Mother Teresa story is one of tears and torment, trials and testimonies. Her name is as familiar as Princess Diana, but her legacy and true story more obscure. The Letters is an intimate look at the life of this nun who felt compelled to be Christ to the downtrodden and dying. While others stayed in comfort of the convent eating supper, she went to the common slums and fed the dying. The Scripture that would seem to embody Mother Teresa is, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:35-36). In fact, in the film Teresa says to infirmed Hindu who protests, "I am Hindu, why are you helping me?" To which Teresa says, "I see Jesus in you."
The account of Mother Teresa is powerful one. Teresa while already a nun at convent in India, feels the call to the poor. She tells her students that this call began at age twelve and it is confirmed on a train ride by the Voice of God nearly eighteen years later. Teresa's story is most poignant when you watch how this emissary of peace and love goes to the unloved and unlovely. Teresa breaks through the caste system of Hinduism and heals with the mere touch of her hand and warmth of her heart. Mother Teresa gives people a dignified death and says, "The worst of all is to be alone and die alone." She feels her mission is to let those who people fear to touch, who have been discarded, and who dying of disease feel like the most prized and precious person in the world. This is the merit and beauty of this woman's legacy shines best, but then the "darkness creeps in."
The most disturbing parts of the film is that when the lower caste Hindus accuse Mother Teresa of seeking to proselytize and convert their children she responds, "I have not come to convert, but to care for you and help." This is disingenuous on two accounts. Firstly as Christians we are called by Jesus Christ to "Go to all the world and preach the gospel," (Mark 16:15) and "make disciples, of all nations, baptizing them in name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Jesus also warns us, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5). Teresa betrays these mandates of the faith, chooses to fear man rather than God, and misses an opportunity to share Christ, His Love, and Salvation with those who need it most, the dying. Secondly, because Mother Teresa is living the gospel or what is called lifestyle evangelism through her care, compassion, and consolation to those in dire need, people are inevitably going to convert from seeing Christ in her. This is what could redeem Teresa's lack of evangelion and preaching the gospel, if the Lord told her to not immediately teach the faith, but to woo and win people through her living faith; and then supplement it with the Synoptic Gospels; then I could see it working, but to not share her faith defeats the whole purpose. Those Mother Teresa helped did not just need bread, they needed the "Bread of Life," (John 6:25) and "Water of Life." (John 4:14).
Another concerning element is that in Teresa Letters she mentions a "darkness overtaking her and that she felt abandoned by God." What many in the church fail to understand is spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul said, "Our weapons are not carnal, but for pulling down of (spiritual) strongholds," (2 Corinthians 10:4, italics by Jeffrey Gassler) and "our war is not against flesh and blood, but against princes of darkness, demons, and thrones." (Ephesians 6:12, TLB). The fact that Teresa called it "a darkness" proves it was the prince of darkness and his dark forces that were oppressing her and trying to make her feel abandoned by God. Had she known to put on "The full armor of God," (Ephensians 6:10-18) and "Submit to God and resist the devil, and he shall flee," (James 4:7) perhaps she might have been able to set herself free from the "shadows." The fact that death took its toll on Mother Teresa proves she was in error. If she had preached the Gospel, and those dying would have become disciples of Christ and she could have had peace knowing the words of Christ, Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying,
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). The reason why death weighed on Mother Teresa's soul is that those she cared for and gave a dignified death were destined for hell (see John 3:18 and John 15:23) and she could have done something about it by simply sharing her faith! Finally, the darkness that Teresa may have felt could be a sign she was so off course for not sharing the good news, that she was destined for the Outer Darkness and was doing deeds of darkness. The Scriptures say of this place, "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth," (Matthew 18:11-12), "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth," (Matthew 25:30), "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment," (2 Peter 2:4), "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:11). To be clear, the Outer Darkness is hell, "They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:42, see Matthew 18:11-12 to prove it above).
Do not get me wrong, there is much to admire about Mother Teresa, her compassion, her concern for those in poverty, and her sacrifice. What is a shame is that despite her great work, there is so much more she could have done. Souls she soothed in agony, now wait in eternal agony because she did not open her mouth and say, "For God so loved the world, that he have his Only Begotten Son, Jesus, and who ever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). That one verse alone would have been enough for the perishing, but instead Teresa chose not to speak the Truth and was probably tormented by it.
St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words." Words Mother Teresa lived by, but now what Jesus Christ commanded, nor commissioned. It is interesting that Teresa triumphantly says, "It is God's will, He is asking me to follow Christ into the slums." But Teresa in the slums shared no salvation! She helped people in suffering and laid those to rest with tender care, which is noble, but she did not "make disciples" and preach the gospel to the world of India. It is for that reason I consider Teresa's life a tragedy. She had all the giftings, and I believe a genuine calling from Christ, but she failed to say as St. Peter, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:16) and "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). Mother Teresa could have shared the Gospel with most of India, but instead chose the social gospel (which is false humanitarian gospel) and robbed the Lord God of more people to make His family and to take to heaven. Teresa "preached another gospel, another Christ, and another Spirit." (2 Corinthians 11:4, cross ref Galatians 1:8). Instead of being a "reconciler between God and Man," (2 Corinthians 5:20) in addition to being a nurse and hospice provider, she was only half of what she could have been. Plenty of people died in her arms, and plenty of people went to hell because she did not share the Gospel with those people. Those who wept, felt pain, and were dying in Teresa's arms could have experienced Christ Jesus who is promises, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4).
The way Mother Teresa did all those works for Jesus, but did not share belief in Him and talked about "being abandoned by God" makes me think this Scripture better embodies her, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:22-23). To know Christ makes you want to share Him and you know he will "never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). The fact Mother Teresa does not believe this at end of her life proves she did not know Christ and the fact that all her good works did not prove God's love and closeness to her is another example of, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--.not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). Most monastics like Mother Teresa believe in meriting salvation and holiness through the Sacraments every week and through good works. But the Words of Christ Jesus the Savior Himself say, Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one (Jesus) he has sent," (John 6:29), and the Apostles said, "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." (Acts 16:31).
I love Catholics and admire their missions, art, and many of their traditions, such as The Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, the reverence of God, the importance of Communion (Eucharist), and more. But the problem is that many Catholics do not simply believe Jesus Christ has taken away their sins once for all as it says in the Scriptures:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18), "When he died, he died once and for all to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God," (Romans 6:10), "so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him," (Hebrews 9:28, NLT), and "And by that will we have been sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10). A friend of mine knew a Catholic Priest who retired after forty years of ministry. At seventy this former priest got "Born Again" (John 3:1-21) and believed in Jesus Christ truly for the first time. All those years as Catholic priest wearing a crucifix and reciting liturgies he did not really believe or know Christ, now he does. I also know a friend named Andrew who was Catholic, but in the church never knew Christ, but upon becoming Born Again and Baptized in Holy Spirit he now knows Jesus Christ intimately. personally, and in a close relationship.
Lastly, I do not think it is coincidence that The Letters, which tells the story of the Roman Catholic Church's most popular nun is playing in theaters at the same time as Spotlight, which is another film that tells the truth story of the Vatican cover-up of the abuse of minors by priests. The Church of Rome has much to account for, and having examined Mother Teresa through Scripture, it is clear that not even she is unblemished by the ecclesiastical errors of the largest church in the world. While it is not my goal to tarnish her reputation, I must speak the Truth. Teresa's gospel did not line up with the True Gospel in the Bible. And because of that I am grieved, because she had guaranteed door to share the Lord with the dying.
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