GUEST
ARTICLE
MOTHER TERESA
The Biggest Counterfeit Of All
Warren
The Lord Jesus Christ
when questioned about the sign of His coming and the end
of the age, said, "Take heed that no one deceives
you" (Mt. 24:5). The Apostle Paul instructed us, "Now
the spirit speaketh expressly, that in latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils ..." (1 Tim. 4:1).
A clear example
of deception is the act of counterfeiting. When we present
American currency at a bank in Mexico to exchange for pesos,
the bank personnel are extremely cautious, examining carefully
each bill to insure it is not counterfeit. They do not
want to be deceived.
It is clear that
there cannot be counterfeiting apart from a counterfeiter.
There cannot be deception apart from a deceiver and therefore
there cannot be counterfeit Christianity apart from a counterfeit
Christian.
One of the clearest
examples of a counterfeit Christian on today's scene, in
my opinion, is Mother Teresa. In her book, Life In The
Spirit: Reflections, Meditations, and Prayers, she says
on pages 81 and 82:
"We never
try to convert those who receive (aid) to Christianity
but in our work we bear witness to the love of God's presence
and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics
become for this better men—simply better—we will be satisfied.
It matters to the individual what church he belongs to.
If that individual thinks and believes that this is the
only way to God for her or him, this is the way God comes
into their life—his life. If he does not know any other
way and if he has no doubt so that he does not need to
search then this is his way to salvation."
Jesus
Christ clearly stated, "I am the way, the truth, and
the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (Jn.
14:6).
The Mexican bank
tellers are trained to recognize counterfeit $100.00 bills
by a thorough understanding and knowledge of the real ones.
When they have this awareness, they can quickly spot a
counterfeit.
It doesn't take
much study or understanding of the gospel to recognize
that what Mother Teresa preaches is not the doctrine of
Jesus Christ. Paul deals clearly with the matter in Galatians
1:8: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach
any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you,
let him be accursed."
The Scriptures teach
us that the end of the age will not come until there is
a great falling away or apostasy. The extent of the apostasy
that is sweeping this country could not be more clearly
evidenced than by the example of Last Days Ministries'
recent catalogue of "Ministry Stuff." On
the front cover amid pictures of Charles Finney, Jesus
Christ, and Keith Green, in the center was a picture of
Mother Teresa! They
were selling her video with this comment, "We can't
recommend it enough." Clearly
doctrines of demons.
"Whoever
transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ
has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you
and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into
your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares
in his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).
With
those who participate with us on our mission trips to Mexico,
we try to encourage each person to be a "Berean," to
study the Word of God carefully for themselves so that
they will know the real doctrine of Christ from the counterfeit
doctrines that are being so successfully promoted today.
Truth is being sacrificed on the altar of unity.
Satan is using everything
in his power to promote counterfeit Christianity to the
detriment of those who accept his doctrines. Jesus clearly
taught that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter
Heaven (Mt. 7:21) but rather only those who obey the Father.
It is clear to me
that if anyone walks in any way with the greatest counterfeit
on the face of the earth today (Roman Catholicism), they
will walk with her in eternity.
The greatest challenge
we have as Christians today in the United States is to
keep ourselves unpolluted by counterfeit Christians because
they promote counterfeit Christianity. We must study carefully
to know the true doctrine of Christ and reject the counterfeit.
Exposing the deeds
of darkness (Eph. 5:11) It is interesting to note that
recently because of intense successful counterfeiting,
the U.S. Treasury has had to redesign the $100 bill. These
new bills are now in circulation. It is painfully clear
that the simple gospel of Jesus Christ is being intensely
counterfeited as well. Through the door of self-exaltation
has come the twisted gospel that God is to be the servant
of man rather than the truth, which is that man is to be
the servant of God. Jesus said it very simply in Mt. 16:24, "If
anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me!" Love of self leads
to fear of man ... Fear of man leads to compromise ...
Compromise leads to disobedience ... Disobedience leads
to disqualification. Mt. 7:21-23. Not everyone who calls
Jesus Lord will enter Heaven.
The Word of God
teaches us that we are all born with the disposition of "my
right to myself." The gospel is that Jesus Christ
came to free us from that disposition and give us a new
disposition; the disposition to obey God, to be His servant
and not a servant of self.
Dan and Cheryl Corner
Evangelical Outreach
PO Box 265, Washington, PA 15301
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/motherteresa.htm
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