Hi guys, I'm in need of a bit of advice. My famiy who has always been known to be Christian in values and morals are now somewhat straying from their beliefs and doing things that they know are wrong. I often try to engage them in the realm of spirituality, but I am either made fun of or shood off. I'm just wonder why as I try to grow spiritually everyone around me seems to lessen and go astray. I love my family and I want them to stay saved/get saved but I don't know what to do. In essence it's hard trying to grow spiritually while living with a bunch of spiritual stagnants.

This scenario is all too commonplace Ive found sadly

God calls each of us at different times so don't give up hope. Just because your family might not be listening currently, take consolation that you have opened your heart to God. Try to concentrate on being a shining example of God's light and love around them and others. This is the only true way to "convert" anyone.

While I hear you feel sad about your plight and I empathize with you, as I feel pretty much the same about my family of origin, try to find others who can help lift up and educate you in your faith walk. The saddest thing you could do is to spend all your energy focusing on others lack of interest in their faith while neglecting your own.

Do something big or beautifully small even for God and He will reward you.
Oh, Be patient, too.

In Christ's searing love,
Mrs P

If they ignore what you try to tell them, keep your faith. God will deal with them and He will save you.
Allot of people will turn their backs on you, on God.

If they don't listen, just keep talking about salvation. God wants you to talk about Him and that's how it should be. If they don't want to listen it's their own fault. I know it's hard and you love your family, but here are the priorities:

First comes God.
Second comes you.
Third comes you.
Fourth and beyond goes anything else.

You can only save yourself, you can pray for anyone else, but it is you who is responsible to believe in God and accept Him and love Him in order to be saved. You can't pull anyone into it, you can influence, but not pull.

Honestly, " As much faith as I can have, I can't take you to heaven. Only Jesus can, and it's up to you to believe " - Kevin Suarez.

This is saddening.

God calls us all at times though. We don't know this time for certain but we do know it when we are called. While you may be growing stronger and your family is lessening it may be a test or your faith as well as their faith. God will call them back and whether or not that they take that call is their choice. Best thing to do to keep your mind and heart pure and filled with spirit and gospel is pray. Also read your Bible. If you ask God to help your family he will provide and help you. Just ask.
A verse that talks about asking and receiving is:
Mathew 7:7-11 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

God won't abandon you nor your family. Your family may seem as though there faith is lessening but God may have a bigger plan for them in the future. This may be a way for him to give them a way to understand others or it may be a test of their faith.

Just always remember God won't abandon you ever!

PM me if you want to talk further.

Sincerely,
Colton

erm,
do you mean, "you can only decide for yourself whether to accept salvation"?


i'm pretty sure we cannot save ourselves. humanity has tried so many ways and failed.

This is a very sad mindset. I agree with the "First comes God", but you proceed to say "Second comes you" and "Third comes you". Perhaps I am "too family-orientated" or whatever anyone wants to call me, but putting yourself way ahead of your relatives is just heart-breaking.

Anyway, to the OP: don`t look down on your family. Don`t put you on a pedestal above them. They will be more likely to not want anything to do with your faith if you refer to them "spiritual stagnants".

I'm not placing myself on a pedestal, that's just what they are. They at the time had stopped trying to grow closer to God and began looking to please themselves "Spiritually stagnant" is the best way that I could describe them.

UPDATE: While my some of family has begun to try to grow closer to Him, I am still made fun of for being 'totally in love with God'. It makes me sad that they don't understand my undeniable love, but i have stood firm in my faith and continue to pray for them. Everything that I do, I do in the name of the Lord so my goal is to be a beautiful force that God to reach people through. (if that makes sense) I just want to be able to guide them to the One that can provide eternal salvation by my lifestyle.

This post has been edited by tryin2live4christ: Nov 3 2009, 01:19 PM