Christians My Son Gave Up On GoD! Please Help!?

Question

Pastor Fred W. Phelps stated this and my son read it:

"THANK GOD FOR 20000 DEAD SWEDES, WISH IT WERE MORE".

We sincerely hope and pray that all 20,000 Swedes are dead, their bodies bloated on the ground or in mass graves or floating at sea feeding sharks and fishes or in the bellies of thousands of crocodiles washed ashore by tsunamis. These filthy, ****** Swedes have a satanic, draconian law criminalizing Gospel preaching, under which they prosecuted, convicted and sentenced Pastor Ake Green to jail - thereby incurring God's irreversible wrath - Westboro Baptist Church

Now my son doesn't attend church and refuses to pray to God.

He is still a good boy and all but I don't want my son to go to hell when Jesus come.

I don't know what to tell him since we are Swedish people and that pastor is real and really said that.
My son says that if Christian leaders are such ... then that's pretty much the religion.

Some advise please.

Answer 1

Faith leads to Phelps like behavior and philosophy.

When I was a Christian, I used to believe that I worshiped a loving God and that my belief was good for mankind.

I now understand that I believed that torture was justified at the hands of God. Just like Phelps. The big difference is that I was putting the death and torture off until Jesus returned.

I would read things from people like Phelps of radical Muslims and think, they are filled with hate and don't reflect me or my faith. The truth though, was a bit more complicated. I wouldn't actively inflict death or violence on others, but wanted Jesus to return and accepted that he would do it for me. I believed that all those who didn't believe in Jesus or chose another deity to worship, deserved death, and eternal torture, because thats what the bible told me God wanted.

I never stopped to consider why I would accept death and torture for others in order to obtain eternal life for myself. My faith was every bit as violent and evil as Phelps and radical religions all over the world. I just ignored it.

I suggest continuing to raise your son in love, and continuing to teach him to be a moral, decent, non violent person.

Philosophically it sounds as if he has come to a realization that is actually based on reason. Don't worry about him too much, if God is willing to kill and torture him because of his rejection of violence, then he is proving your son's point.

Answer 2

Kids generally don't like to be told what to do so you can't make him come to the lord again but remember the prodigal son, it's never too late. Try an include him in your family prayer time as much as possible but don't force it upon him. It could be as easy as saying grace. You may even want to address what the so called pastor said and I feel that would be important because then your son knows where you stand something like "Son, you know what that pastor said about the swedes, I just wanted you to know that Jesus does not feel that way and that the bible does not teach those things. The bible even spoke of wolves in sheep clothings who may try and take the beautiful things of God.and make them look bad. I get a feeling that what the pastor said really made you upset and I just thought it important to tell you that we love you and so does Jesus, He promised He would but I know it's tough and you might want to think things over a bit.....we are here for you if you want to talk" and then let your son take the next steps. Oh and of course pray pray pray pray pray



and I must say to all the nay sayers of Christians.... your comments are not very helpfull to this parent and are not very loving.....I don't know how anyone would consider being athiest......most I've seen are so negative and not very supportive. who would honestly choose a life of negativity and hopelessness....that, to me, seems illogical.

Answer 3

Yeah, I'd leave a church and probably give up on religion if someone preached that vicious garbage. Can you really blame your son for refusing to go to church or pray after hearing a religious leader say that? Granted Phelps is the most extreme of the slimeball hatechristians, but he's certainly not the only one spewing cruel rhetoric.

The question is why you would support such a group.

Answer 4

First of all, assure him that Mr. Phelps does not represent the idealisms of true Christians - that guy is a cultist who twists scripture way out of context in order to justify his hatefilled campaign. From all that is truly Biblical, Phelps is wrong, wrong and wrong. He is right in that there are sinners, and that certain cultures embrace certain sin, but as far as God hating them and such, wrong.

As far as your son's spiritual condition, we must remember that it is God who does the calling, not us. We are not the Holy Spirit. Be patient and loving as a parent should, but you can do nothing to bring him to the Lord. As Paul put it, "I planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase". So, in the meantime, pray that God would have mercy on your son. Pray that God would reveal Himself in a great, personal way (really, the only way He can) to your son.

When my grandmother (whom I had to live with for my teen years) was dying, I went to see her in the hospital. There were things I wanted to say to her, but the lump in my throat would permit very little to come out. This bothered me, that I could not say what I wished to share. Upon coming home after a visit at the hospital, my wife told me she was talking with our pastor on the phone just before I came home. She told me, "Pastor Phil didn't know why, but he said I should remind you that you are not the Holy Spirit."

I knew exactly why I needed to hear that. Only the Holy Spirit can reach the heart. And, the Holy Spirit can reach where we cannot.

May God, in His mercy, reveal Himself to your son.

Answer 5

He's turned off to religion and may have given up on God, but I assure you God has not given up on your son. Holding him, you and this entire situation in prayer.

This is the difficulty with individuals and religion and young adults. I'm glad they require us to walk our talk.

You hold fast to your faith, that is the greatest God demonstration you can give him now, how you walk through this, whether he agrees with you or not, how you personally deal with this - between God and you - is what he will use later on as a measuring guide. Kids are always watching parents, no matter the age.

Blessings and the balm of God's grace peace and mercy on your heart.

God knows the heart of your son far better than any of us. Keep praying without ceasing, I will do the same with you. And then you can lift my young adult up in prayer with me too.
It's touch and go on the planet all the time, and we must just stay clear in our thoughts. This is a great faith builder for you and him both. Remember, it's said Scripturally that we raise them up in the way they should go and when they are old they will do it. When they are OLD [whatever that means to each person]. It means to me, as a parent, to keep showing the good example by my own faith walk. So maybe, in the larger picture, it's more about your faith walk than his?? I say this as a parent who is so grateful for my child who has truly strengthened me in my faith.
But it is truly a heart-breaker for a parent as well. Sort of like what the human part of Jesus went through on the cross.
:)

Answer 6

that preacher will be judged by his words, if he's your preacher, find another church. there have been alot of preachers that have fallen along with Christians. Not one man is perfect, only Jesus, tell your son to follow His teachings and seek the Holy Spirit for guidance

Answer 7

I think that you should let your son make a decision on his own, and that you should at least let him know that all Christians are not like the pastor.

Answer 8

Lucky for you your son is level headed and intelligent,sounds like christianity sucks big time in Sweden,the guy deserved jail time for that remark alone...

Bastion,if you choose to be blind and deceived,that is your lack of intelligence,not mine,I am not negative in general,I have opposing views,not negative views and if her son has the sense to dump the illogical mind for common sense then well done to him....

Answer 9

You guys need VERY BADLY to change churches.
YOU NEED to tell your son that GOD is a LOVING God and would NEVER,EVER answer a prayer like that.

If he has already asked Jesus into his heart--He is ALWAYS saved.
Nothing EVER changes that.
EVEN IF he backs out on God--God promises to NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE US.

DOES HE (your son) HAVE JESUS IN HIS HEART?

PLEASE DO NOT FOCUS ON YOUR SON---GOD WAITS FOR YOU TO PRAY TO HIM ONLY ABOUT YOUR SON, SO HE CAN SHOW HIMSELF TO BE REAL TO YOU--BY ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER.

God WILL NOT EVER answer a prayer like that.
That preacher sounds like the DEVIL, himself.

VISIT other churches and see where you feel like home.
Get other Christians to pray with you and for you and FILL THEM IN on what the other preacher said.
We Christians, including ME, RIGHT NOW, will pray for YOU to get your mind on YOUR walk with God.

HE ALONE can take care of your son!!!

Answer 10

Hey bible can`t prove existence of God and it contain alot of errors
please check this
http://is.aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=2054&TitleName=Zakir_Naik

with best regards