Brian Robinson has an article at The Banner of Truth about Mother Teresa. Here is and excerpt:
Her letters and thoughts are found in a recently published book Mother Teresa: Come be My Light in which she admits that she ‘had not faith.’ Her letters reveal that for over fifty years she sought Christ but came to the conclusion that he was ‘the Absent One’. Her prayers to God for forgiveness only deepened her sorrow, and upon receiving an important reward on one occasion she confessed, ‘This means nothing to me, because I don’t have him’. The letters further reveal that her outward demeanour to the work did not reveal the sadness of her heart. She said that her ‘smile was a fake’.
and
Yes, it is possible for the saints of God to fall into dryness, depression and the black night of the soul. But is it also possible that Mother Teresa was never converted at all, and received no light from the deceptions practiced by Rome? Can we truly say that someone knows Christ when her depression is lifted by praying to the Pope through whose mediatorial efforts she received assurance that her work on earth was pleasing to the Lord? Is his the mark of one who knows the Christ of the Bible?
Have any of you heard about Mother Teresa’s crisis of faith? What are your thoughts?
October 10, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I definitely do not want to question Mother Theresa’s salvation. That is between her and God.
I have also read a review of Mother Theresa’s book, and this reviewer thought it was clear from the book that she was describing emotional darkness and detachment from her faith: a subjective rather than objective crisis. She admits that “I know this is only feeling” (257) and confesses a lack of emotional bonding with Jesus and with the poor. Of course, we could surmise that this is because she was not regenerate and filled with the Holy Spirit, which I don’t think it wise. Or it could be the result of the numbness created by being confronted day after day with incredible pain and suffering. If this is the case, which is entirely possible, Mother Theresa must be admired for her perseverance and tenacity despite her struggle with correct feelings, an example to us all.
October 10, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Wes, I agree. We cannot be the judge of her heart. Only God knows if she was born again. She may have been truly regenerate and was going through dark, lonely feelings, even for many years.
Or, she could have been unsaved, though an admirable humanitarian. Her dedication and tenacity in her work are unquestioned.
Les