NATURE'S DESIGNS

If you or anyone you know might be interested in personally handcrafted, rustic style furniture; made from hand picked pieces of quality hard woods from the Shenandoah Valley, you need to contact my brother, Jim.  His website is now up and running, and you can 'click' on the caption underneath the photo and go there; or you can contact him by Email, telephone, or postal mail..

Nature's Designs
Contact information:

Jim Hughes, 2028 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA 22601

Telephone:  540-662-6060    Fax:  540-662-0075

Email:  Jimwh1@shentel.net 

Keeping FAITH and WORKS in Perspective

I was reading an approximately one-year-old article by Alan Keyes today, criticizing the words and lack of 'thoughtfulness' of President Bush shortly after the President had made a statement saying people of all religions 'pray to the same God'. And though I have been a strong supporter of George W. Bush, I remember being disappointed and embarrassed when I heard him say that, as well as some of the other similar statements he has made. I believe the President's testimony of his personal faith in Jesus Christ, and knowing that true Christians do not believe such things, I have always assumed that such statements of his were politically motivated---that in reality, he knows better. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and is the ONLY Mediator between God and man; the ONLY way to the Father is through Jesus... Christians know that. Even the sinner, praying his first prayer of repentance, seeking salvation, MUST come to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ His Son, or his prayer is not heard.

Getting back to the article by Alan Keyes... I remember the many times I have wished and prayed that his popularity during his former campaigns for the office of President would grow enough to earn him the votes needed. Other than Ronald Reagan, no other candidate have I more desired to see elected, than Mr. Keyes. In years gone by, I have read many of his publications, articles, political statements, and segments of his Christian testimony; so as to develop a deep respect for him. I was rather disappointed today, however---not in his article about the President, but in the very next archived article of his, I subsequently read...

This one concerned 'Mother' Teresa, and was entitled: "Teresa's agony: A Meditation on Walking by Faith" by Alan Keyes, dated September 3, 2007.

I consider it rather ironic, that immediately after reading Mr. Keyes' article on the President's lack of 'thoughtfulness' manifest in his statement that people of all religions pray to the same God; I was moved to search for, and read some of his archived articles, and the very first one I came to was this article about M. Teresa. I will explain, in the next few paragraphs, the reason I consider it 'ironic'...

In brief summary of the article, Keyes makes reference to a Times Magazine piece which mentioned the fact that Teresa often bemoaned her inner feelings of separation from the Lord---the sense of "being without God"---that condition Christians normally refer to as being "lost". Keyes maintains that this 'travail' normally associated with the inward knowledge of pending 'damnation', indicated something entirely different in the case of M. Teresa. He makes, in my opinion, a completely vain attempt at drawing a parallel between Teresa's inward travail and that of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary---made known in His cry, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?".

"It is as if these words" Keyes goes on to say, "are written above the gateway of a spiritual wilderness through which Teresa wandered in her heart, even as in her body she walked ever more faithfully in the footsteps of our Lord."

Here's the irony...

Alan Keyes obviously knows, as does any Christian, that only those who believe in Jesus---those who have 'received' Him (John 1:12)---have the right to be called 'children' of God; and have audience with Him in prayer. Yet, he tries to change Teresa's lack of that essential relationship with the Father, through Christ---a relationship she, in her own words, denied having---into the equivalent of the sufferings of Christ. Teresa's works, though noble and more self-sacrificial than any I can even imagine myself doing, could never earn her way to heaven... Every true Christian knows that.

Her works and her devotion to the poor and suffering in this world, though noble and 'notable', however, were NOT "in the footsteps of our Lord" as Mr. Keyes maintains. Contrary to much popular misconception, Jesus did not spend the three years of His earthly ministry, feeding the financially poor and poverty-stricken. Actually, there is not a single case of that type of 'social welfare' ministry recorded in the gospels. And before the question even arises, concerning His feeding the 5000, on one occasion, 4000 on another---in neither case were these crowds composed of the 'poor and poverty-stricken'. The crowds of people Jesus miraculously fed had followed Him far from their homes, hearing His words, observing His miracles, etc., to the point they were all hungry. And rather than sending them home hungry, he multiplied the lunch of one young boy and miraculously fed them all. The ministry of Jesus, however, was not about meeting the physical needs of the people; it was about providing for their spiritual poverty and lack... It was about preaching the gospel... It was about converting the sinner, giving them eternal life.

When 'Mother' Teresa was asked if she ever converted people, rather than just helping them physically, medically, emotionally, etc., she replied, "Of course I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu or a better Muslim or a better Protestant. Once you've found God, it's up to you to decide how to worship him."

Are these the 'footsteps of Jesus'? Can any true Christian ever even imagine Jesus wanting to help someone to be a better Hindu, or a better Muslim? I am not Teresa's judge; nor do I have the slightest bit of satisfaction in the thought that Teresa's eternal fate is the same as anyone else who has only his or her own works, on which to rely, for salvation.

Neither myself, nor Alan Keyes, nor any other Christian, has the right to ignore the cries of a person's heart that stem from their inward knowledge of their own lost condition. We certainly have no business equating it with the suffering of Jesus and the 'travail of His soul'. Our one duty and obligation before God Almighty is to offer that person the gospel of free salvation through faith alone in the finished work of redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have no way of knowing if anyone ever took Teresa down off the 'good works pedestal' long enough to expound the Truth to her and successfully offer her the only answer to the consistent darkness that plagued her soul. I only know of the lack of testimony to that in her own words, even up until the end of her life. And I know that Mr. Alan Keyes, as much as I respect him, has no business criticizing the President for his carnal, politically motivated, theologically erroneous statement; just to turn around and exalt 'Mother' Teresa's life and works as an example to be followed in order to gain favor with God. When Jesus was asked what works we can do [to please God], He replied...

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent"
--John 6:29

Our 'good works' can only be the fruit of that faith and our relationship with the Lord Jesus. Faith comes first---obedience and good works are the following results. And there are many servants of the Lord and ministers of the gospel in the world today and in years gone by, who are much better examples of that, than one who never enjoyed the 'peace that passes all understanding'---that peace with God that accompanies true salvation.