I am a 13 yr. old christian with an unsaved family. I've tried many different things like inviting them to church, pray by myself at the dinner table for them to see, telling them how much joy jesus has brought to my life, and one night when i asked my dad why we didnt go to church as a whole family and he got really upset with me-my brother who is older says there is no god and he gets upset when i say the word church or god and makes fun of me when i read the bible or pray. I am scared they will not find jesus. Please i need your help!
2007-03-24 15:50:31 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Where is your faith?
Do you assume that God is not smart enough to come up with a plan for their salvation that is going to work?
Trust that He is.
Love and blessings Don
2007-03-24 15:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am a teen Christian too and I have not had problems with my family but my friends. I will pray for you and your family that they will see the truth. But you are doing the right thing so far! when you get a little bit older your parents will expect you to get all rebellious as most teens tend to do and if you just keep following God and being a good kid they will see you are different from those without Christ. God Bless and remember You are a Treasure to God
2007-03-24 15:59:51 · answer #2 · answered by Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love them with all of your heart. Be a living example of Jesus to them. Ask Him to let you know when the time is right to speak. Keep praying and get friends from church praying as well. It make take years but don't give up....Keep trusting God will do something.
2007-03-24 15:59:20 · answer #3 · answered by Jan P 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sweetie, let me first complement you on a job WELL DONE! To be so young (young lady that is), and so on fire for God...that is incredible! I think the best thing you can do at this point is to stay strong... keep faith in your heart. Don't give up on your family...pray, pray, pray, and pray some more because God is listening to you. Things may not change right away like you would like them to, but you are putting the seed in them that they need to blossom and grow in christ. As you know each of us has the choice to do what is right; we can't force anything on anyone... not even our family members. Give it time, give God time to work through them. If you need someone to talk to about this more outside of Yahoo Answers, I would be happy to help.
2007-03-24 16:08:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that you have received Jesus puts you in a special category concerning your family. The anointing that is on you and in you will greatly help to lead your family to the Lord. Do not push them and by all means do not worry about it. Instead when you enter your prayer closet on a daily basis pray the prayers of Ephesians 1:16-23 and Ephesians 3;14-21. Do this everyday for your entire family for a few weeks and see what God will do.
I Cr 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
2007-03-24 15:58:40 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it's so good to find another young person in christ! Secondly, don't lose faith. Just keep doing what you're doing. Put it all to God and He will come through. Try fasting and praying al well. If you have a youth group at the church you go to, ask them to help you pray. There is power in prayers. I'll keep you in my prayers. God Bless!
2007-03-24 16:44:34 · answer #6 · answered by AlexMP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very considerate of you to think about them, at one point I was afraid for my parents too, but then I became agnostic (questioning God) and I no longer fear.
I am not saying it is good, I was way happier while I was praying and stuff, but it takes companion to be happy, I would drop the idea of trying to convince your family of goodness of Jesus, because they will not believe. Instead, pray in silence, by yourself.
Do not stop to believe though, just because your family is not believing does not mean that you should not, you will soon understand that rebellion is often the only way to be yourself.
I know life too well to say that going to church and asking for guidance adults is a good idea... Talk about going to church and entrusting your problems to other people with your mom, I can see that your dad isagainst church, and that is why you should not talk to him about that, talkto your mom, and try to understand that your parents care about you and respect their will.
And remember, if people around are against what you are doing, it is good to stop oing that around them, they may become upset and unpleasant, but do not hesitate to do it in privacy.
With you best of luck.
2007-03-24 16:08:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in your shoes once. I became a Christian when I was 15 and was the only Christian in my family. What I later realized, when I got older, was that at that time, I did not have enough life experience to influence them to become Christians. I have more credibility in their eyes as an adult, but adults don't look to kids as examples. Sometimes, you may be in better shape than some adults, but they are not likely to listen to you. Sorry, but that's just a fact of life.
You have to be prayerful and patient. God CAN use you to bring them to Christ, but it will not be you; it will be God through you. Give them the room to be themselves and to call things as they see them without judgement on your part. This will demonstrate the love of God. Just love them and keep loving them while doing your thing. Eventually, it will all come out in the wash. Just trust in God's love for you and trust in God's love for those you love. Peace.
2007-03-24 16:08:23 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the joys of being a Christian. There is also sorrow when we can't seem to reach those that we love. However, the most difficult people to reach for Christ are those in our families. Your best chance for their salvation is to pray (alone & quietly) that God will send someone into their lives that will reach them. In the meantime, as you grow closer to Jesus in your relationship with Him, he will put others in your life who will listen to you and follow you to Christ.
Jesus loves you and knows the very desire of your heart is that your family will be saved. He will fulfill that desire, but maybe not in the way that you see fit. Keep growing in the Lord, keep your eyes on Him and your family will come around, in God's time, not our time.
The Lord bless you and keep you. Numbers 26
2007-03-25 02:27:58 · answer #9 · answered by dixie_til_i_die 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Especially since you are a young Christian, your older family members may dismiss you very easily. The best thing you can do is to continue to pray for them, and continue to witness whenever you find the opportunity to do so. As a Christian in the family, you are the most powerful influence in their lives, and the best way for them to find Jesus. Continue to do what you are doing, and never lose faith!
2007-03-24 15:54:50 · answer #10 · answered by azore9 1 · 6⤊ 0⤋
...you have had a lot bigger impact on them than you realize!
Continue to pray for them.
Perhaps, in coming holidays, give them gifts such as "More Than a Carpenter" by Joshua McDowell and a Bible (like The Quest, NIV study version).
...and seek God first...and His Kingdom!
In our own whole-hearted pursuit of God, even to the point of seemingly "leaving" our family and friends behind, we often have such an impact upon our family and friends that they end up following Christ, too.
REMEMBER: you want them to follow CHRIST, not to follow you!
When we turn our gaze from Christ, to look back and try to "drag" others where we are...you will find that this almost never works...
And watch out regarding your prayer...praying "for them to see" is NOT a good idea...and might lead to more problems. Jesus Himself said not to be like the hypocrites, who pray to be seen by others. Your heart is NOT what Jesus was talking about, though. As these people were praying so as to display to others their own righteousness. You, on the other hand, have a pure heart towards your family. But even still, praying "for them to see" is not a good idea. This use to drive me nuts before I was a Christian.
Remember that faith comes by hearing...and hearing by the word of God...i.e. the Bible. The more of the BIBLE you share with them, the better. Like, "what do you think about this verse....what do you think it means...?" And then, show them a verse...
Challenge them:
"If I am wrong about Jesus, can you 'help me' by reading the short book of John...and showing me where it is wrong or incorrect, etc.?"
"If you love me...and think I am 'deluded', will you make a true effort to show me how I am wrong about Jesus...by reading the book of John...etc...?"
Ask them:
"If you were to die today...do you think you'd go to heaven...?"
If not, why not...?
If so, why?
"Do you ever think about these things? If it is the difference between heaven and hell, don't you think it is worth considering?"
=
But again, most important for YOU:
Seek HIM first yourself...even if that means "leaving your family". He who would lose his life...his family...etc. for Jesus' sake, will gain that much more...not only in this lifetime, but also in the life to come...
His WORD does NOT return void!
Continue to PRAY for them!
Do NOT give up on them...ever!
Be patient with God, who has perfect timing and knows all things.
Grace and peace be with you,
yachadhoo
2007-03-24 16:31:43 · answer #11 · answered by yachadhoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋