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What Would Elisabeth Elliot Say?

19 May

Content removed by the blog owner out of respect for Elisabeth Elliot and the concerns of both a respected commentor to this blog and its owner.

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About Anne

39 yr old, happily married, homeschooling mom to three of four daughters… the eldest is off to college in the fall. I grew up Baptist, converted to Catholicism in heart in November 2004, and was received into the Church in January of 2006. My hobbies include reading, mathematics, needlepoint, life-long learning, blogging and surfing the net… while that isn’t the extent of my interests, that’s about all I have time for because we are currently starting our 15th year educating our children at home.

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10 Comments

Posted by Anne on May 19, 2007 in Converts to Catholicism

10 Responses to What Would Elisabeth Elliot Say?

rzmks

May 20, 2007 at 8:33 am

Thanks for the link, Anne. What a great way to start my day!!

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Leticia

May 26, 2007 at 9:18 am

SHE’s his sister?! What a beautiful story! I read that book during my prepartion for marriage in 1991. I have never forgotton how Elizabeth forgave her husband’s killers. What a beautiful family.

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Shellie

May 30, 2007 at 4:01 pm

My dear friend, you have been unceremoniously tagged with the 8 Things meme.

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tibercrawl

May 31, 2007 at 5:01 pm

Being the fan of E.E. that I am, and in light of all the hubub generated by the reversion of Beckwith to the Catholic Church, I can understand why she might not think it wise to convert. But I’m really wondering, is E.E. jeopardizing her soul by not entering the Catholic Church? I mean she states that the reason she is not Catholic is cowardice! (I would not put her in that category, afterall, she lived amongst the natives who savagely murdered her husband!)
Is it “ever” ok not to enter the Catholic Church once you know that this is the Church Jesus instituted? If a well known Christian’s reconcilliation with the Catholic Church has the potential to derail many “weaker” brothers and sisters in the faith, is it a better thing to remain outside the Catholic Church? Might this even be considered a “suffering”? But then, doesn’t the CCC say that one must be reconcilled?
Of course, my musings are all predicated on the fact the E.E. “knows” that the Catholic Church is the church Jesus instituted! Maybe she doesn’t.

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Jen in ME

June 18, 2007 at 5:05 am

As a protestant, I find this article disturbing. The idea that Elizabeth Elliott, who taught us that we do not need life insurance because we can trust God, who encouraged us to abandon everything to follow the Lord, has now become so afraid of the evangelical society that she is afraid to follow what she knows to be the true faith. That is a horrible, horrible thing to say about anyone, particularly when they are not in a position to defend themselves. I also find it unlikely that she disclosed herself this fully to a comparative stranger.

Still, I hate to call anyone, even a random person blogging on the internet, a liar. Perhaps she was overzealous and a little confused. I admit, I am having a really, really hard time making both women good.

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Anne

June 18, 2007 at 7:11 am

Hi Jen and Welcome!

Ya know, your comment showed me a different perspective and it took me a moment of thinking about the linked post to even understand what you meant. As a convert myself I can understand exactly where Heidi is coming from and have shared her apprehension (and with good reason) at times. I didn’t get the impression at all that she was trying to show E.E. in a bad light and given her obvious respect and admiration for the woman doubt she would have shared had she realized that someone would view it this way. Honestly, I think she was so excited over the exchange that she just wanted to share because it meant so much to her to have someone she admired so respond well to her conversion.

As to the other, whether or not she is afraid to follow what she may have come to realize is the true faith, I’m not so sure it is ‘just’ the possibility of cowardice on her part (her words, NOT mine) but possibly more that she is a humble woman and would rather lay the burden of what could be perceived as a failure to act on her own shoulders regardless of what her many reasons might be. Having taken the brunt of evangelical society’s reaction to such conversions (and the defense thereof) on the homeschool forums the past two years, I have to also understand where E.E. is coming from. Having been intimately a part of that same society for all of her life, and having seen the reaction to her brother’s conversion among others, she is well aware of what evangelicals can (and do) dish out to a convert to Catholicism. Not only that, her concern for her listeners and readers is not invalid. While we might question the wisdom of not following what she knows to be the Truth, the related conversation tells me that she is not just concerned about her audiences reaction to her, but the impact it would have on their faith as well. Not all Christians who admire and follow such a woman are mature enough to understand and she seems to feel deeply the responsibility and influence she carries and wields as such a visible figure. In the end, I think this speaks not badly of her, but rather it speaks very highly of her indeed.

As you can see, having read the same article I came away feeling very differently. Having sympathy for the poster and great sympathy and respect for Elisabeth Elliot as well. I’m so sorry you found it disturbing. Honestly, as you can see, it never struck me that way and I wouldn’t have posted it had I thought for one moment it showed Elisabeth Elliot in a bad light.

Blessings,
Anne

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Jen in ME

June 19, 2007 at 10:56 am

Anne,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I know that this is a really busy time for your family. I appreciate that you have given EE the benefit of the doubt, that her choices were made with her viewers spiritual lives as her greatest concern. I appreciate that you, and not I, would understand the cost of becoming Catholic. I appreciate that you were able to see Heidi’s admiration for EE (and I certainly wouldn’t argue that point with you.)

I do feel that I must try to explain my concerns again, if only for my own conscience.

I know that on the Sonlight forums that you have stated your own beliefs regarding the Catholic Church, and when issues came up have given a reasoned reply for the choice that you made. I would suggest that you do not know the spiritual maturity of everyone out in Sonlight land, and that your choices, your logic, you living out your faith, could potentially impact many lives. There are potentially wives who would consider the Catholic church before their husbands, there are potentially immature children who could be impacted by a change in their family brought about by you simply living what you believe.

Does it then follow that you should be silent about your beliefs, even allowing them to be misrepresented? Of course not. Christianity always has, and always will, upset the status quo. It always changes lives. It always comes at a price.

And this is what I cannot accept easily about Heidi’s report. In the writings of EE that I have read (only a few) she has always stated that to follow Jesus was worth the price. She has had a firm stand on issues she has written on. (Granted, they were consistent with the Evangelical community if not with our culture in general.) The logical conclusion to Heidi’s report is that EE understands what God has called her to, and refused to act. Which is why I hope that Heidi was overzealous.

Perhaps EE has considered the Catholic Church, but not fully explored it (doubtful). Perhaps she is praying about what she should do. To me, there is a huge spiritual difference between, “I believe the Catholic Church to be correct in saying that they are the One church, but because it would cause myself and others discomfort I will choose to withhold the truth from those others and the spiritual help it might be from myself” and “I simply don’t know.”

Anne, I know that you gave testimony somewhere that you had an experience that caused you to believe that to go back to your Protestant church again would be to sin against what God had specifically called you to. I would argue that this article paints EE as having had a similar experience, and choosing to do what was more comfortable because she was a coward.

I was surprised at the reactions to this article. That this was a “must read” and that it was “encouraging”. Even to a Catholic, how can it be encouraging to believe that someone knows the Truth and chooses to not act? Certainly we have all done it, but I don’t consider it an encouraging experience.

I do thank you for your warm welcome.

Jen

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Anne

June 19, 2007 at 10:33 pm

Jen, I want to reply but my net access is patchy so I’ll do so tomorrow night when I have a more stable line. (on my way home at last)…

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Anne

June 30, 2007 at 12:28 pm

Jen,

I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you on this. It wasn’t due to lack of interest. Rather, real life just took me by the throat.

You got me with the analogy you drew to my living out my own testimony. That really made me stop and think. You are right. To be absolutely frank, I couldn’t be silent about my beliefs… as you well realize. I suppose that I hoped that EE was perhaps on her way to living that out if she so believed it. As you’ve said, knowing the conversion process as I do, I know that there is a point where people say ‘it would be kicking and screaming and I couldn’t go because…’ but I have seen many such people (most who’ve said that in fact) convert in the end and embrace that faith completely. However, that does not mean all do and given my respect for EE and her brother, I guess I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps in this I’ve been in error… I do pray not.

Quite honestly, had it ever come across to me in the way it did to you, I never would’ve said what I did. The thought of EE knowing the Truth and choosing not to act makes me literally, physically, ill with mourning and sorrow. However, I honestly never pegged her in that place… it is an odd feeling to ponder the possibility that I have extended too much grace. When do we give up hope and assume that she has made such a decision? I confess, I am not willing to do so. I suppose I am making the choice to trust that she is following God in her life and that she may yet be obedient to the call.

While this attitude, the extending of such grace, the unwillingness to judge another’s heart and standing in obedience to God in their life, may be disconcerting and upsetting to those more familiar with the protestant way of looking at and dealing with such things… it is the attitude of the Catholic Church towards all believers. It is God’s place to judge the heart… and that is what He is concerned with… not outward appearances. We trust that those who have been baptized and claim to be our brothers and sisters in Christ are exactly that… and we love and extend grace to them as such, even as we extend it to one another. Believing that they are doing the best they can to be obedient to the amount of Truth that they have (barring any obvious and persistent evidence to the contrary), as imperfect as that may be outside the Church. In the end, I would prefer to be guilty of extending more grace rather than less, though I absolutely understand and share your concerns if indeed what you suspect and take from this article is accurate.

As it currently stands, I find myself also hoping with you that Heidi was somewhat overzealous and that EE has not decided against following what she has come to believe if that is indeed truly the case. It could fall either way, proving either of our interpretations of this situation correct. As a result, I don’t know what to do with this post now and am going to be spending some time considering that. Wondering if contacting EE to ask if it is even an accurate portrayal of events, to better help me decide how to proceed. Perhaps you have some thoughts or suggestions as to how to best handle this…

Again, please forgive my delay in answering. Know that I share your concern, even if I am not reacting in the same way you are… and I trust that we will both be in prayer for her. I have enjoyed this interaction with you and you have made me think. I hope you will continue to comment on my blog if you read regularly. I value your contributions as such exchanges help me grow. That is the mark of a true friend and sister in Christ…

With respect,
Anne

Reply
Heidi Saxton

October 3, 2007 at 7:22 pm

Hello, friends.

I stumbled on this exchange by chance tonight, and thought I would weigh in to the exchange regarding Elisabeth.

Anyone who has made the journey to the Church in relative anonymity (myself included) experiences a certain amount of pressure from family and friends who neither understand nor approve of the change. It is difficult enough handling this as a private citizen … how much more as such a public figure?

For many people, the temptation will be strong to simply discount what I wrote out of a sense of loyalty and respect for Elisabeth. Indeed, more than once now I have wondered if I showed her the respect I should have by revealing this exchange the way that I did — not because it was untrue, but because I now realize that her interest in “things Catholic” was apparently not as commonly known as I had thought it was.

While I cannot deny that the exchange took place as I said it did, it would grieve me deeply if anyone perceived it as a smudge on this dear woman’s character. She is among the bravest and most devout of Christian women alive today. If I had it to do over again, I would have concealed her identity better — out of respect for her privacy.

I urge readers to consider that the spiritual journey God has prepared for each of us is oftentimes a hidden and intensely private one. Elisabeth is now in the twilight of her life, and has been walking with the Lord faithfully since her earliest years. In the end, it is not about whether one side or the other can claim her for themselves. It is all about whether, before God, she was faithful to the light she was given. Not by our standards — but by His.

It might help readers here to consider the fact that the Catholic Church has always taught that there are those outside the visible parameters of the Church who are united by virtue of baptism into the same Body of Christ.

Whether or not Elisabeth ever enters into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, she is a true daughter of God. She is not a coward … nor is she the kind of woman to speak idle words she does not mean. (Several have asked me if she was “just being kind.”)

Someday in heaven, when denominations and petty arguments have long since ceased to matter, I hope we can all sit down with Elisabeth and have a cup of tea with her, and ask her to recount the final chapter of her faith journey. I think we will all be amazed … and humbled … by what she has to say.

Myself included.

God bless you!

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The Kid Sister of Blessed Imelda

What Would Elisabeth Elliot Say?

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