Grace and peace,

Laura, you asked, “What was Mother Teresa’s fruit?”

You overlooked verse 15 of Matthew 7 (right before everything else you quoted) which talks about false prophets, those who teach false doctrine. They are the “them” which we will know by their fruits (verse 16).

Mother Teresa’s fruit includes false doctrine. I’m glad she did many good things, but she taught false doctrine, and that is fruit that shows she was a false teacher.

This isn’t difficult….
Verse 15 — beware of false prophets
Verse 16-20 — you’ll know false prophets by their fruit
Verse 21-23 — false prophets may have done a lot of good things, even claiming to have done them in the name of Christ, but it won’t do them any good on judgment day.

Obviously, then, the “fruit” in view in 16-20 is not limited to doing good things, or we wouldn’t be able to recognise false prophets.

Meaning Mormons do good works based on their faith in Joseph Smith and his teachings and are not saved becuase of that….and ‘mother’ Teresa did good works based on her faith in the catholic church (and the extra-biblical teachings of salvation), the pope , mary, etc….and that will not save her. Reading about things she has said and done one can legitimately question whether or not she was saved.

Fully agree, Steve.

Fully agree, Dan.

Fully agree, Greg.

First, Colson and Lewis are not Dr. Moore’s examples. They are in quotation marks…these are examples from Carl F.H. Henry.

Secondly, I do not read Dr. Moore saying that Mother Theresa is a believer (necessarily) but instead she would be a noted figure that would contrast well with someone working in an abortion clinic.

Having said that, I think it may not have been the best choice. Because the point Dr. Moore is making is that Christ radically changes people from what they once were. Therefore, if Mother Theresa was not a believer–then she should not be in that list.

Lastly, I think it would do all of us some good to heed Dr. Moore’s advice and “relax”. Perhaps Mother Theresa was not the best example. Perhaps this could lead someone astray. Yep, that’s not good. But God is sovereign and He has a way of flawed people and flawed articles to display His glory. I’m not saying that truth doesn’t matter. But I’m also saying that perhaps we should take in the spirit of the article and realize that Christ’s church will prevail even if somebody puts Mother Theresa in a list that maybe she shouldn’t be in.

Who do you think is more likely to be saved?

Someone who lives a humble life, serving and loving others, sharing the Gospel with them, but who never said the words, “God please save me”? Or someone who prayed what is called the Sinner’s Prayer, but lived a life of selfish debauchery, constantly fighting with others and going to church every so often?

“1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

or

“16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. ”

What was Mother Teresa’s fruit?

As for the scripture you quoted, what lawlessness did mother Teresa work? She was in every way humble, penitent, loving, and in every way lived a life that followed Christ’s example. I’ve always gotten the sense that Jesus was talking to those who proudly and loudly proclaim that their “great works” should be enough. I’ve never seen one example of Mother Teresa doing that.

BTW - I have no idea if she was saved and is now worshipping at the feet of the Father or burning in Hell. I think it’s presumptuous for folks to assume she wasn’t because she lived her life believing what she was taught as a child in the Catholic church.

For the people who are playing armchair editor and mincing particular words or references rather than considering the whole point to the article, I’m interested in seeing whether you can accomplish the task: can you write an article on the same topic and write it in such a manner that no one finds fault with any segment of of it? And if you did, would it really say anything?

The Bible is pretty clear about who gets in. So then the question is who does such and such a person’s beliefs/faith match up to what the Bible says is needed for salvation.

Most Mormons I know have great works!

On judgment day, those that defend themselfves (by their works) will be supprised. May God’s Spirit work in all of our lives to bring us to the point where we hear and respond in faith, like Abraham, to what Gods plans are for His glory.

Im surprised that people assume that the truth is contrary to the Bible? The Bible is clear that those who put their faith in Christ alone are saved. Its not Christ plus mary or anything else for that matter, its Christ alone.

It is interesting to note how many people think they have the “truth” in the comments so they can assume to know who is and is not go to God’s Kingdom.

FANTASTIC article on Mother Teresa!

I guess one’s perception of Mother Teresa’s words (above) depends on the lense you choose to read them through, but this is what I saw when I read that:

“…but in our work we bear witness … they will be nearer to God and find him in his goodness.” —- Her humility and recognition that she has no control over anyone’s response to her witness

“My religion is everything to me but for every individual, according to the grace God had given that soul.” —- Her belief in God’s sovereignty

“God has his own ways and means to work in the hearts of men and we do not know how close they are to him but by their actions we will always know whether they are at his disposal or not.” —- Her understanding of Matthew 7:16 (you will know them by their fruit)

“We must not condemn or judge or pass words that will hurt people.” —- Her belief in Jesus’ teaching that we are not to condemn or judge or pass words that will hurt people

AMEN sister. Mother Teresa’s works are evidence of her faith, and I believe her humility is evidence of her “regeneration.”

Could you please expand on what you mean by embracing the “gracious Gospel of Christ?”