Hi Everyone!
So my husband and I have been struggling lately with how to deal with his Dad. His Dad claims to have been forced to attend church as a child which is why he doesn't attend now but he is an alcoholic, he has had multiple affairs, and is verbally abusive to all around him. He says his Christian music will get him to heaven and that he doesn't need to go to church. He argues with anyone who even brings up anything religious. He makes the comment that he knows more of the bible than anyone and doesn't need anyone preaching at him but his lifestyle is not conducive with going to heaven and my husband worries. He has made multiple comments in front of our children such as not wanting to hear my husband pray or say the blessing at dinner and even referring to the bible as garbage but gets irate when you question whether or not he is a believer like he claims. My husband's siblings have begun going to church with us but are being ridiculed for it so have not been wanting to go as much. They live to please my father-in-law for some reason. Yesterday, he got into a public argument with another family member on social media about not having to go to church to be a Christian and if you didn't know him, you would look at the conversation and wonder if he was a total non-believer. He is passionate about his disputes to the point that he yells and curses about it and everyone around him coddles him and protects him. It is beyond frustrating. I feel like I am often in the twilight zone.
My questions are this, are we (my husband and I) in the wrong? Are we being too pushy? How do we handle this family dynamic going forward considering we have 3 small children who adore their church?
So my husband and I have been struggling lately with how to deal with his Dad. His Dad claims to have been forced to attend church as a child which is why he doesn't attend now but he is an alcoholic, he has had multiple affairs, and is verbally abusive to all around him. He says his Christian music will get him to heaven and that he doesn't need to go to church. He argues with anyone who even brings up anything religious. He makes the comment that he knows more of the bible than anyone and doesn't need anyone preaching at him but his lifestyle is not conducive with going to heaven and my husband worries. He has made multiple comments in front of our children such as not wanting to hear my husband pray or say the blessing at dinner and even referring to the bible as garbage but gets irate when you question whether or not he is a believer like he claims. My husband's siblings have begun going to church with us but are being ridiculed for it so have not been wanting to go as much. They live to please my father-in-law for some reason. Yesterday, he got into a public argument with another family member on social media about not having to go to church to be a Christian and if you didn't know him, you would look at the conversation and wonder if he was a total non-believer. He is passionate about his disputes to the point that he yells and curses about it and everyone around him coddles him and protects him. It is beyond frustrating. I feel like I am often in the twilight zone.
My questions are this, are we (my husband and I) in the wrong? Are we being too pushy? How do we handle this family dynamic going forward considering we have 3 small children who adore their church?
