Hello, I have a problem I need some advice with. First a little background history to understand my question better. I promise to make it short.
I was born in Kiev Ukraine. Yes the Ukraine where all the revolution is happening. But anyway. My family immigrated to the USA in 1995. My family is about 75% of Hebrew origin, and 25% Ukrainian. Many of my ancestors practiced Judaism, including my great grandparents on both mother's and father's side. Then the USSR was created. Something happened to my family's mindset. Maybe it was the Holocaust, or maybe it was the SEVERE antisemitism in the USSR and especially Ukraine.
But either way, my grandparents, my mother, and uncle were all descriminated against for being of Hebrew origin all their life in Ukraine. On a daily basis. This caused them to disassociate with Jews and being Jewish. They celebrated their 25% Ukrainian origin, and denied ever being Hebrew/Jewish.
After we moved to America my family saw that Jews are treated with respect here for the most part. But their experience for most of their life caused them to hate anything Jewish. My family is basically agnostic. Conversations about faith with them are almost impossible.
I have always believed in Christ, even when I was a little kid in Ukraine, but after I became an adult, my faith kept growing. I take my belief in Jesus very seriously right now, and can probably call myself saved, although sometimes I doubt, but apologetics saves the day for me. One big reason I'm an apologist (or want to be one), is it helps me with my own faith.
Moving on to the point. This will be hard to understand for most Americans I have to admit. In America, once you turn 18, youre a pathetic loser if you still care what your parents think, or God forbid still live with your mother like I do. I'm just stating facts sorry. But I'm not here to argue this point.
I graduated from university, have a full time job in the science field, but yes I live at home with my mom. I have no father. In my culture (Hebrew or Ukrainian, I'm not sure), its normal to live with your parents until marriage, and you always value what your parents think or say. Also I have been pretty close to my mother all my life.
But here is the dilemma. Nobody in my immediate family has gone to church or synagogue. Every time I tried to talk to my mother about going to church she is afraid that I will end up in some cult. She doesn't trust religion, and is very superstitious. She has her faults, but is ultimately a good person, and has been a good mother.
I want to start going to church. I need a community of fellow believers. Thus far I have been doing it all alone. Reading the bible, listening to apologetics lectures and sermons. For years. Also I have a feeling its the only place to meet a potential wife. I'm definitely not going to meet her at a bar. I hate bars and most stupid things people in their 20's do.
I found what looks like the perfect church for me. Its a Messianic Jewish church which is attended by many Russians/Ukrainians. They openly state that they believe in Jesus and everything Christians believe, but also value their Hebrew heritage and meet on Saturday.
I would love to connect with my Hebrew roots and meet Jews who actually realize that Jesus is their messiah. But the problem is, I don't know how to tell my mother. She will NOT understand. Not only is it a church, its also a Jewish/Christian church. In her mind, its impossible for Jews to believe in Jesus. She will think its a cult. I guarantee you. She knows very little about religion in general.
I even thought about lying to her and just going there. There are times I have lied to her because there are things she cannot understand. Old people with very set in stone ways of thinking influenced by the USSR. You have no idea what its like. And when you are an engineer with a degree and make twice your mother's salary you automatically think your parents are utter morons. ;-)
Please don't tell me to move out, or do my own thing even if my mother will tell me daily how much she hates it. Knowing her, she will get my entirely family involved to tell me I'm crazy, and being trapped or tricked. You have no idea just how little they actually understand about religion.
But I do need your prayers, and advice on how to best tell my mother about this, and pray that she understands and accepts my decision. Thank you.
-Gene
I was born in Kiev Ukraine. Yes the Ukraine where all the revolution is happening. But anyway. My family immigrated to the USA in 1995. My family is about 75% of Hebrew origin, and 25% Ukrainian. Many of my ancestors practiced Judaism, including my great grandparents on both mother's and father's side. Then the USSR was created. Something happened to my family's mindset. Maybe it was the Holocaust, or maybe it was the SEVERE antisemitism in the USSR and especially Ukraine.
But either way, my grandparents, my mother, and uncle were all descriminated against for being of Hebrew origin all their life in Ukraine. On a daily basis. This caused them to disassociate with Jews and being Jewish. They celebrated their 25% Ukrainian origin, and denied ever being Hebrew/Jewish.
After we moved to America my family saw that Jews are treated with respect here for the most part. But their experience for most of their life caused them to hate anything Jewish. My family is basically agnostic. Conversations about faith with them are almost impossible.
I have always believed in Christ, even when I was a little kid in Ukraine, but after I became an adult, my faith kept growing. I take my belief in Jesus very seriously right now, and can probably call myself saved, although sometimes I doubt, but apologetics saves the day for me. One big reason I'm an apologist (or want to be one), is it helps me with my own faith.
Moving on to the point. This will be hard to understand for most Americans I have to admit. In America, once you turn 18, youre a pathetic loser if you still care what your parents think, or God forbid still live with your mother like I do. I'm just stating facts sorry. But I'm not here to argue this point.
I graduated from university, have a full time job in the science field, but yes I live at home with my mom. I have no father. In my culture (Hebrew or Ukrainian, I'm not sure), its normal to live with your parents until marriage, and you always value what your parents think or say. Also I have been pretty close to my mother all my life.
But here is the dilemma. Nobody in my immediate family has gone to church or synagogue. Every time I tried to talk to my mother about going to church she is afraid that I will end up in some cult. She doesn't trust religion, and is very superstitious. She has her faults, but is ultimately a good person, and has been a good mother.
I want to start going to church. I need a community of fellow believers. Thus far I have been doing it all alone. Reading the bible, listening to apologetics lectures and sermons. For years. Also I have a feeling its the only place to meet a potential wife. I'm definitely not going to meet her at a bar. I hate bars and most stupid things people in their 20's do.
I found what looks like the perfect church for me. Its a Messianic Jewish church which is attended by many Russians/Ukrainians. They openly state that they believe in Jesus and everything Christians believe, but also value their Hebrew heritage and meet on Saturday.
I would love to connect with my Hebrew roots and meet Jews who actually realize that Jesus is their messiah. But the problem is, I don't know how to tell my mother. She will NOT understand. Not only is it a church, its also a Jewish/Christian church. In her mind, its impossible for Jews to believe in Jesus. She will think its a cult. I guarantee you. She knows very little about religion in general.
I even thought about lying to her and just going there. There are times I have lied to her because there are things she cannot understand. Old people with very set in stone ways of thinking influenced by the USSR. You have no idea what its like. And when you are an engineer with a degree and make twice your mother's salary you automatically think your parents are utter morons. ;-)
Please don't tell me to move out, or do my own thing even if my mother will tell me daily how much she hates it. Knowing her, she will get my entirely family involved to tell me I'm crazy, and being trapped or tricked. You have no idea just how little they actually understand about religion.
But I do need your prayers, and advice on how to best tell my mother about this, and pray that she understands and accepts my decision. Thank you.
-Gene
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