Family members in need of help?

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JustinBoaz

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I have two family members in particular who claim to be christian but flee from rebuke. I myself have tried to show these two family members where I believe they are in wrong with scriptures I believe will help them. Upon retrieving my bible they become angry, violent, or leave the room. Both have been raised in a christian environment, and have general knowledge of new and old testament. They rarely seek God on their own, and don't know much beyond don't steal, lie, kill, fornicate, etc. My question is, am I wasting my time chasing them around when they have no will to hear yet claim they are christian, or should I let God change their hearts first?
 
Seems like they are under conviction,running. Let your light shine and they will see him in you,the word says one plants another waters but it is God that gives the increase.Keep praying for them, it is always in God,s timing.Have you put them in his hands completely,that seems to work very well.Let go and let God, at this point,
Be blessed and your family too!
 
It's hard to show them light through me, as one moved out about a week after I tried to show him the passage containing his error. The other only stops by the house during obscure hours to shower because he spends most of his time at peoples houses getting high and relying on the council of fools.
 
In this case I would just keep praying that God would open the eyes of their hearts. And that if their is any strongholds in your family, ask God to remove them in jesus Name.

2 Cor 10:4,5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Luke 10:19,20
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
 
So your plan is to win them over to "good Christian living" by telling them what they are doing wrong? Hmm... for some reason that doesn't seem like it's going to work very well.

Maybe try a different approach. Focus on what Jesus did for them, how he offers hope for the world, for their lives, for everything to be good. I'm guessing they have a lot of pain and heartache. Show them God's promises of healing--Revelation 19 is very hopeful. Inspire them to WANT to live for God, since he has already done so much for them.

Just an idea. Anyone can say they are Christian, but many don't make the connection between their head and their heart. I would say they probably aren't interested in another Bible thumper telling them everything that is wrong with them, but instead need someone who will listen and have compassion for them.

Be blessed
 
Justin,

You obviously have a love of scripture and apologetics. I do too. Been in your situation and sometimes still find myself there. The problem is that you are doing it instead of God doing it through you. Even though your message is technically correct, because your words aren't annointed by God as you speak them: they are not slicing right through to the core of their heart. So the result is that you are receiving all of the resistance without any of the reward.

Now what you say will be used by God in their heads at certain times though they don't like you saying it and will be giving you grief for it in due course.

My advice would be to chill out and stop arguing with them and just pray for them for now.

Jost Mcdowell used to say pray for the fruit when it is green but don't try to pick it until it is ripe.

I have two family members in particular who claim to be christian but flee from rebuke. I myself have tried to show these two family members where I believe they are in wrong with scriptures I believe will help them. Upon retrieving my bible they become angry, violent, or leave the room. Both have been raised in a christian environment, and have general knowledge of new and old testament. They rarely seek God on their own, and don't know much beyond don't steal, lie, kill, fornicate, etc. My question is, am I wasting my time chasing them around when they have no will to hear yet claim they are christian, or should I let God change their hearts first?
 
So your plan is to win them over to "good Christian living" by telling them what they are doing wrong? Hmm... for some reason that doesn't seem like it's going to work very well.

Maybe try a different approach. Focus on what Jesus did for them, how he offers hope for the world, for their lives, for everything to be good. I'm guessing they have a lot of pain and heartache. Show them God's promises of healing--Revelation 19 is very hopeful. Inspire them to WANT to live for God, since he has already done so much for them.

Just an idea. Anyone can say they are Christian, but many don't make the connection between their head and their heart. I would say they probably aren't interested in another Bible thumper telling them everything that is wrong with them, but instead need someone who will listen and have compassion for them.

Be blessed

I believe you are correct, I will most likely not win over emotionally driven individuals with logic, I will instead appeal to that aspect.
 
Prayer is the best way, because what u do in secret God will reward u. U can win them
Over with love and kind. I understand what u are going through.