Ms. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu

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Mother Teresa's Beliefs And Practices

Two indispensable books for getting past the legend, and into the reality, of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (a.k.a. Kolkata) are listed below.

The Missionary Position:
Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
By Christopher Hitchens
ISBN 1-85984-929-6
ISBN 1-85984-054-X (paper back)

Hitchens has become a recognized expert on Teresa of Calcutta's dark side; so much so that during her beatification process, he was called upon by the Vatican to argue the case against her. This role was previously undertaken by the office of Devil's Advocate, prior to its abolishment under John Paul II. Hitchens wrote an article on that experience titled : Playing The Devil's Advocate Pro Bono for the October 2001 issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

Teresa's devotees often attempt to invalidate Hitchens because he's an atheist. However, attempts to invalidate Christopher Hitchens' research solely on the basis of his private philosophy is both futile and intellectually irresponsible. That criteria is about as smart as refusal to read the Wall Street Journal and/or periodicals like TIME and NEWSWEEK, and/or watch broadcast news, and/or listen to AM/FM radio reports of current events solely because the information dispensed therein is compiled by secular humanists.

Instead of attacking Hitchens, the sensible approach is to investigate the findings of his research as to whether those findings are factual; but in order to do that, it's necessary to actually read his book instead of just going off on its author.

The second book is a collection of Teresa's letters written privately to spiritual counselors; published with hierarchy approval by her long-time friend Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk M.C.; director of the Mother Teresa Center, and a Postulator in favor of her canonization.

Mother Teresa / Come Be My Light
The Private Writings of the "Saint of Calcutta"
Edited with commentary by Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C.
ISBN 978-0-385-52037-9

Father Kolodiejchuk's book is especially handy for juxtaposing Teresa's missionary beliefs and practices with those of the apostle Paul's. In doing so, it becomes readily apparent that there was something very wrong in her methods and in her association with Paul's God. Teresa's perpetual darkness, her spiritual dryness, her feelings of abandonment, the absence of even the faintest glimmer of The Lord's presence, her lack of faith, and her pretense, are especially inconsistent with Paul's life— whom I believe to be a far more reliable role model for missionaries than Teresa was even on her best day.

Father Kolodiejchuk's book should prove quite disillusioning for people who let themselves be so blinded by the flash of Teresa's accomplishments that they never saw past them to her deplorable spiritual condition; while Hitchens' book exposes her political activities, her shocking hypocrisy, her handling of good-intentioned donations, and the questionable medical practices and depressing accommodations within her hostels.

With all the scandalous insider's information now readily available; one really has to wonder if Teresa would even be considered for a Nobel prize today let alone actually awarded one. I wonder how many people remember that Time Magazine voted Joseph Stalin as Man Of The Year in 1942. (chuckle) Reality bites.

Teresa's devotees will probably find that the two books above will only serve to chafe them to no end. But if you are a conscientious Christian looking for some answers, then they certainly present lots for you to think about.

My purpose in this book report is not to denigrate the value of Mother Teresa's work in India, nor to critique her personally as a human being; but rather, to analyze her deplorable spiritual condition and try to understand why the most pious nun that the twentieth century ever produced, wrote in her private letters: "When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain— I have no faith."

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (02)

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Teresa's Calling

Rome is not to blame for recruiting Teresa to run an operation in India. No, far from it. It was wholly her own idea; which was based entirely upon some "interior imaginative locutions" she claims to have received from Christ himself beginning in Sept of 1946 and ending some time in 1947.

I.I.L.'s are neither apparitions nor visions : they're imaginations. They are neither visual nor are they audio. Teresa never actually heard anything with her own ears nor saw an appearance with her own eyes. And curiously (or maybe it's far more accurate to say coincidently) when Teresa's superiors finally caved to her incessant letter-writing campaign and gave her permission to proceed, the I.I.L.'s stopped and she never heard from "Jesus" again for the next five decades— which ultimately caused her an abnormally large amount of inner anguish that finally led the poor woman to doubt not only the validity of her mission, but also to doubt the very existence of Catholicism's God.

In one of her letters, penned to a Father Picachy, Teresa complained; "I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul."

In yet another letter, penned to a Father Joseph Neuner, S.J. Teresa confessed: Now Father— since 1949 or 1950 this terrible sense of loss— this untold darkness— this loneliness, this continual longing for God— which gives me pain deep down in my heart— Darkness is such that I really do not see neither with my mind nor with my reason— the place of God in my soul is blank— There is no God in me— when the pain of longing is so great— I just long & long for God— and then it is that I feel— He does not want me— He is not there— God does not want me— Sometimes— I just hear my own heart cry out— "My God" and nothing else comes— the torture and pain I can't explain—

Teresa's "reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness" and her remarks "the place of God in my soul is blank" and "There is no God in me" is a depressing commentary on her deplorable spiritual condition. God, in the person of Christ, is supposed to be in every believer; even the lowly ones who don't count for much in the grand scheme of things.

†. 1Cor 6:19 . .Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

†. 2Cor 13:5 . . Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

†. Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Clearly, Teresa sensed that something was terribly wrong with her expectations. She instinctively knew that a nun of her caliber— with a calling of its degree of charity —really should be in better touch with Catholicism's God than the reality of what she was experiencing; which was zero contact. It made no sense to her at all; and truly, it does make no sense when the Bible's Christ promised his own : "I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18) plus : "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb 13:5)

For Teresa to say: "God does not want me" is to clearly reveal that she wasn't receiving timely assurances from God's Spirit that God accepted her as His own kin, and there was a place waiting for her in God's own home.

†. Rom 8:16 . .The Spirit himself corroborates with our spirit that we are God's children.

Nor was she experiencing the filial bond supernaturally produced by the God-given spirit of adoption.

†. Rom 8:15 . . For you have not received a spirit of slavery again to fear; but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we call out : Abba!, Father!

Darkness of the soul is a symptom of (1) disassociation from God, (2) failure to act upon truth, and (3) the accumulation of unwashed sins.

†. 1John 1:6 . . If we say we have fellowship with Him, while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

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Ms. Bojaxhiu (03)

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Alter Ego

Teresa's private letters paint an astonishing alternate portrait of the nun so revered the world over for selflessness and serenity. In reality, the woman was tormented for decades by her inability to feel even the smallest glimmer of The Lord's presence. Teresa felt abandoned by Christ, and referred to him as "the absent One" and said of her own supposed cheerfulness : "My smile is a great cloak that hides a multitude of pains." In another letter she said : "The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment with the loss of God. In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I feel that God does not want me, that God is not God; and that He does not really exist."

The poor woman was so unsure of the existence of a supreme being that she at one time wrote; "If there be God— please forgive me." In practicality, Teresa was an agnostic; which Webster's defines as : one who is non committed to believing in either the existence, or the nonexistence, of a supreme being.

Teresa's self evaluation reveals something unthinkable about her. If reveals that Teresa actually declined to accept the Lord's testimony as an expert witness in matters pertaining to God. Subsequently, God reciprocated and declined to make Himself real to her.

†. John 3:31-36 . . He has come from heaven. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is real.

As I went through Teresa's private letters, I was startled to discover some unexpected inconsistencies in her testimony. In one letter, she complains that within herself there is a blank where God ought to be. Yet in another letter, she waxes eloquent and says that God "does the work through her" citing herself as a pencil in God's hands.

In another, she says that she revealed her inner spiritual darkness because she felt God urging her to do so; and her own personal preferences did not matter, but Him she could not refuse. Isn't that a non sequitur? How can one be in spiritual darkness, utterly disconnected from God, and at the same time feel urgings from God?

My question is : How can one say of themselves : "the place of God in my soul is blank— There is no God in me— He does not want me— He is not there . . . I feel that God is not God; and that He does not really exist" while at the same time profess themselves to be in seemingly intimate association with Him? In the 1960's, after receiving an important award; she wrote : "This means nothing to me, because I don't have Him". I'm no psychiatrist, but that appears a bit mixed up.

The answer to this astonishing paradox is that Agnes' private thoughts matched neither her public speaking nor her published books; in other words; Ms. Bojaxhiu was a big pretender. According to the Bible, vacillating Christians should not expect to obtain wisdom from God via prayer (Jas 1:5-8) and of course she never did. Her adoring fans thought she was in contact with God, but in private; Agnes knew better.

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Ms. Bojaxhiu (04)

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An Apologetic

The Oregon Province, with 250 Jesuits in five Northwest states, has recently filed bankruptcy in order to settle166 million dollars worth of sexual abuse claims involving more than 500 victims.

Nationwide, two archdioceses and six dioceses have filed for bankruptcy since the sex abuse crisis erupted in the US Catholic Church in the archdiocese of Boston in 2002. In all, sex abuse cases have cost the US Catholic church a whopping 2.1 Billion dollars since 1950. But money is not the real issue; no, souls are the real issue. The number of victims, and I'm only counting the largest pay-outs, totals 2,843 hearts and minds.

Those hearts and minds are victims of not just the abuse of their bodies, but also the abuse of their trust. When I was growing up a young Catholic boy in the late 1940's and 1950's, it was unthinkable to criticize priests and nuns. It just wasn't done; and as as I remember, priests and nuns were typically portrayed in Hollywood movies as agents of decency and integrity. Not anymore.

The last straw, for me anyway, has been Ms. Bojaxhiu (pronounced : bye-yah'-joo). However, my disappointment in the famous nun was not caused so much by her morals or her scruples, or her ethics (I leave criticism of those aspects of Teresa's character to Mr. Hitchens) but in regard to her deplorable spiritual condition. In view of the Roman Church's history of sexual and financial scandals, is it any big surprise to anybody that Rome's poster girl has turned out to be a big pious phony all along without anybody on the outside knowing anything about it before Father Kolodiejchcuk published samples of her private correspondence?

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (05)

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Orphan Agnes

Teresa complained that Jesus abandoned her. But according to the Bible; the Lord never abandons his own.

†. John 14:18 . . I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you.

†. Heb 13:5 . . for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee

In collaboration with the Bible; the Holy Spirit supernaturally assures the Lord's people that they're in.

†. Rom 8:16 . .The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's kin.

By Teresa's own admissions, she lacked contact with God's Spirit; and I'm not talking about occasional lacks, but virtually a 100% vacuum from the late 1940's to 1997; a period of nearly 50 years— virtually five decades.

I just wonder how many people reading this are mature enough to at all comprehend the meaning of five decades? It's 600 months, 2,600 weeks, 18,250 days. Fifty years ago in 1961, President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, Alan B. Shepherd became America's first man in space after Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gregarin became the first-ever human being in space. 1961 was the year of the infamous Bay Of Pigs invasion. America's build-up in Vietnam wouldn't begin for six more years; nor had Amana introduced its first residential microwave oven in stores. I was but a 17 year-old kid just out of high school joining the US Army and today I am 67.

You youngsters out there : fifty years is a really big chunk out of somebody's lifetime. It's ten years longer than even Moses' journeys around the Sinai Peninsula with Yhvh's people.

And then there's the spirit of adoption :

†. Rom 8:15 . . For you have not received a spirit of slavery again to fear; but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we call out : Abba, Father!

The spirit of adoption is actually the spirit of God's son.

†. Gal 4:6-7 . . And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His son into your hearts, calling out : Abba, Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You see what I'm saying here? There is just too much communication going on between the Bible's God and His little ones for them to ever to feel abandoned— His own Spirit, and the spirit of His son, just won't permit it.

The whole point of those supernatural activities going on between God and His kin is to prevent tragedies like Teresa's from occurring. The poor woman was never sure God even liked her; much less whether or not He approved of her work in India; and in her letters she even expressed doubt that a God exists! That is fatal to any missionary's endeavors.

†. Heb 11:6 . .Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists.

Note the words impossible and must.

Ironically, demons never doubt the existence of the Bible's God (Jas 2:19). So the quality of Teresa's faith was actually below the level of a demon's faith.

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (06)

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Silence of The Spirit

In all those five decades of selfless missionary service; that poor woman scarcely experienced any supernatural assurances and encouragements; and you have got to ask why. Surely someone as pious as her should have felt accompanied by Catholicism's God all those five decades; but never did. I do not see how any reasonable person, by any stretch of the imagination, could possibly regard that as "normal" for a beatified Catholic nun like Mother Teresa. No way. Her condition was a red flag, a crimson red flag that something in her system of beliefs and practices was very, very wrong. It tells me Teresa was either not one of God's children, or that somehow she managed to quench The Spirit and He never again opened another line of communication.

†. 1Ths 5:19 . .Quench not the Spirit.

How does one quench The Spirit? Well . . the better question is : How would the most dedicated Catholic nun the twentieth century every produced manage to quench Him? If the most pious role model in the modern Catholic world could quench God's Spirit for virtually five decades, then where does that leave your average rank and file pew warmer? Is it any wonder then why so many regular Catholics don't have a clue as to their eternal destiny?

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (07)

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Intellectual Dishonesty

I have seen numbers of non-Catholics defend Teresa's internal imaginative locutions as valid communications from God. I don't know if those people are aware of it or not, but their confidence in the validity of Teresa's mystical experiences obligates them to convert to Roman Catholicism. Yes, it does, or otherwise I have to conclude that they are just idle bombasters who lack intellectual integrity because validating Teresa's mystical experiences eo ipso validates the religion she represents. It cannot be any other way; for example :

†. Mtt 21:23-27 . . Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. By what authority are you doing these things? they asked; And who gave you this authority? Jesus replied : I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism— where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?

. . .They discussed it among themselves and said : If we answer it's from heaven; then he will want to know why we didn't believe him. But if we answer it's from men —we fear the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet. So they answered Jesus : We don't know.

That kind of dishonesty was common just about everywhere the Lord went. Here's another example :

†. John 3:1-2 . . Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said : Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.

Nicodemus and his fellow Pharisees were convinced that the source of the Lord's miracles was their very own Yhvh; but would they accept the Lord's doctrine? No; even though they were intelligent enough to know very well that their Yhvh would never give that kind of power to a charlatan.

†. John 9:30-33 . .The man answered : Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

That kind of stubbornness is called "obtuse" which Webster's defines as : lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect; viz : thoughtless, stupid, dull. It can also be defined as "obstinate" which Webster's defines as : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion. Key word in that definition is "perversely".

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (09)

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†. Col 4:2 . . Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

The koiné Greek word for "devote" is proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o) which means: to persevere; viz : not give up and/or lose interest.

For many of us, prayer is a last resort; a grasping at straws because we simply have nowhere else to turn. We wish for progress with prayer, while not really expecting it because we already know from plenty of experience that prayer too often leads into a cul-de-sac of perplexity, disillusionment, and discouragement; so then, what's the use? In other words : prayer is very difficult for some Christians because it's so often just as futile for them as it was for Agnes.

In private letters secretly written to spiritual counselors; God's silence caused Mother Teresa to admit she wasn't entirely convinced there's a God out there. Here's the wording :

"The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment with the loss of God. In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I feel that God does not want me, that God is not God; and that He does not really exist."

In another letter; Theresa complained :

"When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain— I have no faith."

Why didn't the Bible's God respond? And if He's not going to respond, then why should anybody keep on making a fool of themselves trying to get through to an imaginary playmate when all the while its phone is off the hook?

Well, the best reason I can think of is that it's because the Lord wishes it; regardless of tangible results.

†. Luke 18:1 . . And he spoke a parable unto them to this end: that people ought always to pray, and not lose heart.

Teresa seriously screwed up by permitting locutions to dictate her association with the Bible's Christ; hence; she overreacted to heaven's silence when she would have been far better off accepting God's silence as the norm.

C.S. Lewis, famed author of The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of Narnia; once remarked that he prayed, not because he expected results but, because it made him feel better. Well, if prayer makes you feel better, then more power to you— in point of fact, I highly recommend conversational prayer because talking things out with somebody, even an imaginary playmate, is far and away better than talking things out with nobody.

My point is; don't let the absence of locutions; or of a so-called "still small voice" discourage you from speaking with God or cause you to wonder if the Bible's God even exists. You just have to trust that He's thereabouts listening to everything you say.

†. 1Pet 5:7 . . Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

And anyway, if the three verses below are at all true in your case, then there is just no way on God's green earth that you are ever going to wonder if the Bible's God is real or not.

†. Rom 8:15 . . For you have not received a spirit of slavery again to fear; but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we call out : Abba, Father!

†. Gal 4:6-7 . . And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His son into your hearts, calling out : Abba, Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

†. Rom 8:16 . .The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's kin.

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (10)

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Faith and Works

†. Jas 2:18 . . Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Is that always a reliable criteria for testing the spirituality of people like Ms. Bojaxhiu? No, it isn't; and here's why :

†. Mtt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day : Lord, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them : I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The Christians in the above passage have lots of wonderful works to their credit done in the Lord's name; but he's set to condemn those wonderful works done in his name as works of iniquity; and also set to disown the workers. Why is that? Read on :

†. Jas 2:20-21 . . But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

If faith without works is dead, then the opposite is just as true : Works without faith are dead.

In private letters secretly written to spiritual counselors; Agnes admitted she wasn't entirely convinced there's a God out there. Here's the wording :

"The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment with the loss of God. In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I feel that God does not want me, that God is not God; and that He does not really exist."

In another letter; she complained :

"When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain— I have no faith."

People are too quick to overlook Teresa's crisis of faith without considering the ramifications.

†. Heb 11:6 . .Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists.

Note the words impossible and must indicating that nobody's works, not even Teresa's, can compensate for a lack of personal conviction in the existence of God.

I don't know, maybe it's just me; but I just don't know how somebody can label themselves a Christian all the while wondering if there really is a God out there; and just exactly what is it about the words "impossible" and "must" that some people don't understand? What will it take to get them past this barrier to their understanding of Ms. Bojaxhiu's deplorable spiritual condition? Maybe a dictionary of the English language can be of some assistance.

Webster's defines "impossible" as : incapable of being, or of occurring.

Webster's defines "must" as : an indispensable item; viz : essential.

A prayer that begins with "If you're out there God" is a prayer that does not make it to heaven. In point of fact, James said that those kinds of prayers reveal just how mixed up somebody really is.

†. Jas 1:5-8 . . If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Teresa's private letters written in secret to spiritual counselors reveal that she actually prayed those kinds of prayers; and one of them went like this : If there be God— please forgive me.

James said that people who pray iffy prayers should not expect a response from God. You know why?

†. Heb 11:6 . .Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists.

Ironically, a demon's level of faith is actually superior to Teresa's. At least they believe in the existence of God.

†. Jas 2:19-20 . . You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe— and tremble!

I'm sorry but I simply cannot admire someone labeling themselves a Christian whose iffy belief in the existence of God doesn't even measure up to the quality of a demon's belief.

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (11)

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Teresa's Gospel

The Sisters Of Charity are peaceable— unlike previous Vatican administrations; they bear no arms for conquest; and they force Christianity on no one. However, it is a missionary's sacred duty to at least try to sell the Gospel.

†. Mtt 28:19-20 . .Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

†. Mrk 16:15-16 . .He said to them; Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. He that believes and is baptized shall be spared; he that believes not shall be damned.

†. Rom 1:16 . . I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes

†. 1Cor 9:16 . .I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Unfortunately, in Teresa's day, it was a Federal crime in India to proselytize so Teresa's sisters went about their business virtually mute as far as the Gospel goes in order to prevent Ms. Bojaxhiu's operation from being evicted from India.

In her own book, Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations, and Prayers, Mother Teresa says on pp. 81-82 :

"We never try to convert those who receive [aid from Missionaries of Charity] 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. 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."

The following is from an interview with a Catholic nun, Sister Ann, who worked in Kathman-du, Nepal, with Mother Teresa's organization Missionaries of Charity. The interview was conducted 11/23/84 at the Pashupati Temple.

Q : Do you believe if they die believing in Shiva or in Ram [Hindu gods] they will go to heaven?

A : Yes, that is their faith. My own faith will lead me to God; so if they have believed in their god very strongly, if they have faith, surely they will be saved.

Q : Today it does not seem that the Catholic Church is trying to convert anymore. I know that John Paul II is saying now that those of other religions are saved. You do not believe they are lost anyway, right?

A : No, they are not lost. They are saved according to their faith, you know. If they believe whatever they believe, that is their salvation.

When Teresa died, her longtime friend and biographer Naveen Chawla said that he once asked her bluntly : Do you convert? She replied : Of course I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu or a better Muslim or a better Protestant. Once you've found God, it's up to you to decide how to worship him. (Mother Teresa Touched Other Faiths, Associated Press, 9/7/97)

The April 7-13, 1990, issue of Radio Times tells the story of Mother Teresa sheltering an old Hindu priest. "She nursed him with her own hands and helped him to die reconciled with his own gods."

According to Jesus' testimony as an expert witness in matters pertaining to the hereafter in John 3:14-18, people who fail to appropriate his cross as the sole means of escape from the wrath of God, will not make it to safety, but in truth, are already damned even before they cross over to the other side.

Assisting pagans to die reconciled to their own gods is unthinkable for a conscientious follower of the Bible's Christ.

†. Mtt 4:10 . . Away with you, Satan! For it is written : You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.

†. Mark 12:29-30 . . And Jesus answered him : The first of all the commandments is : Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength— this is the first commandment.

†. John 14:6 . . Jesus said to him : I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

†. 1Cor 8:5-6 . . For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

You know, it's sometimes very difficult for me to believe that Ms. Bojaxhiu had the nerve to identify herself with the Bible's Christ because her missionary policy utterly failed to honor his wishes. I mentioned previously in reply #21 that I suspected God and Teresa parted company on a major issue. Well; if ever there was a major issue; that had to be it.

†. Mtt 12:30 . . He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad.

†. John 14:15 . . If you love me, you will comply with what I command.

†. John 14:21 . .Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.

†. John 14:23-24 . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching . . He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

†. John 15:14 . .You are my friends if you do as I wish.

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (12)

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Peace

Below is some (almost) verbatim commentary related to Mother Teresa's private letters, authored by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C. Serious students of the Bible will instantly detect that Teresa's condition in no way reflects a normal New Testament Christian experience.

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This letter [Feb 8, 1937] to her confessor [Father Franjo Jambrekovic] back in Skopje is the first instance in her correspondence where Sister Teresa refers to "darkness." It is difficult to grasp precisely what "darkness" meant for her at this time, but in the future the term would come to signify profound interior suffering, lack of sensible consolation, spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from her life, and, at the same time, a painful longing for Him. Her brief description makes clear that most of the time she was not enjoying the light and consolation of God's sensible presence.
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If someone was interested in converting to Catholicism, how might Father Kolodiejchuk's commentary effect their decision? Well; I think they would instantly conclude that Catholicism is a very depressing religion indeed; and has like zero to offer somebody who might be seriously interested in associating with Man's maker.

Teresa's darkness, her interior suffering, her lack of sensible consolation, her spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from her life, and, at the same time, a painful longing for Him was virtually perpetual, lasting five decades, from 1947 clear up to the very hour of her death in 1997. At the urging of Henry D'Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta (a.k.a. Kolkata), the poor woman finally agreed to an exorcism in the final weeks of her life— performed by Father Rosario Stroscio —if perchance demons were clouding her mind.

Demons clouding Teresa of Calcutta's mind!? That is certainly not a very appealing testimonial to Catholicism's value as a source of light and consolation of God's sensible presence for rank and file pew warmers; is it.

Father Stroscio, 79, said Mother Teresa appeared dazed and behaving strangely at the time of the exorcism. I also know from another source that Teresa was nervous about God in her last moments. Ironically, though she was never really confident a God exists, she feared that if one did exist, it wouldn't like her, and might be quite disposed to condemn her. Compare Teresa's end-of-life experience with the up-beat testimony of the New Testament's Paul :

†. 2Tim 4:6-8 . . I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul's mind certainly wasn't clouded, nor was he dazed and behaving strangely, nor was he in doubt about the existence of a God, nor was he nervous that if a God did exist, it might not like him; and possibly quite disposed to condemn him. No, none of that because that is just simply not the way the supernatural aspect of New Testament Christianity works.

†. Php 4:6-9 . .Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which is beyond the intellect, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me— put it into practice; and the God of peace will be with you.

Why did Teresa suffer with darkness, interior suffering, lack of sensible consolation, spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from her life, fear of the unknown, and, at the same time, a painful longing for God? Why wasn't the God of peace with the most pious nun the twentieth century ever produced? Duh. Because she failed to put into practice whatever it was that the Christians at Philippi learned, received, and heard from Paul. Anybody can see that. There's more :

†. Heb 11:13 . .These all died in faith

The eleventh chapter of the epistle to Hebrews contains a catalogue of Old Testament saints who died, not in a state of darkness, interior suffering, lack of sensible consolation, spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from their life, fear of the unknown, and, at the same time, a painful longing for God; but rather, died "in faith"

†. Heb 11:1 . .What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

One's last moments are the acid test of whether their minds are controlled by Bible faith. If perchance they go to their death like Ms. Bojaxhiu did in a state of darkness, interior suffering, lack of sensible consolation, spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from their life, fear of the unknown, doubt in the existence of a God, and, at the same time, a painful longing for God; then they should prepare themselves for the worst when they make the crossing over to the other side because they will not be dying in faith; no, they will be dying in unbelief; and I don't think I need to explain what that means.

†. Mrk 16:16 . . He that believeth not shall be damned.

C.L.I.F.F.
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Ms. Bojaxhiu (13)

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Teresa Juxtaposed With The Lord

Some have attempted to normalize Teresa's feelings of abandonment by citing the Lord's feelings of abandonment on the cross. However, his feelings of abandonment lasted no more than six hours, not five decades— which total four hundred and thirty-eight thousand hours.

The Lord was momentarily cursed for the purpose of the cross (Gal 3:13) so it was appropriate he be made to feel abandoned while on it. Surely Teresa's fans don't mean to have me believe that she was cursed for 438,000 hours! Although I personally believe she was; surely they don't!

FAQ : Don't you think six hours of doubt for the son of God reveals something about his faith?

The question is essentially a non sequitur. Although the Lord experienced abandonment while on the cross; to my knowledge, he never once in his entire lifetime; not even up on the cross, questioned the existence of the Bible's God. In point of fact, his prayer while on the cross reveals the Lord never lost faith in that particular area.

†. Mrk 15:34 . . And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying : Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted : My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

FYI : The Lord's prayer in no way seeks an answer. His question was merely rhetorical because from childhood the Lord was fully indoctrinated with the Old Testament and knew very well why he was abandoned in those crucial moments.

†. Ps 22:1-3 . . My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Yes, Israel's God is a holy god who cannot bear to associate with evil. Well, while the Lord was stuck up on that cross; he was laden with the sins of the whole world; thus targeting himself an unholy object of wrath.

†. Gal 3:12-13 . . Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written : Cursed is everyone hung on a tree.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Christ saw that curse coming well in advance just from his own personal studies in the book of Isaiah.

†. Isa 52:13-15 . . Many were amazed when they saw him— beaten and bloodied : disfigured beyond recognition.

†. Isa 53:4-6 . . It was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet Yhvh laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.

†. Isa 53:10-12 . . But it was Yhvh's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and Yhvh's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.

. . . And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.

Through all his ordeal; the Lord never vacillated, whereas Teresa? Oh give it up already; it's difficult sometimes to believe the woman even dared label herself a Christian. There are verses in the Bible; had Teresa actually believed them she would not have doubted for even one second that God is a believer's perpetual companion.

†. John 14:18 …I will not abandon you as orphans; I will come to you.

†. Rom 8:9 . . If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

†. 1Cor 6:19 . . Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you; whom you have received from God?

†. Heb 13:5 …for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee

It isn't necessary for believers to psyche themselves up first in order to believe those four verses because God's Spirit is on the job as a spiritual counselor— in some supernatural way that I do not fully understand —bonding believers to their Father, and reassuring them they are loved and have a place in His home.

†. Rom 8:15-16 …For you have not received a spirit of slavery again to fear; but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we call out : Abba! Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

While reading Teresa's letters, it became quite obvious to me almost right away that Rom 8:15-16 never happened for her and that's why Ms. Bojaxhiu eventually became so stressed about her lack of association with God.

†. 1John 1:5-6 …If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another

If Teresa had been truly walking in the light all those decades, then the Bible's God most certainly would have associated with her or otherwise 1John 1:5-6 would be quite false; but I can testify from personal experience that it's not.

BTW : I certainly hope none of Teresa's fans are gullible enough to think that God laid the sins of India on her like some sort of sequel to the cross and that's why He abandoned her all those years. No, there is only one sacrifice for sins that the Bible's God will accept; and people's negligence to buy into it terminates in their worst nightmare.

†. Heb 10:26-28 . . If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

C.L.I.F.F.
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