"SAINTS", Not Merely "Christians"

Thankfully, I have been blessed by God to have known and served under some of the greatest leaders in the Church Of God In Christ. Long ago I would hear the late Bishop Dr. T.T. Rose formerly of Illinois Central Jurisdiction COGIC say, 

The Late Bishop Dr. T.T.  Rose
Springfield, IL. 

"I would rather be called a Saint any day than a 'Christian'." when I asked why? He would respond by saying "Saints, live right. They are the one's that God has called. You are subject to find a Christian doing anything...I don't want to be called a Christian, I want to be called a Saint!"

On Thursday night 11/7/2013 at the 106th Annual Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ, Bishop Darrell Hines (see teaser video below) picked up on that same sentiment and theme and began to explain what Dr. Rose knew and was convinced of some nearly 70 years ago and I thought I should repeat this for all those younger individuals who don't know or have not been taught why we call one another "SAINTS" in COGIC as opposed to calling one another fellow "Christians" as is commonly done in many if not most Christian churches.

Slight Western History

In 1897 when the Church Of God In Christ was first formed, through its first reorganization in 1907 when it became a Spirit Filled and Pentecostal church, the believers that followed the teachings of Bishop C. H. Mason, were quick to call themselves Saints. 

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The Miracle Of Life After Death

Against miracles Philosopher David Hume stated; " “…a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature; and as a firm  unalterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined”…."nothing is esteemed a miracle if it never happened in the common course of nature. It is no miracle that a man seemingly in good health should die on a sudden: because such a kind of death, though more unusual than any other, has yet been frequently observed to happen. But it is a miracle that a dead man should come to life; because that has never been observed in any age or country. There must therefore be a uniform experience Against every miraculous event, otherwise that event would not merit that appellation. And as a uniform experience amounts to a proof, there is here a direct and full proof, from the nature of the fact, against the existence of any miracle, nor can such a proof be destroyed, or the miracle rendered credible, but only an opposite proof which is superior.” (Emphasis mine) [David Hume “Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals 3rd. Edition”, Oxford, Clarendon Press 1992, pg. 144-146 & 148]

In my 2 posts on antisupernaturalism and miracles, found HERE and HERE, I discuss Hume's assertions that miracles don't exist. Although some interpret that he left the door open to miracles, for all practical purposes Hume defines miracles out of existence. Those arguments and his assertions have been thoroughly dealt with and handled throughout the years, but many of his concepts of radical metaphysical naturalism are popular among academics, college campuses and most any atheist internet web site. It is the assertions of Hume that fuel sentiments against miracles as "violations" of natural law.

Dead For 15 Minutes

John King: "You're a miracle, you're a miracle in many ways"

On Thursday May 13th on CNN's John King USA Capt. Joshua A. Mantz gave his story of life, death and life again.

Capt. Mantz, a proud Army Soldier, was serving in Iraq doing his duty when both he and Staff Sgt. Marlon Harper  were suddenly stuck with a sniper's bullet. The attack happened so suddenly that Captain Mantz recalls that he only had time to act on instinct and impulse. The shot had taken Sgt. Harper's life almost instantly but had sent shrapnel with force into his leg severing his femoral artery and causing a serious bleed out. Capt. Mantz grabbed his fellow soldier of 275 lbs under an adrenaline rush, hauling him to safety as the medic was called into action. Having to decide who to save, the medic began trying to work on Captain Mantz but he would eventually go on to experience death for 15 minutes as documented in Army records.

Hear Capt. Mantz for himself in the following video:

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