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Mother Teresa went (or is going)
to heaven. Any God who would make Teresa go to hell just because she was not
vocal about how she saw the Person and Work of Christ is not a Triune God worth
serving. Mother T lived a life "for the other" ---a person can hardly
be more godly/worshipful than that. Some people prefer
to confess their faith through actions rather than verbal proclamation. And God
knows this. Whether or not WE can tell she confessed with her mouth and
believed in her heart that Jesus is Lord is not the bottom line. The bottom
line is that only the Divine Mind of God determines salvation of the
individual---not our interpretation of Scripture in our own life context. God
is bigger than the seemingly limitations of verses in the Scripture that would
appear to deny Teresa entrace into heaven. We do not
put limits on God, He is the one who sets the limits, and he can change them
accordingly (perhaps in the End) so that Love and Grace will win the Day for
the most people in the end.
-JH
Very
revealing column. It showed me that I may not
technically be an "evangelical" --the way I answered the question was
not the traditional Asbury-type evangelical answer. Does this mean a new
definition of "Christian" is emerging that is post-4-laws and
post-evangelical?
* JustKara
My wife tells me that's between Mother Teresa and God, but I'd still like to
extend an opinion :). However, my perspectives on these things are always open
to revision on the basis of a stronger theological case, so that's my caveat
with what I write next.
I believe in a God of infinite grace. The God I know is perfect enough in love,
wisdom and power to pull that miracle off. That really puts me in a fairly
small camp in these days of "suitable justice." So, yes, my opinion
is that Mother Theresa is already enjoying time face to face with her Lord.
My perspective is that this is so not because she has earned it, although even
a lousy lawyer could win that case. Nor is it so because she was sincere,
devoted, compassionate, active in good works, knew she was eternally right with
God, headed in the right direction or believed the "correct" dogma.
She's just there because that's the destination planned for beings created for
relationship with God. If there is a purgative state prepared to get some
people suited for that destiny, I'd say her experience there might be a glance
on the way through, but like my wife said--that would be between God and Mother
Teresa. :)
Contrary to adamant arguments from all over the evangelical spectrum, no one
gets right with God by what they do; they are reconciled with God by what God
HAS DONE. It's a done deal. Persons may either live in the confidence of that
or they must live with ignorance of it. Now THERE"S a compelling motivation to proclaim the good
news!
One of these days soon, I'm going to post a blog on how some Christians have
hijacked the word "evangelical" and turned it into something a whole
lot different than broadcasting the good news of the FACT that we have already
been redeemed by God through Christ and start to live life out of that
confidence.
So many evangelicals have turned a sinner's prayer or their faith into one more
deed that merits eternal salvation. I hope some rigorous theologians begin to
think seriously about the amount of very damaging pride and arrogance that has
been generated in those who have "exercised" their faith over those
who have not yet done so. (Remember... "Not of works,
lest anyone should boast").
I actually do believe that many people are lost. They don't know where they are
and they don't know how to get out of that mess. We have the great opportunity
of sharing the good news about what Christ has already done for them and that
they can live in full assurance of God's acceptance of them of the basis of the
work of Christ. Then they can get to work with the business of following the
teachings and example of the one who accepts them so unreservedly.
I believe that Christianity is the only theological perspective that offers the
POSSIBILITY of a totally inclusive redemption. All the rest split people
between the good and the bad or the wise and the foolish, the "innies" and the "outies".
:) But it is in the action of Jesus Christ alone that anyone may be reconciled.
The God I have come to know never doles out discipline or justice for punitve purposes. Why would God need to prove He can squash
weak human beings like bugs? God's justice and discipline in EVERYONE'S life is
ONLY to redeem, restore and reconcile, not to kill and destroy. Jesus took the
death and destruction in our place.
Does that mean that all thoughts, words and deeds are good and don't result in
consequences. No, it doesn't. There is no such thing as action or inaction
without consequence. And I do think it is real prudence to confine people who
pose a real danger to others, but not as a act of
punishment, but one of protection for others.
That all being said, if we can get the business of our "falling short of
the mark" behind us because of what Christ has done for us, then maybe we
can get more busy about doing good wherever we find the opportunity--probably
something like Mother Teresa did.
Mother Teresa went to heaven (I
believe) not because of anything she has done for God or for others (as
wonderful has her deeds were); but because she trusted in Jesus Christ alone
for her salvation--everytime she took mass.
Not that her deeds did not matter, they only evidenced her sound repentance and
turning fully to Christ. But she was saved through the merit of Jesus Christ
and His atoning sacrifice, if she trusted in Him for salvation and evidenced
that trust in obedient and holy living--she's in, as far as my theology goes.
"MY THEOLOGY", now doesn't that sound authoritative! But hey, it's as
good as anybody elses, right? (sarcastic
smile)
I have rarely been more repulsed
than I was earlier this semester as I sat in chapel at a well-known
fundamentalist university and listened to an entire sermon on why the Pope (and
anyone else espousing Catholic doctrine) are either in Hell or headed there in
a hurry. According to this esteemed bastion of hard-nosed truth, I guess Mother
Teresa wouldn't stand a chance.
I don't believe that good works will get a person to heaven, whether he is Catholic
or Wesleyan or Martian. I do believe that Mother Teresa went to heaven because
she had faith in Christ; a vibrant, challenging faith that exuded the love of
Jesus. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you
have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Which, unfortunately, is more than can be said of many who
would be shocked to see Teresa in heaven. The question is, will they get that privilege?
If Mother Teresa or any other
person believes and practices the doctrines and teaching of the Roman Catholic
Church, then biblically one would have to assume they believe in a salvation by
works. She would not be in heaven according to an orthodox evangelical view.
The reformation dealt with this issue of salvation by works or by faith alone.
The Roman Catholic Church chose works and the Evangelicals choose faith alone.
As you mentioned in your article – stand on one side or the other – there is no
middle ground here for Evangelicals. It may not be politically correct or
palatable, but we have to look honestly at what the scriptures say and what we
believe about the scripture.
While Mother Teresa and many others (Dali Lama) have contributed much good to
our world – if they stake their eternal destiny on their works or anything
other than Jesus Christ – then they are lost (that is the official position of
historic Evangelicalism).