Mother Teresa's letters reveal she had lost her faith?

[James_Newman]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/23/eveningnews/main3199062.shtml

Shortly after beginning work in Calcutta's slums, the spirit left Mother Teresa.

"Where is my faith?" she wrote. "Even deep down… there is nothing but emptiness and darkness... If there be God — please forgive me."

Eight years later, she was still looking to reclaim her lost faith.

"Such deep longing for God… Repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal," she said.

As her fame increased, her faith refused to return. Her smile, she said, was a mask.

"What do I labor for?" she asked in one letter. "If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true."

 

[Agnus_Dei]

Even King David lamented shouting out to God who he felt had abandoned him in his time of need. Even the popular writing of “foot prints in the sand” depicts someone who felt God had abandoned him or her.

Fact is Mother Teresa, worked, lived and served in some of the most poverty stricken areas in the world, unlike anything here in the US. I’m sure seeing and witnessing the suffering she did caused her to cry out to God, where He was.

To me her writings sound a lot like the Psalms of the OT, just my opinion anyway.

Let the Catholic bashing begin.
-

 

[mcdirector]

why does it have to be Catholic bashing? Lots of people lose faith - or never had a real relationship with Jesus to begin with. Frequently, I hear people in Baptist churches say that they don't think that their prayers are getting past the ceiling. I think it's terribly sad to go for years on end without a personal walk -- with the doubt she obviously felt.

 

[James_Newman]

Even King David lamented shouting out to God who he felt had abandoned him in his time of need. Even the popular writing of “foot prints in the sand” depicts someone who felt God had abandoned him or her.

Fact is Mother Teresa, worked, lived and served in some of the most poverty stricken areas in the world, unlike anything here in the US. I’m sure seeing and witnessing the suffering she did caused her to cry out to God, where He was.

To me her writings sound a lot like the Psalms of the OT, just my opinion anyway.

Let the Catholic bashing begin.
-

I don't recall ever seeing any psalms where David doubted the existence of God, but maybe you can point one out. I would be interested in reading some of the letters to see if she says why she feels this way. Even more interesting would be why she kept up the act if she didn't believe.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Catholic Bashing??

You've got to be kidding.

You know David did cry out to God a few times. But I bet he did not feel like God was not there at any time in his life. God had made Himself real to David on many occasions.

There is no evidence that David was without faith for an 8 year period of time, that's for sure.

The fact that Mother Teresa (is it proper for me to call her that? sometimes I wonder) questioned whether there was a God shows she never had a true relationship with God. IF she did at any time, if God made Himself real to her and she knew it, she would not have questioned if there was a God.

Catholic Bashing??

No, it is called discernment and judging according to the Word of God.

 

[carpro]

Even in the darkness of her doubt, she remained an instrument of God.

And He always knows what He is doing, even if she didn't.

 

[StefanM]

Even in the darkness of her doubt, she remained an instrument of God.

And He always knows what He is doing, even if she didn't.

Well said, carpro.

 

[Melanie]

A lot of the saints have experienced this, I recall St Therese of Lisauex suffering this. I have been told that the Lord allows this to occur to encourage the maturation of the spiritual life as in perseverance . It is always easy to pray and serve the Lord when not spiritually dry.....


I admire Mother Theresa all the more for this

 

[Alcott]

Does all this mean the RCC shrinks the hook to fish her out of "purgatory?"

 

[booklady]

Even in the darkness of her doubt, she remained an instrument of God.

And He always knows what He is doing, even if she didn't.

How can we be an instrument of God while doubting His existence?

 

[StefanM]

How can we be an instrument of God while doubting His existence?

Jer 43:10 and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them.

 

[D28guy]

Standing Firm said...

"
Catholic Bashing??

You've got to be kidding.

You know David did cry out to God a few times. But I bet he did not feel like God was not there at any time in his life. God had made Himself real to David on many occasions.

There is no evidence that David was without faith for an 8 year period of time, that's for sure.

The fact that Mother Teresa (is it proper for me to call her that? sometimes I wonder) questioned whether there was a God shows she never had a true relationship with God. IF she did at any time, if God made Himself real to her and she knew it, she would not have questioned if there was a God.

Catholic Bashing??

No, it is called discernment and judging according to the Word of God."

I've seen precious little evidence that "mother Teresa" was ever a born again person. An actual christian. She was quoted several years ago...after being asked if she made many "converts" as a result of her work...as saying something close to this.....


"If the work I do causes a Catholic to be a better Catholic, or a Hindu to be a better Hindu, or a Buddhist to be a better Buddhist, or a Muslim to be a better Muslim, then I have made a convert"

That right there makes it extremely difficult to believe she has ever been converted and born again. The stuff coming out here recently would just fit "like a hand in glove" with that very disturbing testimony of hers.

Of course I hope she did know Christ, but it seems very unlikely.

Of course the Catholics and others will bring up her good works, and she is to be commended for them. But there are humanistic organisations...organisations completly non-christian...who do those same kind of works.

Sadly,

Mike

 

[mnw]

Just a couple of thoughts.

1. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Scripture is plainon that point. We can be discouraged, cast down, but by faith in God keep working and still please Him. But to not believe in God, doubt His existance and keep working I think is wood, hay and stubble.

2. Belief in God is not necessary to used as a tool in the hand of God. But, to be used as a tool in the hand of God and PLEASE Him takes faith and a personal relationship with Him.

Anyway, just wanted to share those thoughts.

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

Is this thread trying to ask, “Was Mother Teresa Saved?” That is between her and God. Her good works are just that, good works. They could not save her, but Jesus could. She had access to and knowledge of the scriptures. She could well have been saved, but at the same time she may not have been. I worry that she, like many Roman Catholics, put her faith in her works or the sacraments of her church instead of on Christ alone. She may have had a false security because of her church. But it is impossible for us to know for sure either way.

The question of her salvation, imho, has nothing to do with her doubting her faith. That can happen whether you have a real relationship with God or not. God has revealed himself to me many times in many ways and I have been saved for over 30 years. But there were years, yes years, in there when God did not reveal himself to me, when I felt my prayers were not heard, and yes I doubted God’s existence at all. Was it because God had forsaken me, or had I forsaken God? Probably more of the later, but I can relate to David in Psalms 22 when he said,

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

As to the question of how she could be used by God if she doubted His existence, obviously God can use anything or anyone. And to James’ question of

Even more interesting would be why she kept up the act if she didn't believe.

I have taken comfort and challenge from psalms 44. Even though in this psalm the author feels that God has abandoned him, that God has:

9. But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
10. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
11. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
12. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
13. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
14. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.\
15. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16. For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

Even though all these bad things have happened, still

17. All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

It is easy to serve God and do what is right when he is showering you with his blessings and filling you with his presence. The question is will you still serve him, will you still do what you know in your heart is right when he hides his face from you? Remember Paul and Barnabus in the Prison? They sang praises to the Lord BEFORE He delivered them. Will you serve God even when you feel forsaken and forgotten? I remember Christ on the Cross quoting Psalms 22 and I know that my savior even knows how I feel when I feel alone and forsaken and I am strengthened to serve Him even when I certainly don’t feel like it.

I think there is a sermon mixed up in there somewhere.

 

[billwald]

Shall we wait until the book is out and we have read it?

What is the evidence of being a "real" Christian?

Personally, I don't trust goody-goody Christians who always go around repeating all the "Christian" catch phrases.

 

[UnchartedSpirit]

Shall we wait until the book is out and we have read it?

What is the evidence of being a "real" Christian?

Personally, I don't trust goody-goody Christians who always go around repeating all the "Christian" catch phrases.

Unless they're pentacostal there's no harm in it...Jesus can forgive anyone for their lack of creativity.