Did Mother Teresa know what it takes?

[David from New Bern]

Franklin Graham visited with Mother Teresa before her death at one of her ministry sites in Calcutta. He was greatly moved to watch her move through the cots of the sick and dying loving each one with personal attention. He asked through his guide if in those moments of ministry if she shared with them the key to the Kingdom. She said, "their Hindu faith teaches them that they are redeemed through their suffering and that is their way." Is this a revealing moment for catholic ministries do they have the keys to the Kingdom? Did Mother Teresa know what it takes to go to heaven? Or was she working her way to heaven?

[tah]

I do not know the mind of Mother Teresa....

but there is only part of a story here and I cannot draw any kind of a conclusion from it.

their Hindu faith teaches them that they are redeemed through their suffering and that is their way."

Were they converted hindu or hindu still...?

Was she talking about converted hindu that had not yet learned that salvation is by faith in Jesus's work on the Cross?

Was she talking about leaving them in their hindu faith and did she believe they were going to heaven no matter what they believed..

Did she care about their souls?

Was she a Christian? I do not know if she was or not..

I certainly cannot tell from this post as it is just to sparse on information...

Perhaps someone else here knows more about her and can tell you ...

tisn't me...

[apothanein kerdos]

I think this quote is out of context. If she is granting that their suffering is a legitimate way to Heaven, then why was she there in the first place hepling to solve the suffering?

[David from New Bern]

I think this quote is out of context. If she is granting that their suffering is a legitimate way to Heaven, then why was she there in the first place hepling to solve the suffering?

The quote was made by Jim Wilson with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who was addressing 1200 students and faculty at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel Service in the Fall of 96. I was in attendance and the sermon text was Matthew 7:13-14, and of course this was a very effective illustration of the text. This quote is not out of character from other things attributed to the work there in Calcutta and around the world.

[apothanein kerdos]

I think this quote is out of context. If she is granting that their suffering is a legitimate way to Heaven, then why was she there in the first place hepling to solve the suffering?

The quote was made by Jim Wilson with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who was addressing 1200 students and faculty at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel Service in the Fall of 96. I was in attendance and the sermon text was Matthew 7:13-14, and of course this was a very effective illustration of the text. This quote is not out of character from other things attributed to the work there in Calcutta and around the world.

The quote doesn't match up with her actions. Likewise, I can't find it anywhere. Quotes get attributed to people often, even though these people never said such a thing.

[Kabowd]

I think this quote is out of context. If she is granting that their suffering is a legitimate way to Heaven, then why was she there in the first place hepling to solve the suffering?

The quote was made by Jim Wilson with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who was addressing 1200 students and faculty at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel Service in the Fall of 96. I was in attendance and the sermon text was Matthew 7:13-14, and of course this was a very effective illustration of the text. This quote is not out of character from other things attributed to the work there in Calcutta and around the world.

Honestly, I'm confused about the intent of this post. Is it to question her heart and motives? I'm trying to understand where you're going with this. I'm not Catholic, nor do I agree with Catholic doctrines. However, I cannot deny that Mother Teresa did do much good in her lifetime. She loved, she cared, she gave her life in service to easing the suffering of others, and she did so in the name of Christ. Whatever the state of her heart, or what she was trusting in, her lifestyle puts most of us to shame. We can stand on the streetcorners, pass out tracts, learn the "Roman Road" and teach "evangelism" until we're blue in the face. But until we actively LIVE it, it's nothing. How many of us will have such a legacy when we die? Based on your life (and this is a general "you"), what will be said of you? What questions will be asked about your heart? I obviously was not present for the sermon you mention, but in the same chapter in Matthew just a few verses later, Jesus says we will be known by our fruits. All I know is that Mother Teresa produced much fruit. And for that, I think she should be admired, not condemned.

[Keith]

I didn't get the impression that David was questioning the good that she did. That's undeniable. But it's not good works that get us salvation. It's not something we earn. I think David was asking a question about Mother Theresa's doctrine of salvation and whether she believed suffering and good works were how a person attained salvation. I've read a bit about Mother Theresa myself and this question came up in my mind, too. Personally, I decided that since it is not consequential to my own life and I'm not anyone's judge, that I didn't need to know the answer and haven't pursued finding it.

[Kabowd]

Personally, I decided that since it is not consequential to my own life and I'm not anyone's judge, that I didn't need to know the answer and haven't pursued finding it.

I agree with you on that. I think that's the basis of my confusion over the topic I guess.

[David from New Bern]

The purpose of the post is spawn thought, conversation, and examination of the Scriptures. Mother Teresa is not a target per say, but representative of people being fooled by good works and the dangerous end time theology of "God as you understand Him." The reason people choke on the illustration, because we all want to believe that God will weigh our good works against our bad theology and be benevolent. Someone tried to put me on the spot at a lunch gathering because I'm the preacher and people like to make you address difficult subjects before an audience to see if you have any courage. It was a year ago when the last Pope passed away. "Preacher did the Pope go to heaven when he died? My answer was, "If the Pope was counting on his posistion, resume, vow of poverty, the prayer of the saints, the sacraments, or the Catholic church he will not be there. If he is counting on nothing but the love of a Savior who died and rose on the third day, and if he has called on Jesus and the atonement of sin available through Christ alone. Then he is there in spite of being Catholic." That got a lot of laughs, because I lowered the volume on the last sentence and act like I was making a quick get away.

Back to Mother Teresa, she has made a lot of sacrifices apparently to give her life to service to the poor. But if she didn't use the opportunity to aleve the spiritual suffering with the salve of salvation her life was a waste. Now I did say "if".

[Kabowd]

Back to Mother Teresa, she has made a lot of sacrifices apparently to give her life to service to the poor. But if she didn't use the opportunity to aleve the spiritual suffering with the salve of salvation her life was a waste. Now I did say "if".

So, in comparison (since you mentioned you're a pastor), would you also say that if you put more emphasis on preaching than on going out and getting your congregation to go out and practice what you have taught...that your life was also a waste? Calling someone's life a "waste" or even speculating it to be such is very strong. While I certainly agree that no one can rely on their works to earn them salvation, at the same time I cannot deny the fact that good works do reflect God. Meeting physical needs is just as important as meeting spiritual needs. They are equal. While we should have balance, and seek to meet both needs, at the same time we all fall short very regularly on this point. We all swing from one extreme to another from time to time. When we fail, this does not make our life a total waste. It just means we fell short. We're human afterall, and so was Mother Teresa. I just don't like using someone's life as a springboard for judging motives, I think we should avoid that. Yes, of course we can identify and point out false doctrine. Let's not diminish the good works she did for the sake of argument or speculation on her motives. At least be willing to praise her for the things she accomplished. James teaches us that every good gift comes from the Father. When we see any act of kindness or goodness in the world, it is a direct reflection of who God is. This also leaves those in witness to it without excuse, for they have seen and experienced the work of God, His common grace in action. What I'm saying is, celebrate what is good. Where there is bad theology (if it's evident) point it out. But if you have no evidence of it, don't speculate. Honestly, when I look at her life, instead of judgment I'm convicted. I believe that I have sound doctrine to back up my beliefs (which she may have lacked). However, my life does not reflect it nearly the way hers did. If I could be even half as selfless as she was....