I am wondering if anyone could share any scriptures or wisdom here....I know a family and their son walked away from God and is living a lifestyle they do not agree with so now they don't talk to him or include him in family gatherings and they said that God told them not to talk to him or reach out to him right now because he is in a very bad place. I am very close to this family and love them dearly but I don't agree with their decision but who can argue when someone says they have heard from God? Even when there was an outreach at their church I thought it would be a great opportunity to invite him but they didn't want to. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is disowning the right thing to do? I don't think it is, I am just looking for suggestions for when I talk to them
2006-09-23 13:19:04 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wow. Lot's of things to contend with here.
First, you have to be careful believing when people say "they heard from God". Does what they say they hear line up with WHO God is, and/or instruction that He gave us in The Word?
The bible teaches us to LOVE others, giving specific attention to those who are lost. This is our ministry! I Thank God He did not disown us, for none of us are worthy!
The best thing you can do for this family is pray for them...ask the other members of your church and other believers that you know to pray with you for a corporate anointing. INTERCEDE for your brothers and sisters who have been terribly misled.
If their son is open to it, invite him to the church. If not, continue to spend time with him so that he can be reminded of how good God is by seeing Him in YOU. Pray and fast for him, too.
When you talk with them, be sensitive to where they are. DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT speak to them about their decision. You run the risk of causing more damage. Love on them, be loving towards them and around them and continue to share the love of Christ with them.
Then just sit back, relax and watch The Lord do the rest! You will have a new reason to praise Him.
May The Lord bless you for your compassionate heart, and know that I will be praying WITH you.
2006-09-23 13:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by ConcernedMom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not good at remembering exact scriptures. All through out the Bible, love wins. Shunning someone isn't loving them. Not inviting someone to a church event isn't going to help them re-connect with God in any way.
Luke 15 tells the story of the Prodigal son, but it doesn't really say that parents should love their kids unconditionally. Jesus said we're supposed to love everyone unconditionally. I don't see how that wouldn't include our own kids. There's nothing this kid could have done to make God not love him, so why do they have the right not to love him? We are to forgive others as we know God will forgive us.
2006-09-23 13:34:37 · answer #2 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These people have NOT put what they have done up against the WORD of God and they are sadly mistaken (as you already know) that God would ever tell them to do something so unloving. The have an ought against their own blood and their prayers are being hindered according to the Word of God. I would NEVER give them my opinion at this point, but try just listing God's character traits and scripture. I was taught that when someone seems to have become stiffnecked, you must totally remove yourself and let the Word do its work. Bless your heart for trying to help. Trust God He will make a way.
2006-09-23 13:23:57 · answer #3 · answered by Sleek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't believe in the "God told me to do this or that" because I don't think God talk to people like that. He talks through the scriptures.
Anyway, at my church there was this girl who walked away from God too and lived the way she wanted but after sometime she wanted to get back to church but the pastor told her that she could do it but she wouldn't be able to talk to others for not contaminating others or something like that.
I think the family's son will realize how wrong he is and get back to God by himself.
2006-09-23 13:30:40 · answer #4 · answered by meche 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gee, that's a tuff one.
I'm just a step-dad, no kids of my own, so I guess I really can't comment from the dad angle.
I think it's cool that some put here the story of the Prodigal Son...that story is like looking into a mirror for me.
But I'd also caution you, in the same Bible, it talks about how Jesus will divide families. Since we don't have all the details of this sad story, it is rather difficult for us to know what advice to give, other than this:
PRAY!!
2006-09-23 13:33:30 · answer #5 · answered by David T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think disowning someone is never good in any circustance. The son needs love and support from christians now more than ever. God never disowns anyone so why should we. unfortunately that may only make the son go deeper into his lifestyle that is less than healthy. My BFs mom did that to him and so did his ex wife. I was the only christian that didn't turn away from him and he started, very slowly, to realize that christians are not horrible, jugemental people because of me and my friends. I hope things work out and that they do not push thier son further from christ than he has walked himself.
2006-09-23 13:25:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They only thing you can do is pray. Prayer changes things. Pray for the family for they will open their heart to their son when the time is right. Some battles are not for humans to fight. For when you give your problems to God, the problems will be solved. If the family has instilled the right foundation in him then he will only stray for a little while. In this case God will be the only way one to bring him back. Besides, it is probably a teenager just defying his parents. Be a good christian mentor to this teenager or find someone else who will. It might be God's plan for them to close their hearts to their son right now so he can eventually realize his mistake.
2006-09-23 13:55:58 · answer #7 · answered by Still_21_nheart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should never completely disown him but in their contact with him they should never give him the impression that it's okay to live a sinful lifestyle if that's what he chooses. I have a friend at church and her brother is in prison.Her family is dealing with some of the same issues and questions right now.They are not abandoning but they are very dis appointed in him and are not sure how to deal with him when he gets out in Dec.
2006-09-23 13:30:12 · answer #8 · answered by jim h 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
read Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son
2006-09-23 13:27:47 · answer #9 · answered by believer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each man must work out his own salvation.We are not to turn our back on our blood. If someone will not listen to rebuke, warn them three times then have nothing to do with them, but if they repent,we must forgive them, no matter how many times they fall away and come back, or else how can our heavenliy Father forgive us, if we do not forgive others. Thats all from the Bible. I think( but who am I?) they forgive him, and are doing what GOD commands. Leave them be, because the Bible also says that getting in to others fights is like touching a starving dog's food.
2006-09-23 13:50:24 · answer #10 · answered by TYRONE S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋