Ryanne Molinari

A couple of years ago, my husband and I were watching The Chosen. We were tentatively optimistic to see so many people enjoying the story of Jesus in place of other entertainment options. But then we watched our final episode: Season 2, Episode 6: “Unlawful.”

In this episode, Mary Magdalene succumbs to temptation and returns to her previous life of debauchery. Eventually, she is found and brought back to Jesus by Peter and Matthew.

Temptation is real. Being restored through the intervention of faithful friends is real. The problem? This story is most likely not real.

Scripture gives no indication that Mary Magdalene returned to her old ways. We first meet her in Luke 8:2, where she is introduced as a woman miraculously healed and saved by Jesus. Previously, she had been in the grip of seven demons, indicating that she was under total demonic control. But Christ cast out these demons and, throughout the Gospels, Mary Magdalene is portrayed as one of his most devoted followers.

All the biblical evidence points toward Mary Magdalene being an extraordinarily faithful woman whose life was completely changed by Christ. So, when The Chosen portrayed her as a backslider, I was appalled. I by no means believe that Mary Magdalene was sinless, but, rather than tarnishing her reputation through creative speculation, we should accept her as she is portrayed in Scripture: a woman previously enslaved to sin who was utterly transformed by grace.

A sinner turned saint.

A Particularly Protestant Problem

I am frustrated by our tendency as believers to bash the heroes of the faith. We forget that “doubting Thomas” believed in Christ enough that he was prepared to die with him (Jn. 11:16). “Anxious Martha” was one of the first to recognize Christ as the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:27). “Cowardly Peter” died a martyr’s death (Jn. 21:18–19).

If the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches make too much of the saints found throughout Scripture and history, Protestants tend to make too little. Rather than unduly lifting up human beings, we seem to take a cruel pleasure in putting them down. We too readily ignore their spiritual fruit and too eagerly latch onto their more “relatable” flaws. Likely, it makes us feel better about ourselves to describe heroes of the faith as “sinners like us.” And yes, they were. But in both the Old and New Testament, Scripture more frequently refers to God’s people as saints—not to suggest that they are perfect, but to clarify that their identity lies in being saved and set apart by God. Indeed, “sinners” typically refers to the past identity of redeemed people and the current reality of unsaved people (Rom. 5:8, 19). Accordingly, when I use the term “saints” in this post, I am using it as Scripture does, to refer to those saved by grace through faith and adopted into the family of God.

Scripture is not sentimentalized. It is honest about sin and evil. It describes the failings of human beings, sometimes in shocking detail, and commands us to expose such evil (Eph. 5:11). It is clear that only God is holy and worthy of adoration (Is. 46:9). But Scripture also emphatically tells us to dwell on whatever is noble and praiseworthy, to learn by imitating faithful examples, and to give honor to whom honor is owed (Phil. 4:8; 1 Cor. 11:1; Rom. 13:7).

Why are we so loath to do this as Protestants and, particularly, as evangelicals? Even today, we seem more eager to tear down church leaders than to build them up. There even seems to be a sort of malicious glee among internet users when a famous Christian is exposed for a moral failing. We have a terrible tendency to focus on the worst in others.

I am certainly not advocating for the canonization or veneration of saints but I do hope to see a healthier sense of honesty and honor take root in our hearts. We should not gloss over the weaknesses and failings of the people we encounter throughout Scripture and history, but neither should we ignore their strengths and triumphs.

This All Saints’ Day

If you’re not in a liturgical church, you might not even be aware that November 1st is All Saints’ Day, a holiday where Christians have traditionally remembered and honored those who have died in the faith. Perhaps your initial reaction is skepticism, born of a proper desire to avoid over-emphasizing sainthood in any formal sense. But over the years, I have come to appreciate this holiday as a time to remember those who have passed, and to thank God for the testimony of their lives.

As we observe All Saints’ Day this year, I encourage you to take the following balanced approach:

1. Dwell

Again, Scripture calls us to expose “the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). But we are called to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Do you see the difference?

Expose evil but meditate on goodness. When we look at those who came before us in the faith, we should not ignore sin, but neither should we ponder it disproportionately. Instead, we should be unafraid to dwell on the goodness of God that permeated their lives.

With this approach, we can acknowledge Thomas’s doubts but marvel at his loyalty. We can recognize Martha’s failure to choose “the good portion” but remember her as a woman who recognized Christ as the Messiah. We can preach on Peter’s betrayal of Christ, but celebrate his restoration, ministry, and ultimate courage.

This weekend, I urge you to celebrate the triumphs of those who came before. Thank God for his work in their lives, and focus on their fruitfulness far more than their failures.

2. Imitate

In Philippians 4:8–9, Paul not only tells us to focus on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, and so on, but to imitate whoever demonstrates these qualities. He writes, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9, emphasis added).

No person is perfect, but this doesn’t mean we should not have role models. From infancy, we learn via imitation; it’s how we are designed. So, too, spiritual babes need to look to and learn from spiritual adults. We need mature examples, and we should be unafraid to copy godliness wherever it is found. In other words, we should boldly imitate those who are imitating Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

This week, consider making a list of faithful role models, noting which characteristics and fruits you most admire in them. If they are alive, make a point of telling them. If they have passed, thank God for the gift of their example.

3. Honor

A few years ago, I read Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise for Those Who are Not God by Sam Crabtree. This lovely little book reminds Christians that, while only God deserves our worship, we are commanded to encourage and even honor one another.

Romans 13:7 reads, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Here the word “honor” seems to tie the various phrases in this verse together. It can refer to paying monetary dues, as well as to recognizing someone’s dignity and affording them the utmost esteem. This honor may be due to someone’s position, but it seems likely that it is also an honor given to someone’s character.

“Honor to whom honor is owed,” therefore should lead us to readily respect, recognize, and rejoice in others’ strengths. It is dishonest to ignore blatant sin in other Christians, but it is also dishonest to ignore what is godly in them. When we see a brother or sister growing in Christlikeness, we should acknowledge it!

This All Saints’ Day—and, really, every day—I hope you will remember that we are called, as Christians, to correct and encourage one another.

4. Yearn

As we pursue a more balanced view of the saints—not just those found throughout Scripture and church history, but those worshiping alongside us today—we must expect dissatisfaction. Even the most godly person should leave us with a nagging sense of “this isn’t quite it.”

Why? Because only Christ is altogether true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Because even as we imitate other believers, our goal is, above all, to grow in Christlikeness. Because only Christ is worthy not only of our honor but our worship.

We need to regain a healthy approach to sainthood because, both in their victories and failures, Christ’s people sharpen our yearning for Christ.

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