FK: Yes, absolutely true. I meant that we know that SOME are saved.
Kosta: No we don't. We only know that we can be, and hope that we will be. Those who are dead know. We can only hope.
Well, your Church has presumed to Canonize thousands of Gentiles as Saints. So, if anyone claims it is a fact that SOME Gentiles are saved it is your own Church. :)
"My" (Orthodox, not personal) Church does not canonize saints as they are canonized in the west (proof of miracles and what not). Orthodox Saints are those who are venerated because the faithful have recongized the goodness of Christ in them (their life, suffering for faith, extreme humility, etc. all Chirst-like characteristics). Orthodox saints are "sainted" when people spontaneously begin venerating them, not when the "Church" decides they are saints.
But we don 't presume than anyone is saved, for we don't know their whole book. Only God does. Saying that anyone is saved is claiming what only God knows by His own judgment.
***Well, your Church has presumed to Canonize thousands of Gentiles as Saints. So, if anyone claims it is a fact that SOME Gentiles are saved it is your own Church. :)***
The whole canonization process is an examination of the life of the saints, with miracles associated with them, which presents evidence of their salvation. It’s a long process and very involved. It doesn’t happen every day.
I think that the important thing is that we are all called to be Saints. Every single one of us. The question is whether we follow the Shepherd’s call.
There are some here who claim that they cannot avoid following the Shepherd. Fine. Don’t. The rest of us must journey slowly and with much effort and support and guidance from Him. We must persevere. Remember the Footprints:
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”