The Difference Between "Church Folks" and a "Saint"

The Difference Between “Church Folks” and a “Saint”

I have to be honest-I’m not too fond of “church folks.” Let me explain to you why. Growing up in the church I’ve seen, and heard a lot. When I say a lot, I meant just that. Church folks are just what they are, church folks who regularly attend church services on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday nights; but still remain the same, year after year, after year. There’s nothing different about them from the people of the world. Another description of church folks is this: they are the most negative people ever, they gossip all the time; they’re judgmental, unpleasant, hypocritical, mean, and inconsiderate people.

True story: my family and I were members of this particular church for about twenty years. There, this particular older woman and her adult daughter would always treat my family and I as if they didn’t know who we were. After every church service, the people will shake hands and ‘praise the lord’ with everyone, but no not this particular lady and her adult daughter. They were snobby, and mean women who called themselves “saved”. As a teenager, I knew that those two didn’t have the characteristics of Christ. Not only this, but “church folks” are just folks who pretends to be something that they’re not. Church folks like to be seen, they are the first ones to jump up and sing, they must have a title, and if you see them in the streets most times they will act like they don’t see you or don’t even speak. Do you know someone like this? I’m sure you do.

Now, when you come in contact with someone who is truly saved ( I mean fire baptized, speaking in tongues saved) you will automatically know it. There’s no question about it because they possess the spirit of Christ. Real saved folks are loving, kind, and are always concerned about their brother or sister in Christ and the unsaved. I called these types of people “saints.” They’re not concerned about the latest church fashion, titles, or position they’re about bringing souls to Christ. Here's a perfect description of what a saint is:

The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints: "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints …" (Romans 16:2). "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3).

Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints. All Christian are saints—and at the same time are called to be saints. First Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root as the word that is commonly translated “saints.” Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints. Source