A response

CAITLIN ALANE said...
David- i saw someone talk about that book on tv and i was intrigued too. i wanted your opinion on the following. i could never imagine what it would be like to see the horrific suffering of the poor and serve them day in and day out like she did. that environment alone would cause me to question the goodness of God, like all of us are inclined to do. but i couldn't help but wonder...what if mother teressa did not really know the personal love of Christ in her life? (i know this might sound crazy). sure she obediently lived out God's call, but what if she never grasped the fullness of the Gospel? do you think that could be an explanation for her doubts?

Apparently my readership has risen by one to climb to an all time high.

I think this merits a full response. I'll go backwards.

1. I'm not sure that we need an explanation for doubt. It seems to be a normal, though perhaps not universal, part of the human experience. I think it is probably a function of our brokenness. Just a few examples: many Psalms, Peter, Martin Luther, Phillip Yancey. Even Jesus felt far from God, "My God My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" And these are just people who have been willing to acknowledge their doubt. I feel far from God much of the time. Sometimes it seems like I'm a drowning man, I sink down into sin and doubt and i struggle and struggle and just as I am about to expire God grabs me and pulls me to the surface, then I swim and sink and begin the process again.

2. I am not in charge of writing names in the book of life, and I am not privy to its contents. So i don't know what kind of relationship with God she had. One thing that does seem to be clear in the Bible is that the followers of Christ will be known by what they do. The only test we have at our disposal is the fruit that she produced. And judging by that I'd say, "If not her...who?"

3. Mother Teresa's writings are intriguing to me precisely because she continued to act out her faith in such an uncomprimising manner. Her life is fascinating to me. She saw human existence at its worst and followed God into it.