I need your advice...

[Irishmaestro]

Hello all.

I'm posting this more to ask your advice than anything else. You may remember my first post here, where I was asking about moving to another church. Well, I did, in September; I moved to the Church of Ireland (which I think you would call Episcopalian in the US), and I praise the Lord there several times a week. I read the bible a lot, I pray to the Lord whenever I feel I want to (often several times a day). I had a chat with my parents about it in October. My Dad said that he was OK with it; my mum was uneasy with it, but she told me a few weeks afterwards that she was OK with it.

Then, in the last few weeks, I noticed my mum was increasingly leaving Catholic imagery around the place - statuettes, "holy" water things, etc. I thought that maybe she might have been trying to remind herself about her own beliefs or whatever, so I continued praying that she would start to read the bible, as I have always done (she's never read it outside services - catholics don't like reading the bible, but that's another story).

Today, both my mum and dad confronted me, and basically said that they were worried about me becoming a "religious fanatic" because I read the bible so much (I read one chapter every night before going to sleep), and that they were embarrassed about my new denomination (anglican - CofI), and that they wanted me to see a counsellor to "help me with my problem", and thus bring me back to the old religion. It made me happy to be persecuted for my love of the Lord, but I'm now confused as to what I should do regarding my parents. Should I put up with it until I have the chance to move out, should I confront them, should I move out now, what should I do? I've prayed the Lord to give me guidance, and as soon as I did, I thought of asking you guys for help. I love my parents (both because they love me [I know they do] and in the way in which Jesus commanded me to love them), and I respect them as well. But, I cannot deal with this without someone's help.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

 

[sunshine307]

Irishmaestro, I don't have the answer for you, but what I do have to say is don't whatever you do compromise your faith. As you know Christianity is all about our relationship with the Lord, don't let anyone take that away from you.

 

[kindsfater]

Oh, God bless you brother! I can see that you are sincere in seeking out what the Lord would have you to do about your current situation and this is good! His Word is so full of advice, help, wisdom and warning regarding all things that we face during this life in the flesh so let me first say that you must STAY IN THE WORD and pray for God to reveal His will regarding this situation to you!

A verse that has been helping me stay focused in my life lately is Proverbs 3:6...Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

PRAISE GOD! It doesn't get much simpler than that, huh?! Let's continue to look at what the Word says regarding child/parent relationships and how they'll change as we near the end times.

Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. ( Deuteronomy 5:16)

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. (Col. 3:20)


From your message, it sounds as tho you have no problem doing this and that is so good. But the fact is, the Lord also expects your parents to uphold their end of the bargain as well...

Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. (Deuteronomy 11:1)

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
(Deuteronomy 11:19)

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. (Psalm 78:5-7)


It also sounds like you already are aware of how things will change as the end draws near for our time here and that being persecuted for Chist's sake is and will continue to run rampant throughout the earth. However, it is hard when the persecution is happening in your own home. But, God's Word warned of this very thing happening...

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Matthew 10:21)

And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother, to whom he was born, will say to him, 'You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD's name.' When he prophesies, his own parents will stab him. (Zechariah 13:3)


Wow! That's heavy stuff, isn't it?! But...GLORY TO GOD!...He will never foresake you nor leave you nor give you more than you can bear!!!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
(Joshua 1:5)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light


The best advice I can give to you is to continue to seek God out thru His Word and to stay in a constant spirit of prayer over this most difficult situation. Pray God's Word back to Him!

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. (Psalm 57:1)


I will be praying for you and your parents! Continue to let your light shine before your parents and ask God to open the eyes of their hearts! God can do it!

God bless you!

 

[Chad]

Hello brother thank you for sharing this. I'm in the same position except the statues lying around have always been there and my parents don't hassle me about the Truth I believe in as you do. They also do not read the Bible like your parents as you mentioned. I say (prayerfully guided by the Holy Spirit) to preach to them in loving, calm and peaceful manner. For one thing here is a bit of role playing for sake of laying out some ideas for you

1. If they argue against your belief tell them to prove their point with the Holy Bible (not Catholic Bible). If they choose the catholic bible ask them why "catholic" bible instead of GOD's Bible, the "CHRISTian" version of the Bible?

2. Ask them how they have the right to argue with you and quesiton your faith when they are not reading the Word of GOD

3. Ask them how many times the statues answered their prayers or blessed them.

4. Mom? Dad? How do you have the nerves to question me reading the Bible "too much"? How it is wrong to receive and want to read and hear the Word of GOD "too much"? Me personally brother, I would yell at my parents if they ever said such a thing and make them feel little for afterall, that is what we all are in comparison to GOD, just a dust in time.

Brother, these are the same things that disgust me beyond belief in my family. Just try your best to stick with GOD. It really is not that difficult. You love GOD, then you know what to do from there.

 

[Irishmaestro]

Thank you all for your very helpful replies.

I have decided to give up preaching to my Parents (unless God tells me otherwise), for it seems that their hearts have been hardened too much over the years to receive the truth now. There are many people out there who don't believe because they've not yet heard the word of God, and I think I owe it to them to bring the good news to at least some of them.

As for what my mother said to me about being a "religious fanatic", I am exceedingly and seethingly angry with her (not a vain kind of anger, such as the sort Jesus warns us about, but the kind that is rooted in my being insulted by her bitter indifference to God), and that is likely to remain that way for another while. I long to forgive her, but I cannot do so if she neither feels remorse nor wishes to be forgiven.

I only read the Christian Bible (obviously), primarily the Authorised Version, and the Revised Standard Version (which is basically a late 19th Century language revision of the AV). I have read the Apocrypha in the 1611 translation, and I don't consider it as being sound doctrinally (which is what Anglican Churches also believe). Funnily enough, the only Bible my parents ever had (which was given to them on their wedding day) is the normal (e.g. sans Apocrypha) edition of the RSV. My Mum's never picked it up, and the first time I read it, the tops of the pages were festooned with dust. It now sits in the Sitting Room, next to a scholarly history of pagan iconography (which is perhaps representative of its place in my family). The very existence of a "Catholic" Bible demonstrates that there are two distinct versions of Christianity. And it is not, as many Catholics argue, just a version with Apocrypha. Let's take the NIV, for example (not the best translation, but this is just for demonstration). There's a normal edition, an edition with Apocrypha, and a Catholic edition. Something tells me that the Roman Church has edited its bibles to obscure the truth contained in the normal versions.

And, as for compromising my faith (which is what my Dad suggests that I do [his idea of compromise being my yielding to their worldly whims]), there is no question of it. If I must choose between my Parents and God, then I must choose God, who is my true parent, both spiritual and physical. And, if that means moving out of home, then so be it. My love of the LORD is too great to abandon Him. After all, I want to spend eternity in His presence.

Thank you all for helping to guide me toward this resolution. May God bless you all greatly.

 

[Jonah2005bt]

GOD is calling you!

Irishmaestro, my advice to you is pray & do not give up, it is good that you consider your parents wishes, but they are not above The Almighty GOD. If they believe that giving your all to The Almighty GOD is wrong then it is they who are blind to GOD'S Word & not you.

I can only imagine how hard this is on you. I know it can be hard to deal with loved ones that don't quite understand.

And, as far as being called a "religious fanatic" all I can say is - get use to it. For that is what the world calls GOD'S People, those who long to do HIS every will, those who dare to know HIM & to get to know HIM even more, through constant Bible Studying whether with others or solo - just you, The Almighty GOD & Jesus Christ, for wanting to be around others who also want Worship The Almighty GOD, with all their heart, soul & mind & to the best of their abilities & knowledge. And for wanting to help others to understand as well.

All fanatic really means is someone whom longs & craves to do certain things, constantly all the time & does them.

I find the word - fanatic - to me, be nothing more than a wonderful word & even a comfort to me. If someone today were to call me a fanatic, because I take The Almighty GOD & Jesus Christ to seriously, I think I would thank them, for such a compliment. For this is what The Almighty GOD wants from HIS children, HE wants our attention upon HIM, HE wants us to live by HIS Rules & Regulations & through the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ. HE wants to protect us & the only way HE can do that is if we listen to HIM & obey, by doing what HE asks of us. For what good is HIS Word if we do not listen & obey them? What good can HIS Word do for us then?

 

[Brian]

My parents are also Catholic. They refuse to accept my faith. To them I was raised a catholic and should remain so.When ever they confront me with a question concerning my beliefs, I always use their Catholic bible to prove my answers. The truth can be found in the catholic bible, I know from experience.Yes they did add additional books, but you never have to refer to them to express truth.

 

[Jonah2005bt]

My parents are also Catholic. They refuse to accept my faith. To them I was raised a catholic and should remain so.When ever they confront me with a question concerning my beliefs, I always use their Catholic bible to prove my answers. The truth can be found in the catholic bible, I know from experience.Yes they did add additional books, but you never have to refer to them to express truth.

Brian gives some very good advice! Also remember - never, ever forget to go to The Almighty GOD in Prayer before you do anything, asking through Jesus Christ! {John 14:13-17}

 

[3nails=love]

Some of my relative are also Catholic, my father grew up in a Catholic home and then turned totally away from God in His teenage years. Now after much trial he is a strong Christian so believe there is hope for your parents just pray for them and don't let their strong resistance now drag you down. As it says in Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that wherther I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
This, I believe is instruction to keep your conversation also "manner of life" in check. By your conversation they will be won to Christ or at least given that opportunity. Don't loose hope, brother! You are fighting a good fight and the Lord will reward you richly for it!