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At times I find myself swimming against the tide of popular trends. In particular, one such trend where I find myself out of place is in the desire to read biographies of great Christians. In general, I’m not opposed to learning about the lives of famous Christians, but I do have two concerns. First, in some of the biographies that I read, I’ve found that the author doesn’t talk about the person’s weaknesses, failures, and doctrinal peculiarities. I read about how a saint would rise at 3am to spend time in prayer, but I find nothing regarding his advocacy of questionable doctrine. I find that some biographers skip over the problematic elements of a person’s life. In my own research, for example, I discovered that one of the delegates at the Synod of Dort became so enraged at one of his colleagues that he challenged him to a pistol duel. Blessedly, cooler heads prevailed and the two warring colleagues did not draw pistols at dawn. Why don’t these types of events and sins make it into biographies?
Another concern of mine deals with the fact that well-intended Christians set up these famous saints as models of conduct and piety. In one sense, it’s understandable and even biblical. Paul, for example, wrote to the Philippians: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Phil. 3:17). I see nothing wrong with identifying a godly saint and seeking to emulate his or her conduct, provided, of course, that such emulation arises from the power of the gospel and the unction of the Spirit. But there are elements of the lives of the saints that may not be suitable examples to follow. We may be inspired, for example, that some saints devoted their lives to the work of Christ. I’ve read of Calvin’s waning years when he was so ill that he had to be carried on a chair from his home to the pulpit at St. Peter’s cathedral. Once he finished preaching his sermon, he was then carried back home so he could return to his bed. Someone might read of such devotion and feel guilty for resting when ill. And in fact, it very well could be that Calvin cut his own life short by pushing himself too hard. It’s one thing to be lazy and entirely another to burn the candle at both ends until you needlessly imperil your health and well being. Sometimes, as much as it pains me, when I’ve been sick my most important task is to rest. I need to rest so I can regain my health, re-engage in ministry, and care for my family. Yes, in the end, the Lord may call me home, but if he does I don’t want it to be because I was foolish and needlessly squandered my health.
If you want, by all means, read biographies. But beware and ask whether the author has painted an accurate portrait of the saint. Are you reading a realistic and accurate biography or hagiography? If you read nothing of their sin or weaknesses, then chances are is that you’re reading the latter. And hagiographies only create false pictures of how a saint truly lived. Moreover, the work-ethic that you so desperately want to emulate may have been the person’s undoing. Seek inspiration and motivation from the lives of the saints, but read their biographies with a healthy dose of realism. Don’t set up a saint as virtual Christ-figure when the only perfect human being to walk the earth is Jesus. There is no danger of worshipping Christ—as the sinless and perfect God-man he deserves our praise and adulation. If such thoughts, however, fall upon mere sinful human beings, no matter how godly or pious, then biography turns to hagiography, and hagiography turns to idolatry. Make sure, therefore, that you see the saints, warts and all, and reserve your worship for Christ. Emulate that which is godly and reject what is sinful.
