Thread: Analyzing Mother Teresa

Originally Posted by Susan

It sounds to me as if she was very honest and probably suffered from depression. The problem that I see is that some Christian missionaries are EXPECTED to show a facade. They are expected to be the example which means they can not show their own weaknesses. It's too bad she didn't have someone to minister to her in her dark times.

It's too bad she didn't have someone to minister to her in her dark times.

Right. I have to wonder why that was.

Originally Posted by CatchyUsername

Right. I have to wonder why that was.

Er... she was catholik.

She would only seek counsel from other catholics, so she was stuck in a cycle of false teaching.

If one understands catholicism, it's obvious why things are the way they are amongst these folks

It says something that she kept on caring for the unlovely even though she didn't feel holy goose bumps and such. We all go through dark and dry places now and then and she kept on without the spiritual support she needed so desperately.

Why is this all an issue now? Would you like to walk the streets of India caring for the physical needs of the unwashed and smelly?

Originally Posted by curly sue

It says something that she kept on caring for the unlovely even though she didn't feel holy goose bumps and such. We all go through dark and dry places now and then and she kept on without the spiritual support she needed so desperately.

Why is this all an issue now? Would you like to walk the streets of India caring for the physical needs of the unwashed and smelly?

I admire that she kept pressing on, even when she didn't "feel" it. Even though I'm not Catholic, and can't really relate to their beliefs, I can relate to her, it may not be particularly holy, but it is human.

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Teresa and her sisters performed rather unorthodox baptisms. They weren't done by immersion, nor pouring, nor sprinkling; but by placing wet cloths upon the foreheads of recipients.

However, because of India's federal law prohibiting proselytizing in Teresa's day; her baptisms were virtually blind because the recipient of the rite had only to express a wish to be a Christian; vz: they were baptized without being adequately evangelized first.

†. Mark 16:15-16 . . He said to them: Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

In other words; baptism is for believers; not for unbelievers; and it is impossible for pagans to believe information about which they are ignorant.

Belief in the gospel is essential. In point of fact a baptism that lacks belief is a baptism unto hell. An unbelieving baptism leaves its recipient abiding in a state of death.

†. John 5:24 . . I assure you, those who listen to my message, and believe in God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

Without believing the gospel, it is impossible to be sealed unto redemption by God's Spirit.

†. Eph 1:13-14 . . In him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

Preaching and believing aren't optional; no, they're essential.

†. 1Cor 1:2 . . It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

According to Christ's testimony, as an expert witness in all matters pertaining to faith; unbelievers are already damned right now, even before they cross over to the other side.

†. John 3:18 . . He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already.

In other words; there's no middle ground: condemned is the default in the absence of believing . Bottom line: unbelievers go to hell no matter how many times they're baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

In doing background on Teresa, I discovered that her superiors' approval of the operation in India was contingent upon her consent to do the work of an evangelical. So then, she not only failed to comply with Christ's directives, but she also failed to comply with her superiors' wishes. What it all boils down to is: Teresa's operation in India was merely a charity little different than those of World Vision, CARE, and Global Impact; rather than a conscientious evangelistic outreach.

God, out of unsolicited and undeserved kindness and compassion, voluntarily went through all the emotional grief, and to all the trouble, of subjecting His own precious next of kin to indignities and painful death to ransom men's souls from the wrath of God.

†. John 3:14-17 . . And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Hindu pagans desperately need to have that passage fully explained; and the Sisters of Charity were not allowed to do so. Is it any wonder then why Christ would abandon Ms. Bojaxhiu for all those five decades? Duh. She was quite useless for his purposes.

FYI: An excellent New Testament example of preaching, believing, and baptizing is located at Acts 8:26-38.

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She was a Roman Catholic. She was doing what they do. Anyone may baptize in the RCC in extenuating circumstances such as a nurse or any one else may baptize a newborn in immediate peril of dying. Then there is the infant baptism issue. There is nothing new or unusual about this. Were they believers? We don't really know. Since it is RCC doctrine that baptism washes away sin, I see this as a non issue. There is nothing wrong in doing charitable works. I understand you think she is wrong in not proselytizing, but we don't really know what she said on a day to day basis.

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"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)

The incident to which Christ referred is located at Num 21:5-9. Long story short: Yhvh's people became sick and tired of living in the desert and eating manna all the time at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine benefactor for tastier food and better accommodations, they became hostile and confrontational.

In response to their insolence; Yhvh sent a swarm of deadly poisonous reptiles among them; which began striking people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions. In no time at all, much people of Israel died. Then those not yet dead got nervous and appealed to Moses for help. In reply; the Lord instructed Moses to construct a model of the beasts and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could look to the image for relief.

Now the key issue here is that the model was the only God-given remedy for the people's terminal condition-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church attendance, not door to door missionary work, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not the Sabbath, not charity, not good deeds, not good behavior, not piety, not Bible study and Sunday school, not catechism or yeshiva, not one's religion of choice, not self denial, not the so-called golden rule, not vows of poverty and/or chastity, not the Ten Commandments, not the Eucharist, not operating hostels and orphanages in India; no, none of that: not even prayers. The model was it; viz: it was all or nothing at all-- there was no other option. Whoever failed to look to that model for protection died: no exceptions.

In other words then: Christ's sacrifice of himself to satisfy justice for the sins of the world is the only God-given option for protection from the second death depicted at Rev 20:11-15. The default is terminal; no exceptions.

†. John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him will not be condemned; but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.

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Originally Posted by Valiant Woman

I was listening to a message by the late brother Hagin a few nights ago. He said, "there have been many times before I enter the pulpit I feel as dry and unanointed as ever; I don't feel nothing. But I don't go by feelings. I get up there and teach or preach and the power of God comes on me!"

"How to be Led by the Holy Spirit", Kenneth E. Hagin.