How do I open someone's eyes to Jesus Christ?

Question

Hi,
My great aunt is very sick with cancer and might die soon. However, she's not a Christian. I was wondering if you guys had any tips for me to make her more open to Christianity and showing her the love of God and Jesus Christ. I will probably be seeing her this Saturday and I don't know what I should tell her. Should I ask her to pray with me, or tell her about my joy in finding Jesus, or what?

Please, only serious answers. If you have something against Christianity, you shouldn't be replying to this. Thanks.

Answer 1

Your great aunt has had a long life. I would highly encourage you NOT to take it upon yourself to try to persuade her beliefs at this late stage in her life. She deserves only to know that you care about her and want to be there for her in whatever way she would like you to be. That's it.

If I had lived a really long life and was on my death bed, one of the last things I would ever want would be one of my own family to come in and tell me what I should believe.

Your intentions are obviously good, but to actually do this would be pretty unwise at best, and downright insensitive at worst.

Answer 2

Look, I'm going to be honest here...

I know to you it's probably this all important thing, but if the women is not a Christian, if she never has been and does not believe in it...then just leave her be about it. If she is very sick and dying of cancer, don't put that extra stress on her by being pushed to accept your views, because if she doesn't share it, she IS going to feel cornered and stressed. Not nice to do to someone so sick. And she may well feel that you are just trying to catch her at a time when she's most vulnerable. Which will make your time with her less special to her.

If you want to pray for her, fine... if she was a good person in her life, then I would hope and wish that your religion would allow you to at least *hope* that as a good person she would not be punished for all eternity. And I think it's ridiculous the idea that a good person would be...so if there is any "afterlife" of sorts, any good person is bound to be OK.

Answer 3

You are working on the assumption that she has never heard of your religion or faith, that she has somehow lived her life without ever knowing the basics of the major religions?
Unless you actually believe this why can't you respect her choice and not berate her on her death bed so that you can feel better about yourself.
She has obviously made her choice and even with the fear of cancer she didn't turn to religion so she has strength of character. You should simply be there for her, if you cannot do that without getting a notch on your conversion post then perhaps you shouldn't go at all, it should be a time of peace for her, not of religious debate.
Facing your own death would you want some little smart @ss telling you that you got it all wrong? No!
If she isn't already religious after what she has gone through then all you will do is make her angry or upset with you.

I can understand that you particular beliefs has got you in a panic but this is not about you. You must accept that she already knows what you want to tell her and she disagree with you.

If you simply MUST say something to her then perhaps you should politley ask if she wants to hear what you have to say. Tell her you are afraid of what is happening to her and she can tell you what she wants. WHATEVER she says you MUST respect it. You have no place making a dying woman miserable and irratated.

Answer 4

The LAST thing a dying person needs is a religious pitch from a relative. The way you witness the love of Christ is to LIVE it, not talk about it. Talk is cheap, and meaningless if you don't back it up with your actions. If she doesn't see something special in the way you act, in the way you treat other people, exactly what kind of difference does Jesus make anyway? Members of the early Church were proud to hear the words, "See how these Christians love one another." Not preach, love.

If you take really good care of her when you visit, you have a slight chance of arousing her curiosity, but it usually takes a much long time to create an effective impression of sincerity.

Answer 5

First of all, I'm sorry about your great aunt. Also, I have to tell you that YOU cannot open someone's eyes to Jesus Christ. That is a very wrong statement. As what the recent answerer have said, you are a WITNESS for Christ. The converting is the Holy Spirit's job. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, there is no conversion. That is why when you witness to someone, you have to ask help from the Holy Spirit.

One more thing... Don't listen to these guys who discourage you to witness to your aunt. I suggest you go for the witnessing and tell her how God really loves her and died for her. You can also tell her your testimony when you got saved if you want to.

Answer 6

i hope you don't disregard this because i don't share the same faith as you, but i have had a little experience with christianity. from what i know of it, the first 3 answerers or so are right. you can cannot convert her or open her eyes, only the holy spirit can do that.
i don't know you or your great aunt and i don't know what she believes, but you should ask yourself if she seems content with the possiblity of death. i know your concern is only out of love, but if she has her beliefs then let her have them. she is under a tremendous amount of strain emotionally, physically, and probably religiously. if you come at her telling her how great and wonderful everything is since you found your god, it would be like kicking her when she was on the ground.
i speak from a different sort of personal experience. i have a daughter that is medically fragile, severly disabled, and is only expected to live a short time compared to the rest of us. no religion can offer an acceptable answer as to why these things are allowed to happen.
when you are in a situation where death is a common thought, having someone tell you that you are going to hell or that their life has improved so drastically since finding jesus makes it feel like such a sham and hurts beyond words.
you should be praying for her DAILY. pray for her medical needs and her spiritual needs. your god knows what needs to be done. trust in him.
when you see her saturday, just talk to her about the everyday things. try to tell her something she might find funny, she could probably use a smile at least. don't ask her to pray with you, ask her if you can pray for her and if it would be okay for some of the people in your church to pray for her too. just show her you love her.
i know you only want her to accept christ because you care for her. your intentions are good. but your god does not want folks to come to him out of fear. he only wants true hearts. you cannot make that happen. you have to let god do his work, especially in crisis situations like this. trying to push her in that direction may only make for a superficial conversion and not one that is heart deep and repentant.

Answer 7

You can't. I know you might not like that answer, but it's true. I have learned that the hard way. You can't open someone's eyes to Jesus. Only God can. So that means you need to pray. Pray hard. I would even consider fasting. Get others to pray with you. Also, before you visit her, I suggest praying for God to give you the words to say. And to completely rely on God and His wisdom. Another thing you can do is read your bible. So Pray, fast, and read scripture.

I will pray for you and your great aunt. Shalom!

Answer 8

You can pretty well assume that your great aunt has heard the Word, so don't go in thinking it's your mission to bring it to her. When you're sick, well-meaning people bring you everything from religion to healing foot baths. You smile and say thank you and change the subject, and if they persist, you tell them you need a nap.

Let her know that you love and respect her and that you're there to offer help and companionship. Tell her you're praying for her and that you hope she doesn't mind. And don't assume that you know what God intends for her.

Answer 9

I have found that actions and deeds far out weigh words. Show her Gods love by every thing you say and do. Tell her that you have been praying for her. But I have also learned that sometimes if you push to hard you can push them away.
What I do is go to God in prayer and place that person in Gods hands. He won't make her follow him, but you would be surprised at the things that He can to to help her see His love and to feel it. Just keep the faith. We don't know what is in her heart and what conviction she may be under. Just show her love and kindness and let her know that you are there for her and that God is there for her if she needs him. Don't just tell her of your joy, let her see it in your face and in all that you do.

Answer 10

I'm sorry, but I think you are placing your aunt in a very sad situation.

If she is not a Christian, than she is responsible for her own belief system. When a person is dying, it is not acceptable to preach in their final moments for not holding a particular set of religious values.

I think you should hold her, let her know how much you love her, and try to make her last hours memorable, instead of divisive.

Answer 11

Yes, just get to talking,& in the conversation(pray this) that it will open,up to you, for you to talk to her. she's obviously going to say something about the fact she's soon passing.

& say"aunt------- are you ready to die?& she'll say something, & then the door will be completly open. Whether or not she accepts Him , is up to her. You did what you could, + she may accept him after having some time to think abut it.

anyway , i calls for a lot of prayer, & God give you the words to say. (it'll help to have a pocket Bible or a track, in your possession).
God Bless You.& I'm gonna pray 4 you both.