I have a family member that has fallen away into atheism. I have prayed and prayed for him, but it has done no good.
It seems hopeless. He has been this way for ten years. I have left him alone and prayed, but NOTHING seems to have changed. The only way to avoid Hell is to accept Jesus. I know that ultimately it is his decision whether or not he is saved, but he is a family member and I do not feel like it would be right to abandon him, but people say that I should leave him alone and I do, but I feel bad.
I haven't spoken to him about Jesus in years. Do you think I should bring it up again or keep silent and pray? I don't know what to do.
2007-10-26 01:29:26 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Never give up. Keep praying.
Prayer can/will change things.
There was a time myself when I had turned away from God. Although I was not an atheist I was still just as lost and on my way to hell. The spirit of the Lord came to me one day when I was all alone. I KNEW at that very moment that someones prayer for me had been answered and I gave my life to the Lord right there, I couldn't run anymore.
Witness to him. Don't be overbearing.
Remember the Lord compares us to sheep. Sheep have to be led not driven.
Psalm 23:1-3
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
2007-10-26 02:21:01 · answer #1 · answered by Old Hickory 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Look like every tells you and you already know, is prayer. Yes you have been praying for some time but maybe God got you to this point. I mean what if this is that time where God is testing your faith, to see if you will continue to care for this family member. You know it can take awhile for someone to be saved, my pastor told us that this guy, now pastor, took him like 40 some years until he realized he was a sinner. He had everything he needed, very intelligent everything. Than one day he got a tract, it was the Gospel of John, he read the whole thing, and couldn't understand a word. So he read it again, and still couldn't understand it, he was shocked because he was a smart guy at that point. So he knew of this guy that was a christian and asked him what it meant. The christian guy led him to Christ, and he got on his knees and prayed right there. So you see the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways that we don't know. I would give scripture and let it set in his heart, let the Holy Spirit convict and draw him toward God.
But I do say this don't give up!!! you can talk about it, but if he doesn't want to hear it than back off. I would first start off by giving a tract, or something that has scripture on it. I pray this works for you and your family member, may God bless you for praying so deeply for someone.
2007-10-26 01:47:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dad was a hard core Atheist. I have been praying for him and witnessing to him for 25 years (ever since I became a Christian). He was saved and baptized 4 days before he passed away this year. No, you should never give up. Keep praying for him and pray for God to show you through the Holy Spirit when there is an opportunity to share some truths of God with him. I showed my dad The Signature of God, The Priviledged Planet, and Unlocking The Mysteries of Life DVDs (He was a very scientific thinker.) I don't know how open your loved one would be to those types of things. You would be surprised what things they will watch like that, to spend time with you. It doesn't hurt to try. Maybe you could get him to watch The Case For Christ DVD. Keep praying for God to soften his heart and to bring his thoughts into captivity of the Holy Spirit. Then be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in looking for opportunities to witness. God bless!!
2007-10-26 11:29:28 · answer #3 · answered by BERT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
The fact that you have posted this question reveals that it MAY be the Holy Spirit prompting you--SPEAK, LEST THE STONES CRY OUT.
You do not have to be militant. Be calm and gentle. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your words and attitude, but SPEAK.
In His Service,
John the Baptist
PS. I don't know why you're not getting a LOT of input from Christians-we ALL have unsaved family members.
2007-10-26 01:53:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Fasting and Prayer go together,then just Love him and show him the Christ that dwells within you,just continue to call those things that arent they as though they were.I know a Lady that took a stranger in her house prayed for him for eight years and all of the sudden he turned to Christ,you cannot change anybody onl;y God can,realease the spirit of adoption into his Life everyday and watch God drag him to the altar I will keep him in my prayers to feel free to e-mail me anytime at Llisadrew@yahoo.com Be patient God is answering your prayers even though you do not see it he is working behind the scenes.Be still and know that he is God.
2007-10-26 06:17:09 · answer #5 · answered by God Child 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John, I so understand where you are coming from. I have a similar situation with my own father. My dad believes in God, but thinks Jesus was a good preacher only, the Holy Spirit is some whisp of smoke of unknown purpose, and evolution happened. Funny thing is that my family & I didn't realize he was this way until our own faith's grew and our eyes were opened. Dad merely goes thru the motions of going to Church (on days of communion). Mom's very torn over this.
So, my suggestion to you is this:
Continue to pray - continuously and with strong fervor. Pray that God brings someone to witness, touch this person into the opening of the heart and eyes to God. Ask for someone to reach the inner soul, pass the self pride of the person who so deeply needs God and His Son. That is sometimes what it takes - you may not be THE direct person to reach this lost soul, but God will send SOMEONE who will do His work. You have to count on that, and believe that God Does hear our prayers and WILL send someone directly or indirectly to bring His message to your family member.
As far as my Dad, well, I remarried a Godly man, and Patrick has reached Dad's heart beyond anyone's dream. He's gotten Dad to open up his heart to Patrick, expressing love for my husband, and Patrick in turn lovingly and teasingly without being too assertive or confrontational speaks to my Dad about God. I am waiting with baited breath for the outcome of God's works! This is a "work in progress", and Dad is 82 and has multiple health issues, so we don't have forever on this.
So, don't lose hope; continue to pray; ask for God to send a special someone (or even an event, as what worked with Paul's conversion), that will finally open up both heart and eyes to God for this family member.
Peace to you during this stressful period.
102607 9:40
2007-10-26 03:42:40 · answer #6 · answered by YRofTexas 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ask God to help you deal with this, because you obviously need help even though your intentions are good. Look, there is no hell, and you should let God deal with things---that is His child, not yours. Leave him alone before you get your feelings hurt. What does Jesus say? You strain at a gnat but swallow a camel,.....you worry about his situation but fail to work on your own problem of passing judgment on a fellow man. One final word and I dont mean to be harsh, mind your own business
2007-10-26 01:45:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just continue on praying and dont give up.Add fasting to your prayer .Take away every doubts in your mind . Jesus is the God of the impossible things.He is moving in ways we cannot see.Claim Gods promises in the bible.John 15:7 If u remain in me and my words remain in u ask whatever u wish and it it shall be done unto you. Psalms 27:4 delight ur self unto the Lord and He will give u the desires of ur heart. and of course u must do ur part by being a good witness to him. You can preach Jesus by the way you think, speak and live thats important. They must see a difference in you, a transformed life in you. through that they will become interested in knowing ur God. our God
2007-10-26 02:11:14 · answer #8 · answered by khing g 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
First, according to the Book of Hebrews, if one has fallen away, mortal man can not bring him or her back, only GD Himself can.
So, if he truly has seen the light, was saved, and has truly fallen away, not just fallen down and is in pain, pray for his soul, that Jesus will bring him back from the dead, as He did with Lazarus and others.
As for how to handle it, I have had that feeling for a long time. I was born into a rabbinic Jewish family that was more Jew by ethnicity than by practice. I have very very close friends, older and they played pivotal role sin my life, who helped guide me in my earlier days, who will not accept.
I have learned not to judge, that it is not for me to decide who is going to Heaven or Hell
Rom 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Rom 10:3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Rom 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Rom 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”[fn1]
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’[ Deut. 30:12 ]” (that is, to bring Christ down)
Rom 10:7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’[ Deut. 30:13 ]” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Rom 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[ Deut. 30:14 ] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
So, stay true to your faith by trusting that Jesus will do what He sees best, because fear and worry is Satan's tool. Remember, there is no pain in Heaven, so if you get there and your loved ones are not, you will not feel the pain you may be feeling now. Know that if they have not made their way back, it may simply be that there is a pain in their heart that is too great, and we know only Jesus can lift such a stone, as He did at His own tomb when He walked amongst man after dying upon the cross.
Don't let their lack of faith in any way diminish yours, or else you have let Satan into a crack that you do not need to give him in your own life, because while you remain true to Jesus, Satan can use that crack to play, to rob and plunder. Just keep trusting something will happen and let it be in His hands. It is the only way I can handle the pain I often have of knowing my mother, my sisters, my son do not yet believe and have not yet completed their journey to salvation, nor has my wife's oldest son.
2007-10-26 01:46:53 · answer #9 · answered by sirburd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must let the Spirit lead you in this situation.I do however feel that it would be a good idea to find a balance here.To not mention God' love to him at all would be just as bad as if you were continually preaching to him.I know you know this already, but remember that God wants this person saved more than you do.Prayer is most effective.
2007-10-26 01:43:01 · answer #10 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋