If your family is going to a church that doesn't follow the Bible, how do you inform them w/out sounding...

Question

like you are putting down their church? I'm talking about disobeying God's word, not doctrine wise. Thanks.

Answer 1

That would be a very hard thing to do. You have to be very careful not to push them away completely or make them feel you are judging them.
Pray about it. A lot.
Go to your pastor and ask for scriptures backing up what you think the Bible says about what they are believing.
Ask you pastor for advice as to how to talk to them.
Ask him if he would be willing to go with you and help you help them.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian. Belief in God, and following Jesus, are both very private and personal issues. You have NO RIGHT to say to anyone that their church does not follow the Bible. What you really mean is that you disagree with the interpretations that they follow.

"Disobeying God's word" is scary talk. YOU have decided what God meant, and YOU dare to scold others who disagree with YOU. Not with God, with YOU.

I don't like to give advice, so I won't. Just be thankful that your family goes to church in the first place.

I don't know you, so I will not accuse you of being small-minded, intolerant, and smug. I will, however, point out that this is the impression you give--to me at least.

Answer 3

Lots of people don't believe that god is a sky daddy who wrote things down thru the hand of people... fairy tales, and not any more real than the big bad wolf or santa.

Lots of us who believe in god, think god is way, way bigger than that. God, is not a being, god is being itself...

it is love, and hope, and kindness, and joy. God is in the hand of a painter, and in the skill of a surgeon. In the words of a teacher, and in the music of Bach. Way, bigger way bigger an idea, wouldn't you agree????

Many of us who pray, do not pray to pixies or sky daddies. We pray for inner strength to be all we can be... to be human and loving. It makes no difference where we pray for that strength.

And the Bible? Gee, just another holy book of just one more group of starving shepherds living in the Middle East... one horrid time to live 2000 years ago, and it is no different today, is it? One holy book is about as good as any other. And this one is pretty much stolen from the tribes that lived all around the Israelites.... Adam and Eve is Babylonian, heaven is a repeat of the Valley of Reed which is Egyptian. The 10 commandments, again Egyptian, called the 12 denials, and precedes Moses by some 1200 years. So, don't be so smug about "disobeying god's word,"......

Answer 4

I don't think that its ever appropriate to tell someone else that their beliefs aren't right. I guess it depends on the situation. What about their church do you think goes against God's law?

I guess you could always say, "You know, I read this verse and it made me think of your church, maybe you might like to read it also." Then, you could let the Holy Spirit do its job and show them, if God really doesn't want them to be there, and you don't come off as being judgmental.

Answer 5

Well, when it comes to the Bible, there is no easy way to do it, but make sure that you follow 1 Peter 3:15, which says, "But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect."

I would like to commend you for recognizing that not all organizations that claim to follow Christ are doing so. In fact, it was foretold at Matthew 15:15, 16. These ones are most guilty since they use Christ's name while they are practicing wrongdoing (beyond the usual sins that people occassionally make, but they are repeatedly, consciously, practicing them). Good for you, for taking an interest in your family's spirituality.

Furthermore, many of the scriptures the other posters are using are misquoted, so make sure you read the surrounding verses. On the contrary to what many of them are saying, God wants us to warn people about their course, including their worship, since that is what will save lives. Romans 10:13-15 says, "For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” However, how will they call on him in whom they have not put faith? How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent forth? Just as it is written: “How comely are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!”" Preaching and teaching others is one of the marks of a true a Christian since it is what Jesus made his life of doing, and encouraged his followers to do also. (Matthew 28:19, 20)

Answer 6

Wouldn't you think they already know that the church they are attending do not follow the bible, since they probably do not use it at all, and perhaps they are using a different book as their foundation?

Answer 7

I think it would really depend on what "doctrine" you are talking about. If you go to a church that worships the Jesus of the Bible you are apart of the "body of Christ". The problem is that some of us in the "body of Christ" don't always agree on things. That's ok, as long as we agree on the way of salvation. What's important is that we agree on how we get to heaven, and to be able to have what Jesus promised, eternal life.

Answer 8

It depends.....is it your intermediate family or your extended family? What you might do is write them a long-well thought out letter that includes bible verses that prove them wrong, as well as what you think about their church. You might want to include that you are doing this because you really care about them, not that you are just criticizing them. You might not want to do this depending on how well you know them and if you know they wouldn't handle this type of thing well. I hope this helps :)

Answer 9

Why not encourage the development of their personal/devotional reading of the Bible and their relationship with God. Eventually, they will see that their church is out of step with the Bible.

Answer 10

I would ask them why they were doing whatever it is they are doing, because it goes against the Bible. I know, others will tell you to back off,,,but if it was my family.....I'm interfering...if you love them, you can't just stand off and watch them do something you know is wrong. They may know it and not care, or they may not know...either way, at least you will know you tried.