When our faith is in question it is prudent and wise to look for answer from the Word of God, NOT from any religious CREED book like Canon Laws, Watch Tower and so on nor base on our human philosophies such statement as "I think the purpose of this verse is..." or "According to Pastor and Mister.... this is how we should pray..... ".
Notice how Prophets usually start their statement "This is what The Lord says..." and as Paul emphatically wrote in Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! compare with 2 Cor. 11:4 or Romans 15:20.
Therefore, regarding Christian faith we should ask "What is a Saint?"
Bible uses the word saints 131 times. And in those 131 times the term is attached to a person who have dedicated his or her life to God or for His Church. They were not necessary martyrs and THEY ARE ALIVE during the time it was address. In fact, it was NEVER used to connote dead believers or prophets, except in The Book of Revelations, but still it is on future tense or things that is about to happen. I would not be able to write on this blog all the verses regarding saints but you can check it for yourselves. Anyway, here's one in case you have no Bible (I suggest you sell your jewelry to buy at least 3 version for comparison)
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servanta of the church in Cenchrea. 2I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.
3Greet Priscillab and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. (Romans 16)
New Living Translation of The Bible simply translate saints as "Believers" and therefore, if Your Church Leader is still WAITING for beatification to be Saints, then he is still considered an UNBELIEVER.
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