How do I prevent failing in toxic relationships

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GM777

Guest
#1
How do I prevent backsliding or failing as a Christian when it pertains to dysfunctional relationships? I know the Bible says to honor thy parents, but I don't see how I can honor my father. I don't know why, but whenever I'm around his presence (which would be ever day at some point), I get irritated or uneasy. My father is successful, but very childish and close-minded. I appreciate that he makes a decent living for the rest of us, but I find him slightly narcissistic, and he has some form of obsessive compulsive disorder, which he is in vehement denial about. I'm sure you can tell by my constant questions that I have it, as well, thanks to our lousy genes (or generational problems, perhaps). He is a short fuse, and I feel if I say the wrong thing or something he perceives to be an insult at him and his child-like view of the world, he becomes hostile. I know there is something wrong with him, and we don't see eye to eye about really anything in the world. I believe he thinks he is an innocent and good person who does nothing wrong, but I wish he would take a look at himself and who he really is- very much a seeker of attention at times, lies constantly to get out of small situations, in denial about his many problems. As for our conflicting personalities, I try to be passionate about everything I do and to learn as much as I can wherever I can, and he believes everything he reads, everything an "expert" tells him, and tries to follow in the footsteps of his father in a way that is so disturbing he even wants to buy his house in Florida and essentially re-live his life. If I ever try to inform him on something that is scary or uncomfortable, he shuts off and mocks like a child. I just have found him to be more of the annoying brother than a father...as if I'm more mature. Some days, I get so annoyed with him that I either try to provoke him so I can show him why he is wrong (he will never consider he is wrong) and I turn into a person I don't like. I don't even like praying out loud because I don't want him to hear me. How do I prevent this from essentially costing me salvation? I know I'm not being godly around him. I try to treat him like a child, but it makes me angry that the person I should be looking up to is so limited and immature. I also am very aware that the situation could be worse..that I could have a drug addict for a father, but that isn't relevant and besides the point of how I can be more Christ-like around him while also coming to terms with the fact that I just will never truly like him.

Thank you all and I apologize for the length
 
H

Hellooo

Guest
#2
The way you describe how you get on each others nerves makes me think that you and your dad might need some distance between each other. Do you live together?
 

Nautilus

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
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#3
yeah Im with Hellooo. Me and my father had a terrible relationship my entire young life. Once I moved out though, everything got much better. We have a great relationship now, though we both know now, too much time together and we just irritate each other. A lot has to do with different beliefs about things but yeah seeing each other for a couple hours here and there has really strengthened our relationship.
 
K

kenisyes

Guest
#4
At age 20, this is normal. You will honor your father by building on the foundation he gave you. If you don't recognize something as being wrong with him, you will not have any ideas for what can be improved. Just start fixing, inside yourself, anything he did not fix, and you will be honoring his foundation while solving the problems you see.
 
Oct 31, 2011
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#5
We have a choice in our relationships with anyone, we can judge them for their negative ways or we can see the good in them and let God take care of anything else.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#6
The way I try to honor my parents, neither of whom is alive anymore, is to speak as well as possible of them. Try to get along with them, but if you can’t, you can’t, or at least, that is MY opinion.