what to do with in-laws who doesn't accept your Religion?

Question

well it's really my Father-in-law who goes skeptical about the whole thing. He's a Catholic and NEEDS to start acting more like one than continues his impeding about our [me and my husband] ways of worshiping The Lord, Jesus Christ. Remember, religion will NOT save us. it's our FAITH in him. so what's the big deal? there's this whole drama going on right now because we neglected his invitation of going to church together on Sunday, instead we wanted to worship God at OUR church, which he disapproves of. What to do...? he isn't talking to us, he even got into a car accident because he was so UPSET. *sigh* =T .....

well, just an add-on ...me and my husband have been going through this MANY times. this is the very FIRST time we have neglected his offer to be together. He is old and yes VERY STUBBORN. He raised his children to listen to him ALL THE TIME. He even makes decisions for what they should become in the future and 2 has followed him one is happy and the other is not. His youngest (my husband) couldn't listen to what he wanted because i conceived his child at a young age and BOY it was hell. So that's a little bit about my Father-in-law. I really don't want to be in bad terms with him but sometimes i really don't have a solution anymore except to pray about him...

I wish he would attend our church!!! YEA RIGHT!....i have no problem attending a CAtholic church, hey it's still Jesus. It's just not my way of worshiping him most of the time. I do when i feel i need to be solemn and quiet. Just between me and God. because we all need to find our comfort zones in the way we want to worship him, and i've found it, but he hates it!

we've done that "well attend church with him in the morn', then we'll attend ours tonight" this has been going on FOREVER....people get the need to explode sometimes and say, no not this time. And aside from that i think as a believer that things happen to us for a reason. I think i have a significant reason for being placed in their family. Not because God wants me to ruin a familys life but to soften his heart... Oh and he pushes other believers of Christ to serve God in a Catholic way, which i think is so insane!! no offense......

"our church" meaning the church we attend. i didn't mean to sound like OUR CHURCH IS BETTER. that's a big
no-no and yes God would be so ashamed of me your right if i thought that way...

"one time?" i never had a problem attending Catholic churches, i have always attended them, more comfortable in Christian churches.

Sorry for the misinterpretations...

Answer 1

Suggest to him that he seek God's will for his own life. And suggest that if he is seeking God's will for your (or anyone else's) life, he is walking down a spiritually pitfall-laden road. Tell him that you respect his choice of churches, and ask that he respect yours too. Agree to disagree on churches; agree to agree on salvation through Christ.

Answer 2

You could attend church with your father-in-law and ask that he do the same with you. It might be a nice exchange -- and will show both of you, that what you share is more important than what you don't share. You share a belief in Christianity and the same God. That is bigger than the details that you don't have in common. Maybe a part of his invitation is an attempt to get closer to you. I don't think it would be a big deal to concede on this issue -- and you could always attend services at your church after you have attended church with him. Sometimes, older people just want to know that they still have something to offer to the younger generation. Older people have value in their experiences. Think about what I have said and decide if you think attending services with your father-in-law is really giving up on your own principles.

Answer 3

say a prayer for them; seriously; look, from the looks of things, the FIL will NOT change; there's nothing you can do on that; when he throws his brand of business on you, thank him then say you rather worship where you feel more at home to YOUR liking; If he continue to keep up stuff, then you and your husband may want to make some decisions as to whether or not you should deal with him; there is no law that says you should; I learned that some folks are best loved AT a Distance. perhaps he is one of them;If you go that route, let him know that and then don't have much to do with him after that; If he comes back at ya'll with anything, let him know that this is the way you'll handle business and you won't accept nothing less. I tried to follow what your posts were saying, but I'll stick to the question you asked; I hope it helps. Peace.

Answer 4

You both could have gone to your father in laws church.. but seeing as how neither of you wished that, why hadn't you at least invited him to attend yours, and go out for breakfast afterward..
He would most likely have declined, but the 'respect' for him would have been there..
You and your husband need to learn a bit more about that.. speak with the minister at your church..

I was raised Catholic - became a member of my husbands church - and later, a Christian.. My family didn't understand at first..
Show them God's love, even if you can't show them yours..
Christian..

Answer 5

Him Cap. when speaking of God,OK.ty Now concerning your father. First we must each recognize each others view on religion. Try to develop a relationship with our Lord and Savior rather than a religion. Pray...before speaking with your Dad, also invite Him to your Church as well as you visiting his, there is nothing wrong with that.Try to keep a sweet Spirit, and ask dad please don't judge lest you be judge, also tell him you both worship the same GOD.1Corinthians 13:13 in New King James Version, now abide Faith,Hope and Love, the greatest of these is Love. You all are in Church and Praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.What more could a dad ask for.I'll keep you in prayer, Satan is trying to split you,a lot of people don't realize Satan is at church too, why should he go to bars or nite clubs.Fight him...no demand him to stop causing strife and remember there is nothing wrong to just visiting another church now and then. God Bless! (Roy)[e-mail]

Answer 6

OK, let me get this straight: you're going to feud and not talk to your husband's father, the only one he has, because you have some tiny little doctrinal difference between your belief and his...is that about right? So small and petty...

You're so judgemental of HIM, yet don't even see that you're doing the exact same thing he is: rejecting the other's religion as wrong because it's oh-so-slightly different than yours. And you're going to let this be a wedge in family, let it drive you apart?

Would it really have been so hard for you to go to church with him? Do you think god would have doomed your soul to eternal hell for trying to make nice with your in-laws and going to the "wrong" church for once? Don't you think that just maybe your example might loosen him up a little bit? OUR church -- like it's so much better than his. Have you listened to yourself?

christians fighting over petty doctrinal differences. christians fighting muslims since before the crusades. christians trying to force their version of morality on everyone else. Sheesh. I'm not a christian, but based on what jesus taught -- he'd be ashamed of you.

Answer 7

Just pray about it. Tell him we accept your failth i think you should do the same for us. Tell him that you do not want this to get in the way of the relashionship but you let it then that is on you but we will still be here for you and we still love you no matter what you may think of us and our relgion. If you can i would just not bring it up when you are around him and maybe you could just go to his church once in a while i know you may not belive in the same religion but you can still prey to the Your God and maybe if you go to his maybe that will make him want to go and try yourse since you gave his a chance. IF he really is stubborn maybe just not bring up religion around him. That is what we had to do with my aunt we just did not talk about religion we are Christians and belive in salvation. And she was a JOHAVA so i know you could imagine that convosation she would not listen to us and was stubborn she would not even give us a chance to explain on why we belived in what we did. we if your a johava im sorry if i offended you but this is what she did to us.
HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 8

I don't have patience for people unwilling to allow others to live and let live. It's truly unfortunate that your Father-in-law was so distracted by his "concern" over your and your husband's lives that he went and hurt himself, but frankly he got what he deserved. If I were in his shoes, I would look at the accident as a lesson or a message: a "don't worry about them, let them find Me on their own" sorta thing. I am glad that your husband shares your faith, so that it's unlikely that the problems that you two might have with your Father-in-law will drive the marriage apart.

Actually, my advice to you would be to act as a role model of sorts. Demonstrate the behavior you want the in-law to show; namely, don't engage him in any argument if you can avoid it. Eventually, hopefully, he'll see how silly he's being and cut it out, but if not you'll still have the support of others who see how silly he's being.

Answer 9

Wow, he sounds manipulative. My father in law is an atheist so be glad you have God in common. As long as you worship the same GOD what is the big deal? With him I mean.

Answer 10

As people get old, they get stubborn. If this is a passing thing like they're visiting, I would suggest trying to go with the flow and checking out his church and stuff. How can that hurt you? Other than that your only option is to be dead honest and tell him to just (excuse me) f-u-c-k off.