mothertheresa

Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt (Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org

WHO WAS MOTHER THERESA?
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje, Yugoslavia, Mother Theresa joined the Sisters of Loreto in 1928. She took the name "Teresa" after St. Teresa of Lisieux, patroness of Missionaries.

In 1948, she came across a half-dead woman lying in front of a Calcutta hospital. She stayed with the woman until she died. From that point on, she dedicated the rest of her life to helping the poorest of the poor in India, thus gaining her the reputation "Saint of the Gutters." She founded an order of nuns called the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India dedicated to serving the poor. Almost 50 years later, the Missionaries of Charity have grown from 12 sisters in India to over 3,000 in 517 missions throughout 100 countries worldwide.

In 1952, she founded the Nirmal Hriday Home for the Dying in a former temple in Calcutta. It was there that they would care for the dying Indians that were found on the streets. Mother Theresa said that she would try to see Jesus in everyone that she met. It didn't matter whether they were dying of AIDS or Leprosy. She wanted them to be able to die in peace and with dignity. For over 50 years, she worked helping the poor. That devotion towards the poor won her respect throughout the world and also the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Over the last two decades of her life, she suffered from heart problems. She suffered a heart attack during a 1983 visit with Pope John Paul II. She suffered another more serious heart attack in 1989.Mother Teresa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, died on September 5, 1997, in her convent in India. She was 87.

WHO ACTUALLY ARE THE SAINTS?
Although Pope John Paul II has declared more saints than any other Pope in history, yet the whole idea of sainthood is perceived as belonging to a very select and extremely limited group.

Yet, when we turn to the Roman Catholic Bible, we discover that things were radically different among the Apostles. For instance, entire churches were addressed as being "saints" The opening line of the Apostle's letters to the church in Rome, Ephesus, Colosse etc., makes it clear that Paul had the whole congregation in mind when he used this title. He certainly did not address just a select few who had achieved an elevated degree of spirituality. The Church at Corinth were a very unspiritual lot indeed. Practically every chapter in Paul's first letter contains a serious rebuke. Yet this same people, warts and all, are called saints (1 Corinthians 1:2) We do not mention them in order to encourage loose living, but just to prove the point that the term saint is synonymous with the term "Christian" (Acts 11:26) or "believers" (Acts 5:14) or whatever other name designated the people of God. You do not need to die to be declared a saint. God's saints in the Bible were alive, well and kicking, simply living for Him in their respective neighbourhoods. Many of them, like John the Baptist, had no miracle to their name (John 10:41) but still were recognised and declared to be saints.

The modern concept of sainthood has no Biblical basis and is of little worth. It tends only to blur the truth that any man or woman can be a saint if they follow the word of God. It is better for us to keep with the Bible definition.

HOW DECISIVE ARE MIRACLES?
In order to be declared as a saint, two miracles had to be attributed to Mother Theresa after her death. This leads us to consider the question which heads this page.

The Bible, as a Book, abounds with miracles. They had a distinct purpose in ratifying the claims of God's men who came with fresh revelation from Heaven.

However, we are required to put miracles very firmly in their place. Study of the Bible reveals that they are not the pinnacle of an spiritual experience. Even if found to be genuine (i.e. not a hoax or an exaggerated claim) yet they, and especially the claims they are being used to bolster, must be subject to the teaching of the written word of God. It is the Bible, not the miracle, which decides what is to be received. We stand on solid ground with the word of God. It is the word of Him who lieth not (Titus 1:2) On the other hand, miracles have been used to deceive. The magicians in Pharaoh's court used their ability to perform miracles to harden their master in his rebellion against God (Exodus 7:22) Again, in the future, there will arise a dark evil figure whose coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

A miracle therefore has a very limited value set upon it in the word of God. The reply of Father Abraham to the rich man in hell is all revealing. If they hear not Moses and the prophets [the Bible at that time] neither will believe if one rise again from the dead. (Luke 16:31) Even the greatest of miracles cannot match the power of the written word of God.

FIVE REASONS WHY GOOD WORKS CANNOT SAVE US OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SALVATION:
While others, not least Channel 4's Hell's Angel have cast their doubts on the value of Mother Theresa's claims, it is not within the scope of this booklet to contribute to any such investigation. We are quite happy, for the sake of argument, to run with the idea that Mother Theresa had no alternative motives but those of humanitarian principles. Even the purist motives do not negate the point we are seeking to make.

1) WHAT PRICE CAN WE PUT ON SALVATION?
To suppose that mere finite creatures can either earn or contribute something towards salvation cheapens the whole concept of redemption. Since the Bible assures us that God is infinite and that sin against Him carries an infinite guilt, the idea that the answer may lie in whole or in part within us immediately reduces the calamitous impact of sin. It is no longer as serious as was first feared or as declared by the Bible to be. Salvation by works, either in whole or in part, cheapens the value we set upon the sacrifice of God's Son at Calvary. It places His deepest anguish and blood shedding on a par with puny man's abilities. Indeed, it must query the idea that such a sacrifice was really necessary and conclude that the sacrifice of Calvary was but the spiritual equivalent of trying to crack open a nut with a sledge hammer. Finite man can never give what can only flow from the Infinite Son of God. We should have no desire to debase the work of the Cross. (Continued overleaf)

2) OUR HEARTS ARE SINFUL BY NATURE:
The Bible sets forth the principle that a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit nor a bad tree produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:17) By nature, all our good works are as filthy rags in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6) and therefore unfit to trade off against our sins. This must have a universal application.

3) GRACE AND WORKS CANNOT MIX:
Salvation must either be by grace alone or by works alone, but it cannot be a mishmash of both. That is an unacceptable mongrel solution to a very serious problem. Romans 11:6 could not be clearer: And if by grace, it is not now by works; otherwise grace is no more grace. It is not in our interest to introduce works into the equation because such are Cainite in their origins and to Cain and his offerings [of works] the Lord had no respect. (Genesis 4:5)

4) WE COULD NEVER HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION:
How could we ever know that we had done enough? We couldn't. It would be an endless treadmill, leading either to gross despair on one hand or rank hypocrisy on the other.

5) CHRIST HAS DONE ALL NECESSARY TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS:
Hence His cry from the Cross: "It is consummated" (John 19:30) He has paid the price in full. He has perfected the work and therefore there is absolutely nothing we can do to improve upon it. Works have no part at all. It is for us but to put the full weight of our soul for all eternity upon what Christ has done.

THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, for it is THE GIFT OF GOD. Not of works, that no man should glory. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We have taken the liberty of highlighting the key words in this gospel text. Salvation is a free gift, without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1)

1) THE AIM OF THE GIFT: saved
God has a great desire to see fallen/guilty sinners: SAVED
We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and we all need to be saved from the curse, chains and company of sin if we want to go to Heaven when we die. The Ephesians Christians knew that they were saved. So can you. You need not be any different.

2) THE SOURCE OF THE GIFT: By God's grace
If it is a gift…then it can only be by grace. You cannot work for or pay for grace. If you do…it ceases to be a gift. Grace cannot be given to the deserving…only to the undeserving. Grace removes from the sinner any room for glorying (v9) Grace alone sent Christ to die on the Cross for sinners. Grace alone saves the sinner from his sins. Salvation is by 100% grace!

3) THE CHANNEL OF THE GIFT: through faith
What is faith? It is simple reliance and trust. It is not blind. We trust the truthfulness of God's word. It is not a work. If it were…it would contradict the text. Faith is simply receiving the gift.

4) THE DISALLOWANCE OF THE GIFT: not of yourselves…not of works
Why must the Apostle repeat himself? Simply because proud hearts insist that they must contribute at least something.

This is not so. It is not for us to argue with God. We can only be saved on God's terms. Are you saved? If not, you do not possess New Testament faith. God is willing to save you. Are you willing to be saved? The Bible says: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

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