On this previous Sunday (4 September 2016) Pope Francis declared Mother Theresa to be a saint. This is one of the peculiar Roman Catholic Church traditions which simply do not match the Scriptures.
As a defender of the authority of Scripture alone (sola Scriptura) I would like to help you to think with me on this matter. It is no small thing to substitute the authority of the Bible for manmade traditions. Jesus had His strongest words reserved for those who did this.
According to a Catholic website the definitions of a saint may embrace the following:
- An example of holiness that we can follow with confidence.
- The person who kept on trying when everybody else gave up.
- “Spiritual force-fields,” exerting a powerful attractive influence on followers but also touching the inner lives of others in ways that transform them for the better.
- A person who has been formally canonised (officially recognised) by the Catholic Church, and is therefore considered to be in heaven.
- A saint is always someone through whose life we learn what God is like—and of what we are called to be. Only God “makes” saints. The church merely identifies from time to time a few of these for imitation.
- Anyone who is in heaven, whether recognised here on earth, or not (Eastern Orthodox definition).
Although there is some truth in these statements, they do not nearly match the definition of the Bible!
Read more here.