How to: Extended Family Members

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PeacefulWarrior

Guest
#1
#1
I know we cannot expect to change someone -- but how can we get them to want to change, themselves?

I have a Facebook profile and my "facebook friends" include my extended family members. One of my distant relatives often posts some really crude and offensive images/memes. I can see that this person is deeply troubled and hurting. I want to help -- but I don't know how!

The only thing I know to do is pray, so pray I will.

In the meantime, do you all have any advice or suggestions for me? I have found that confronting him about specific images is not the way to go; instead of realizing that I can see his pain and wish to help, he receives it as a nothing more than a condemnation.
 
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BarlyGurl

Guest
#2
#2
Keep praying... it is facebook... change your settings so you don't have to "partake" of the offending material or UNFRIEND him entirely. Having "relatives" who are unbeliever's are dealt with MORE forgiving grace because they are UNBELIEVERS... but that doesn't exclude LIMITING your participation in their sinful lifestyle... understand?
 
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PeacefulWarrior

Guest
#3
#3
BarlyGurl said:
Keep praying... it is facebook... change your settings so you don't have to "partake" of the offending material or UNFRIEND him entirely. Having "relatives" who are unbeliever's are dealt with MORE forgiving grace because they are UNBELIEVERS... but that doesn't exclude LIMITING your participation in their sinful lifestyle... understand?
Click to expand...
Makes perfect sense, Thank you! :) My only concern is limiting that participation so much that I never interact with the guy again...
 
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Aqua_Girl09

Guest
#4
#4
From my own experience, You can't make ANYONE do ANYTHING that THEY don't want to do. Its useless, a waist of your time and your effort. You can try talking to them, getting close to them, planting seeds here and there if you can but if they don't want to change NOTHING you do is going to help them.

On the flip side if you're impressionable to the negative things that they're putting out then you may want to distance yourself and let someone else take on that challenge. Its MUCH easier to be pulled down then to pull someone up. And the work to keep yourself up right while someone is pulling down on your is exhausting!
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#5
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
2,947
113
#5
You can keep someone a friend, but unfollow them on FB. Then you can still communicate, but you don't have to put up with his offensive pics.

He may unfollow you, but posting lots of Bible verses is a great way to share the gospel. I have some atheist, Buddhist and Muslim friends. I don't actively witness as the Lord has constrained me. But I do share so many uplifting verses. And I do chat and initiate conversations, and support and love them. And pray for them!

And leave the harvest for God!
 
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