Other Christians In Your Family

[accadacca]

Hey everyone,
im a new christian and no one else in my close family are christian or religious and they aren't supportive of my faith. i was just wondering what your situation is. is anyone is your family christian or if not, do they support your faith?

[ephraimanesti]

Hey everyone,
im a new christian and no one else in my close family are christian or religious and they aren't supportive of my faith. i was just wondering what your situation is. is anyone is your family christian or if not, do they support your faith?

MY DEAR SISTER,

i am lucky in that all my family -- at least those who live at home -- are Christians. There are 4 of us and, unfortunately, we go to 4 different churches, but we have come to be supportive and considerate of each other's beliefs -- i am Eastern Orthodox and my wife and two children still at home are Protestant.

i understand your loneliness, and it is a sad situation you are in. Remember, however, that your changed life could well be the testimony which will bring salvation to the rest of your family. DON'T PREACH--LIVE THE WORD!

i peeked at your bio and i am not clear why your family's unbelief is keeping you from attending Church. In your situation, a Church Family is an absolute necessity for the support, guidance, and growth of your Christian walk. You must have this or you are guaranteed to fall away rather quickly. As the Letter to the Hebrews warns, "Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. AND LET US BE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE LOVE AND GOOD WORKS, NOT STAYING AWAY FROM OUR MEETINGS, AS SOME HABITUALLY DO, BUT ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER, AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY DRAWING NEAR."(Hebrews 10:23-25) As the saying goes, "A Christian alone is the devil's plaything." Find a Church home A.S.A.P and attend regularly.

MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST AND BEST WISHES,
ephraim

[megg]

Noone in my family is Christian, they are not unsupportive, but don't really encourage it either.
My SIL is a christian and is actually the one that got me seeking, but since has made some choices I am not to sure about.
I am not really sure where she is now.

[Krystabelle]

Hey sisters:wave:

OH well, it's okay if you feel lonely. I know how that feels. Not that ALL my family members are non-christians, but I have a few (let's say my father) that is a bit anti-christ.:sigh: . And it's hard, since he'll over-react if we mention (just a bit) about Christianity. He literally "diswoned" my aunt when she converted to Christian. And also how my mom and dad divorced (but that's a long story).***How immature***:doh: ... But he's my father, I still love him. Problem is, he doesn't know Jesus is my last answer. Yea, I'm risking my neck here. An underground Christian, I wonder how things'll turn out. :prayer: Better start praying again, REAL hard.

Okay hokay, I have a really REALLY long story, don't feel like telling it yet, but in the end, Jesus is my personal saviour.

Keep up the faith. God allows circumstances to happen so that we learn to rely on him more. Even if it means persecution. I mean, that's how we become stronger, no?

"For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."(2 Timothy 1:12- )" Yea men, Immanuel.:amen:

[accadacca]

ephraimanesti, my family will never let me go to church as they really hate christianity and don't want to be involved in it. but i do have christian friends that really help me alot, i can go to them for guidance or whatever and they will always help me. my best friend is a christian and so is her family and they are quite heavily involved with the church and are really supportive of me. so i guess i do have a church family, but out of church...:scratch:

[Krystabelle]

You're not alone, k? My family would have a fit once I go to church... The family conflincts... The shouting and yelling... The blaming and cursing onto God. MY!!! How umthinkable...:doh: I had some cool friends that were real supportive too. Of course my father is always checking on me, so just imagine how hard it was. I know it's wrong to lie, but I have to keep QUIET until the right time. It's for good reason, I wouldn't want my family broken apart AGAIN, YET~~~:sigh: ... I have a prayer meeting group in my college every morning, :groupray: which is cool, that we gather round, have a morning prayer, share testimonies, speak our minds, pray for each other by pairs or smaller groups... It's really encouraging. Maybe u can join one or ask a few friends to form one. I mean, I haven't gone to church YET. God understands your circumstances, He'll help too. And KEEP ON BELIEVING, u can try encouraging your family..... maybe soon (I know how hard it is).... BELIEVE!!! The power is in your hands.:thumbsup:

[accadacca]

yeh, i just have to keep my faith and keep believing, and when the opportunity arises, i take it.

[LifeInChrist]

MY DEAR SISTER,

i am lucky in that all my family -- at least those who live at home -- are Christians. There are 4 of us and, unfortunately, we go to 4 different churches, but we have come to be supportive and considerate of each other's beliefs -- i am Eastern Orthodox and my wife and two children still at home are Protestant.

i understand your loneliness, and it is a sad situation you are in. Remember, however, that your changed life could well be the testimony which will bring salvation to the rest of your family. DON'T PREACH--LIVE THE WORD!

i peeked at your bio and i am not clear why your family's unbelief is keeping you from attending Church. In your situation, a Church Family is an absolute necessity for the support, guidance, and growth of your Christian walk. You must have this or you are guaranteed to fall away rather quickly. As the Letter to the Hebrews warns, "Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. AND LET US BE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE LOVE AND GOOD WORKS, NOT STAYING AWAY FROM OUR MEETINGS, AS SOME HABITUALLY DO, BUT ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER, AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY DRAWING NEAR."(Hebrews 10:23-25) As the saying goes, "A Christian alone is the devil's plaything." Find a Church home A.S.A.P and attend regularly.

MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST AND BEST WISHES,
ephraim

Good reply! Agree with what Ephraim says.

[LifeInChrist]

ephraimanesti, my family will never let me go to church as they really hate christianity and don't want to be involved in it. but i do have christian friends that really help me alot, i can go to them for guidance or whatever and they will always help me. my best friend is a christian and so is her family and they are quite heavily involved with the church and are really supportive of me. so i guess i do have a church family, but out of church...:scratch:

It is good that you have christian friends for fellowship, guidance and help. This will do for the time being imo. Later, God can make the situation feasible for you to attend church.

Continue to have a genuine Christian Love to your Family Members even though they may hate Christianity. Perhaps, they may get a better picture of Christ and Christianity through you.

Lord bless.

[AvgJoe]

ephraimanesti, my family will never let me go to church as they really hate christianity and don't want to be involved in it.

Pray for your family. You may be your family's only hope of salvation. Don't let a day go by without praying for the salvation of each member of your family. Ask God to bring about the situation, or chain of events, in each family member's life, that will bring them to the cross of Christ. You see, God knows what situation, or chain of events, it will take to bring each person to Jesus. God may have to make some awefully bads things happen in order to bring your family to Jesus, but I would much rather my family members go through hell on earth and gain salvation, then to go to hell for all eternity. Refuse to give up and continue to pray, daily, in this way for your family and you may be amazed how God will move heaven and earth to bring your family members to Jesus. James 5:16(AMP) tells us, "The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." There is hope, and that hope lies in Jesus, and the power of prayer that He gives to each one of us.


but i do have christian friends that really help me alot, i can go to them for guidance or whatever and they will always help me. my best friend is a christian and so is her family and they are quite heavily involved with the church and are really supportive of me. so i guess i do have a church family, but out of church...:scratch:

It is great to know that you have this base of support in your friend's family. All Christians are part of God's family and should take care of each other regarless of whether it is in or out of the church. For now, they are your church family. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 18:20(AMP), "For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them."

Following are links to some ebooks that may be helpful to you:

Daniel: Spiritual Living In A Secular Culture (http://www.rbc.org/uploadedFiles/Bible_Study/Discovery_Series/PDFs/Daniel_Spiritual_Living.pdf)
How Do You Live the Christian Life (http://www.rbc.org/uploadedFiles/Bible_Study/Discovery_Series/PDFs/how_do_you_live_the_christian_life.pdf)
Joseph: Overcoming Life’s Challenges (http://www.rbc.org/uploadedFiles/Bible_Study/Discovery_Series/PDFs/Joseph_Overcoming_Lifes_Challenges.pdf)

God bless!

[sistakrista]

accadacia~

I grew up in a family of, catholic, non church goers, but I went to a Baptist church. When I got saved, I was 17 & NO ONE in my family was a "known" christian - I did find out years later, that my dad was a christian. Now, I know both of my brothers are saved! I rejoice, they are saved! They don't necessarily "support" my faith, but they are not against me, either.

God could be placing you in your family to be a light to them. You keep praying & trusting Jesus. NO MATTER WHAT!!!
God Bless!

[accadacca]

thanks for all you support guys & girls. for the time being all i can do is pray that my mum and dad accept my faith and hopefully "see the light".

[accadacca]

sorry if what i said didn't make sense. im really tired atm, so i'll come back and read over what i said.

[Krystabelle]

YAY~~~:DTrust me, even I have doubts. We all do sometimes. I had peers to remind me what really matters, my faith in God, not my boldness. It's kinda creepy being an underground Christian, my family'll reject me once they found out, *shivers* but God promise good things and I put all my trust on Him. Amen.BTW, anyone out there read the book "Why am I afraid to tell you who I am?" by John Powell? I need some reviews... Please and thank you!!! :D

[accadacca]

looks like we're in the same boat Krystabelle.

[Krystabelle]

You have no idea ;)... the fear of rejection is real, I know. the difference is, ur family already know, mine, oh well... wait until I'm 21 then. (I need to pay my college and uni fees)... But I'm lucky, I have spiritual parents (currently my 2 lovely good friends)... And they understand, constantly "pulling" me to join their prayer meeting group even if I don't want to (I was ashamed). It's cool to have real friends. God allows circumstances to happen, because through that we learn to rely on Him more. also to strengthen us, and make us more- I said MORE- perfect...

[accadacca]

Krystabelle, i haven't officially tolf my parents yet. but i know they won't accept it. they dont accept my friend's faith. they won't nothing to do with religion and completely reject it and have no respect for it.

[thenewageriseth]

Actually, my father is like that. My mother likes church fine. She goes one in a while. She was raised as so and it's in her blood. My brother doesn't care for church. I don't know how he feels about God, but he doesn't go.

[Krystabelle]

Oh well... Here's a fact, those who're not born as Christians but know God later tend to appreciate God more. My family (including uncles and aunties and cousins) do not respect Christianity, Muslim or any other "religion" except Taoism and Buddism... Chinese~ sometimes some of us can't let go old beliefs. But we have good principles, we respect our elders, they do so because my grandad is HIGHLY against Christianity, (how sad) he thinks it's a western stuff that'll tarnish our Chinese traditions... When I thought things would get better by the next generation, gosh I was wrong. My father is just anti-christian for the sake of ANTI_CHRISTIAN. :( *sigh* But why complain? He's my dad. Don't we all need to honour our parents?:) . . . They don't understand, Christianity is not just a "religion", it's our relationship with the Creator, God... and receiving Christ as our personal saviours... I can only pray and wait.... and trust in God :D... Amen!!!

[accadacca]

im praying for the both of us.

[soulsearching1]

Okay, I haven't read all of the responses to this yet, but I just wanted to add that I am a new Christian in a family of non-believers- and I haven't told any of them yet. Frankly, I don't know how to. My mom believes in God, but she doesn't accept Jesus Christ as Savior. I have no idea what my sister believes, nor my father. Both of my parents were raised Catholic, but went away from it as adults. And we grew up with not too much religious talk in our house. So yeah, I'm still trying to figure out how to break this to any of them. They accepted my boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), who is Christian, but I feel they might be wary if it was me.

[accadacca]

i think i'll just let my parents naturally find out... or if the opportunity arrises, ill tell them then.

[Krystabelle]

Thanks accadacca:D

And after what I've been through, I can only say, trust God can do wonders. And believe Him, His plans, even if it's hard for us to understand... Thing's been going unexpectedly smooth for awhile... and that's cool :) YAY!!!

[Tawny]

None of my family are religious at all. My parents are strictly Wedding, Christening and Funeral Christians, my sister is pagan and no one else in the family goes to any form of church.

They don't object to me going to church, they support me but want nothing to do with it. They just think I am a bit of a religious nut....lol

[Krystabelle]

It'd nice for me if my family don't object *sigh*...
But I trust God's plans... so *stand up*, for Jesus is my final answer... Yea man, no longer held back by the fear of rejection. Time I take control of my own life... (here's a secret, I was pathetic b4 this, an insignificant pawn i call myself. constantly feeling depressed for no reason, but now I feel profound strength. though ROme wasn't built in a day, but i feel so much more significant, so much stronger....)


So day by day, from glory to glory, strength to strength, press on towards your goal! and glorify God ! (http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=26765561&postID=115995773473126331)

YAY, hallelujah!!!

BTW, pagan? Interesting....

[Tawny]

BTW, pagan? Interesting....

We have some interesting conversations, I can tell you

[JPPT1974]

One of my maternal uncles ain't a Christian
And that he is also an alcoholic as well
Praying for his salvation and that he
Will seek help on his alcoholism.

[accadacca]

its good to hear there are others that are in my situation.

[Catholic Wife]

ephraimanesti, my family will never let me go to church as they really hate christianity and don't want to be involved in it. but i do have christian friends that really help me alot, i can go to them for guidance or whatever and they will always help me. my best friend is a christian and so is her family and they are quite heavily involved with the church and are really supportive of me. so i guess i do have a church family, but out of church...:scratch:
Hi AC/DC!
You have described my family. When I was growing up, I had to choose between going to church and being part of the family. The churches my parents grew up in turned them off religion for good, and they tried to pass on to my brother and me their disgust for church and religion. Although it seemed to "work" for my brother (he hates religion, too), it didn't "work" for me. Once I turned 18, I stood up to them and told them my plans to become a Christian. Because I was of legal age, they had no choice but to accept my decision. But, because of my decision, I haven't had a close relationship with my parents for almost 20 years.

The only advice I can give is to keep praying and studying as much as you can with your friend. Remember to honor your parents -- especially since you are still under their authority. Once you are of legal age, be prepared to do what you must for your faith, understanding that it could lead to a very rocky relationship with your family.

[Krystabelle]

We have some interesting conversations, I can tell you


Yea, I'm really interested ... Like paganism or wicca, not against it, just curious:P ... Well pm me if u might... :D please and thanks. nice to meet u!!!:blush:

[accadacca]

thanks purkyculz, thats re-assuring:) :sorry:

[bubblegumbeauty]

None of my family are christian either. Its hard aye!!! Im kinda lucky because my parents dont mind me going to church and church related events but they dont like me to talk about stuff to do with it. Its a great support to have friends that are christian but Yea just pray for your family, the rest is up to God!!
God Bless

[heymikey80]

Hey everyone,
im a new christian and no one else in my close family are christian or religious and they aren't supportive of my faith. i was just wondering what your situation is. is anyone is your family christian or if not, do they support your faith?
Good question. At your age mine was half-n-half, opposed and in conflict whenever it came up (which was relatively often).

We're not a very close family as a result, either. I think part of that may've been that we all in my family used to interpret the world as "religious" and "irreligious"; but that's changed for me. http://www.redeemer2.com/resources/papers/centrality.pdf

I know it can't be easy. I left church when I was younger, and it took a lot of study and effort from other Christians to gain back lost training and fellowship; I'm still impacted by it. Can you ask friends for CDs from church? Is there a youth ministry in the area? A seminary with a library? That's what I depended on when I returned to church.

I also have kids where I work in vol. ministry whose parents aren't Christians. It's a tall order, and you can be under such scrutiny. I pray for you, that you find the fellowship and unity that will grow Christ in you.

[zoeykristanyc]

I was raised without any religion, we went to the Unitarian Church, and sometimes a Catholic service on Easter/etc.:preach: mostly when my grandmother forced us. Most of my extended family is Christian, and they don't know I am, for I just accepted Him into my life in June. :crossrc: But they are all supportive, yes:groupray:

[accadacca]

good to hear zoe.

[savedbygracebre]

Well actually i kind of see and can relate to the situations around here. I became a christian about two years ago. My wife is a typical believes in Jesus but that's where it's ends person. We are always getting into situations where she wants to still do the things we did before i changed(drinking, clubbing, dancing) and it always causes tremendous pressure on me to keep this relationship going since those are not the things i desire anymore. Her whole family kind of is in the same boat. Their all catholics and think that you can enjoy all the world has to offer and heaven is waiting for you in the end.(you know-the typical good works to heaven road-except they don't have alot of good works). My main problem is that i have two young children and i don't think divorce is a wise option now. My wife and her whole family thinks that if i'm going to dedicate to God the way i do that i should go and be a "preacher". They just don't understand me nor are they willing for me to explain, not that they would understand anyway.

[Krystabelle]

Hmm... typical

[TheListener]

Hey everyone,
im a new christian and no one else in my close family are christian or religious and they aren't supportive of my faith. i was just wondering what your situation is. is anyone is your family christian or if not, do they support your faith?
I'm the only Christian in our extended family. My side of the family come from a muslim background. My wifes side of the family (including my wife) comes from a non-practising Christian (basically agnostic/apathetic) background. My wifes grandmother was a devout Christian but she passed away some years ago.

[Juliibelle]

My mother kicked me out because I became a Christian. No one in my close family is Christian. My dad professes faith, but I'm quite sure about him. I accept it though, and I now live in my pastor's home. God has given me a family here, and I couldn't be happier.

Pray for your family, it's all you can do. Stick to your faith.

[anonymousAdviser]

Hey everyone,
im a new christian and no one else in my close family are christian or religious and they aren't supportive of my faith. i was just wondering what your situation is. is anyone is your family christian or if not, do they support your faith?

Our relationship with God is ultimately our own, personal relationship with God. While we have a love and responsibility towards our natural family, which the good Lord is gracious enough to give us -- God views everyone equally.

It is important to trust in God and keep your trust in God. Worrying about how others are doing or not is ultimately the responsibility of the Lord of Grace whom gives grace to whom He pleases when He pleases.

This said, surely the Lord is kind to us in regards to our own family, though at times we have to simply keep faith with God and look to Him to bless them with the same grace He has given us.

Such is the nature of faith, mysterious.

[alan650]

I'm lucky, both sides of my family are religious. They are both Wesleyan Methodist. The only instance of divorce is unfortunately my mother and father.

[JPPT1974]

Everybody is except one of my maternal uncles
Who is also a drunk
Praying that he will become a Christian
Before its too late.