Responding to this person

[Kaily]

How would you respond to this person?

"I was browsing the internet and ran across a quote by Mother Teresa from her book Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations and Prayers. (I just ran across this quote. If she clarifies herself or something, please let me know)

We never try to convert those who receive [aid from her
organization] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love
of God’s presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become
for this better men — simply better — we will be satisfied. Growing up in love
they will be nearer to God and find him in his goodness. Every human being comes
from the hand of God and we all know what is the love of God for us. My religion
is everything to me but for every individual, according to the grace God had
given that soul. God has his own ways and means to work in the hearts of men and
we do not know how close they are to him but by their actions we will always
know whether they are at his disposal or not.

Whether you are a Hindu, a Moslem or a Christian, how you live your life is the proof that you are fully his or not. We must not condemn or judge or pass words that will hurt people. Maybe a person has never heard of Christianity. We do not know what way God is appearing to that soul and what way God is drawing that soul, and
therefore who are we to condemn anybody? It matters to the individual what
church he belongs to. If that individual thinks and believes that this is the
only way to God for her or him, this is the way God comes into their life — his
life. If he does not know any other way and if he has no doubt so that he does
not need to search then this is his way to salvation. This is the way God comes
into his life. (81, 82)

As loving as this may sound, this was not the gospel preached by Jesus. I highly respect what Mother Teresa did, but it seems she bought into Contemplative spirituality and mysticism. Others such as Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo and others in the Emergent Church crowd have also bought into this.

What is the great commission that Jesus Himself gave to His disciples?

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

We can feed the poor. That’s great. So we fed them, now what? They are still lost without Christ. He is the only way to God! If you’re a Hindu or Muslim, you are worshipping a different God. If we truly love people, we would not only help them with their physical needs, but also let them know that they are lost without Jesus. I can’t see how it is kind to avoid the issue."

 

[Muzhik]

I would say this:

"Catholics believe that belief in Jesus Christ as THE Christ is a gift from G_D. We do not know when, or where, or how G_D choses to give this gift to person. That is the source of the Church’s teaching about Natural Law.

Natural Law is that quality or knowledge that is impressed upon all souls. It is that which tells the most wretched pagan that stealing is wrong or that murder is wrong. Those who, by accident of time or place, have not heard or been given the gift of faith in Christ are governed by Natural Law. G_D knows how each person wants to know Him; and when these people come for judgment G_D will judge them on how much they wanted to know Him and how well they followed the Law He gave to their hearts.

For the non-Christians in the lands where Mother Teresa and her sisters work, these acts of kindness – feeding, comforting, healing – are done in the Name of Christ and so are a way of preaching the Gospel without using words. This is generally the rule in the vast majority of Catholic charitable organizations, particularly in mission organizations: preach the Gospel through your actions.

I know of hospitals and such run by Protestant groups in the same areas as where the Catholic organizations are. These Protestant organizations play Christian music and sermons in the waiting and recovery rooms, have only Christian literature to read, and may even have missionaries witness to them and their families while they are waiting or recovering. The message is clear: the services may not cost money, but there is a price, and that price is to become Christian. If given a choice, the people choose to go the Catholic organization since the services there are truly free."

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[Paladin_V]

Well, first I’d like to note that every Christian is called to the contemplative/mystical life, without exception. What form that takes is up to God, but the mystical life, that is to say, the spiritual life, is critical… without it, religion is just meaningless words. Becoming a mystic and contemplative is not simply an option… it is a necessity if we wish to enter heaven.

I’m not going to try to tell Mother Theresa if she’s right or wrong or try to figure out what she’s trying to say here… I’ll just add my own comments.

We are called to serve all, Christian, Jew, Muslim, atheist… everyone… with a humble heart. God does have a path for them and is leading them in His own way, which is often not clear to us. God judges perfectly justly and perfectly mercifully and thank God we are not asked to judge others and to lay out their path for them. So it is not for us to pass judgment on their salvation.

At the same time, we are required to teach the truth of Christ and the complete necessity of belief in Christ, in a prudent fashion. There is a right time and method and a wrong time and method to try to teach the truth and we must constantly pray that the Holy Spirit help us discern what those times and methods are. Sometimes those methods are harsh, sometimes gentle, but the truth must not be compromised. The fact is that anything besides the Catholic faith does not contain the whole truth, which is God… but no one will accept that truth if it is shoved down their throats. As St. Francis said, preach the Gospel in all that you do, and when necessary, use words. I’ll just add that it IS going to be necessary to use words… too often that phrase is misinterpreted and used as a cop-out of confronting falsehood.

The point then, is to serve all humbly, teach truth prudently, and above all, pray… not one single act of service is greater than prayer.

 

[puzzleannie]

As loving as this may sound, this was not the gospel preached by Jesus. I highly respect what Mother Teresa did, but it seems she bought into Contemplative spirituality and mysticism. ."

as have the saints and classic Catholic spiritual direction in general. what is your point? I have no idea who emergent church is nor those other people you mention, whose ideas you claim to describe w/o cite or attribution.

what was the context of the passage you cited? (if it is accurate, does not exactly accord to my memory, but as I am failing that is no guide). was she responding to critics who asked why she did not first convert the poor before helping them?

her mission was to feed the poor and especially to provide a ministry of prayer and presence at the end of life. she explained why she did not see her primary mission as evangelization in terms of orally preaching the gospel. If that is your mission, then do it, but don’t criticize others who have been given different gifts or a different mission. Makes about as much sense for criticizing a doctor for healing instead of evangelizing, or a firefighter for putting out fires instead of evangelizing.

 

[ncgolf]

I would say she led by the rarest of ways … by example. She never hid the fact that Christ was the center of her life but instead of using words she used actions.

She only loved all.

 

[franciscanhobbi]

I would say she led by the rarest of ways … by example. She never hid the fact that Christ was the center of her life but instead of using words she used actions.

She only loved all.

I agree

 

[po18guy]

She was following the advice of Saint Francis of Assisi: Preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words. All who were ministered to by her saw Christ in her eyes, and felt the healing touch of Christ in her hands. The Lord has given us each our own gifts. She excelled in using hers. Others preach ceaselessly. She ministered ceaselessly.

Christ’s peace.

 

[jblake]

Kaily;:

If we truly love people, we would not only help them with their physical needs, but also let them know that they are lost without Jesus. I can’t see how it is kind to avoid the issue."

a) Mother Theresa was preaching by example, by actions, not by words;

b) “Forced Conversions”, especially in the 10-40 belt, don’t do anybody any good. History has repeatedly shown that the method Mother Theresa uses is far more effective, in the long term, of gaining adherents who practice the teachings with their heart, mind, and body, than other forms of evangelism — especially in the socio-economic conditions she was working within;

c) If you want to criticize Mother Theresa, then ponder on the Hindu criticism of her:

• What did/will she do, that is so evil, that she needs to do so much good today?
• Why is she incurring so much bad karma upon herself?

xan

jonathon

 

[Newbie2]

How would you respond to this person?

"I was browsing the internet and ran across a quote by Mother Teresa from her book Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations and Prayers. (I just ran across this quote. If she clarifies herself or something, please let me know)

We never try to convert those who receive [aid from her
organization] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love
of God’s presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become
for this better men — simply better — we will be satisfied. Growing up in love
they will be nearer to God and find him in his goodness. Every human being comes
from the hand of God and we all know what is the love of God for us. My religion
is everything to me but for every individual, according to the grace God had
given that soul. God has his own ways and means to work in the hearts of men and
we do not know how close they are to him but by their actions we will always
know whether they are at his disposal or not.

Whether you are a Hindu, a Moslem or a Christian, how you live your life is the proof that you are fully his or not. We must not condemn or judge or pass words that will hurt people. Maybe a person has never heard of Christianity. We do not know what way God is appearing to that soul and what way God is drawing that soul, and
therefore who are we to condemn anybody? It matters to the individual what
church he belongs to. If that individual thinks and believes that this is the
only way to God for her or him, this is the way God comes into their life — his
life. If he does not know any other way and if he has no doubt so that he does
not need to search then this is his way to salvation. This is the way God comes
into his life. (81, 82)

As loving as this may sound, this was not the gospel preached by Jesus. I highly respect what Mother Teresa did, but it seems she bought into Contemplative spirituality and mysticism. Others such as Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo and others in the Emergent Church crowd have also bought into this.

What is the great commission that Jesus Himself gave to His disciples?

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

We can feed the poor. That’s great. So we fed them, now what? They are still lost without Christ. He is the only way to God! If you’re a Hindu or Muslim, you are worshipping a different God. If we truly love people, we would not only help them with their physical needs, but also let them know that they are lost without Jesus. I can’t see how it is kind to avoid the issue."

I dunno if that’s really true or not. Better to say, methinks, that they may not be worshiping the same God, but certainly doing it in the wrong way.

 

[Spirithound]

How would you respond to this person?

Go hug a leper. Then complain.

 

[Church_Militant]

Go hug a leper. Then complain.

:clapping:

I always look at the people who talk bad about Mother Teresa’s style of evangelism and wonder how they don’t see in her the Good Samaritan and a direct fulfillment Matthew 25:31-46.

I mean stop and think for second. Does anyone suppose that the habit that Mother and her sisters wore was not a very clear witness of the faith of their order?

Does anyone think that the people they helped didn’t know that they were followers of Christ and that their compassion was a clear witness of that faith?

Does anyone suppose that these sisters didn’t tell people about Our Lord as they carried out their ministry to them? After all, in a world where no one else seems to care about your suffering and difficulty, who wouldn’t ask the people who cared for you without asking anything in return, “Why are you doing this?”

Remember 1st Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you. 16 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.