I hope that statement is indeed not impossible to refute, for then it may be impossible to disabuse me of this error.
When I said that the interviewer's statement was impossible to refute, I wasn't speaking of it being impossible in reality. I mean it was impossible because of the interviewer's attitude.
An analogy is the case of the once-saved—always-saved people. Having been one of them in the past, I know their technique well. You cannot bring up a counter-example which will convince them. If you bring up the case of Simon the magician who "believed and was baptized" (Acts 8:13), and who later (according to early Christian history) went back to his old ways, claiming to be God, and taking a woman around with him whom he claimed he had "begotten", they simply respond that Simon was not really saved in the first place. "Yes, he believed. But
what did he believe? Yes, he was baptized, but that doesn't save you."
Or you might bring up the case of Charles Templeton, who preached the gospel for years together with Billy Graham. One day, he told Billy Graham that he was no longer a Christian. Mr. Graham had a long talk with him to try to restore him, but Charles said, "Billy, I appreciate your kindness and your concern for me, but I just don't believe that stuff anymore." But the OSAS person says that Charles never was a true Christian. "The fact that he preached the gospel doesn't prove that he was a Christian. A non-Christian can learn to preach the gospel, too." If you ask them how they know Templeton never was a Christian, they respond, "The very fact that he turned away from it proves that he never was!" Thus it is impossible to refute a OSAS position; it doesn't matter how many examples you supply of Christians permanently turning away from the Lord. They can explain away any scripture you bring forth to the contrary. I once did exactly that. I had to be struck to the heart before I was able to repent of that false teaching. It was the words of some of the early Christian writers that struck me to the heart.
So the interviewer in his opinion that Mother Theresa, in serving others, was really serving herself cannot be refuted. For no matter what example of altruism one might bring forth, the interviewer would declare it a self-serving act, and the proof (to him) is the mere fact that the person was engaging in altruistic acts—just as the proof for the OASAS person that a person who turns away from God permanently, was never saved in the first place, is the mere fact that he turned away from God permanently.
So, the thought that it is impossible to become a Christian without a self-serving motive, seems to be in the same class of thinking as that of Mother Theresa's interviewer. However, Christ made no allowance for self-service in his requirements for discipleship. He said, "Unless you forsake all and follow me, you CANNOT be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
But again, you may ask, "Why would anyone ever wish to become Christ's disciple, if there were nothing in it for him?" I can only answer that it it Christ Himself, and only Christ, who draws him—His love, His beauty, His majesty, His very BEING!
Yes, there are many scriptures which tell of the wonderful results and rewards for those who become Christ's disciples. But a person doesn't become a disciple
in order to obtain these rewards. He becomes a disciple only in order to serve Christ.
