of the religions have been contradictory. How can they claim to be teaching the same Truth, when their teachings are different and contradicting? In fact, the truth in spirit is that many religious leaders are hypocrites, those who claim to know whereas they do not know the Truth about God and life. That is why Jesus described them as blind men leading blind people.
         I am not cursing or condemning anyone, but that all should realize the stupidity of many beliefs and practices, and have an open mind to seek and know the Truth, through spiritual science. I have consistently emphasized on the need for spiritual science because through spiritual experiences and heavenly encounters a person can know, prove or verify the Truth.

The Twilight Of A Saint
         I have read books written by people who visited heavens and hell. I have also read some books written by some ministers of God when they were about to die. One problem I observed is that most of the time, they spend a lot of time and space narrating what they suffered, and give minor time and space to their heavenly experiences and messages. Such books and publications should devote more time and space to:
  1. Answer to questions which have been puzzling humanity.
  2. Proffer corrections to wrong religious beliefs and practices.
  3. Proffer solutions to current and future challenges and problems.
  4. Explain visions.
  5. Introduce future possibilities and realities.
  6. Give prophecies about future problems and challenges, and proffer solutions to them. Jesus was excellent in doing this. Moses did the same. Other saints like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did the same.
  7. Compose prayers for use by people, the way David wrote the everlasting psalms of life.
  8. Tell more of heavenly life.
  9. Advise people on how best to help the dying ones.
  10. Advise people on how best to help themselves at death, in order to easily go home, ascend heavenwards, without difficulties.
  11. Advise people on how best to grow in spirit and in truth.
A suggestion is herein recommended as follows:
  • Devote 30% of time and space to what they suffered, which suffering led them into heavenly experience and spiritual encounters.
  • Devote 30% of time and space to deliver messages and narrations.
  • Devote 40% of time and space to explain the messages and narrations. This is because a heavenly being says much in a nutshell, and most of the religious leaders are not spiritually awake, enlightened and experienced enough to interpret the messages or narrations.