Great Cloud of Witnesses: How the Dead Make a Living Church (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781506489650)

Protestant Christians should venerate the saints. This shocking claim lies at the heart of Great Cloud of Witnesses. In it, Jackson Lashier presents the practice's biblical foundations and highlights the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead: those who have died in Christ are still living in hope of final resurrection, and in that state, they serve as witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), actively supporting modern Christians as they seek to live faithful lives of discipleship.

Each chapter tells the story of a different saint--six men and six women from varying places, times, and traditions--both to connect them to readers as spiritual companions and to relate more practical lessons from the saints' lives. Readers will encounter different and more creative ways of reading Scripture, learn how important doctrines (e.g., the Trinity) developed from Scripture, and experience ways of living like a monk, even while having a job and a family. The stories are told chronologically, giving Protestant readers the added benefit of a greater knowledge of church history.

Because Protestants are often skeptical of saint veneration, the book addresses common objections: Are the saints divine? Does our devotion to the saints take away from our devotion to Christ? Are the saints without sin? Who decides who gets to be a saint? Through this book, Protestant readers will gain a greater appreciation of the saints and the spiritual practice of saint veneration, as well as the motivation to engage it for themselves.