[__ Prayer __] for my parents (again)

[Christ_empowered]

they're wonderful people. they don't know THE LORD, but...honestly...in terms of day to day morality and such, they're better than many 'church people' I've known over the years (not trying to over-generalize, just sayin'...they're good people).

A friend (Christian) keeps telling me that I will somehow lead them to THE LORD. I kinda...doubt it. I was a wretch who may or may not have had Schizoaffective (basically Schizophrenia...I just call my "affliction" Schizophrenia, most days...no need to get complicated...) from a young age, messed up a lot, etc. etc. etc....

It wasn't until I got saved, 7 years ago, that I began to change and...still dealing with Schizophrenia, but I'm now healthy, normal personality, smart enough to be in society, a lot more grateful, etc.

Point is...as much as I"d like to believe that His work in my life and maybe a talk with me, now and then, will help guide them on their way...I'm not so sure. They've -both- been burned by 'church people.' Mama got burned more by the somewhat liberal Presbyterian type church people, dad got burned more by the mega-church set. blah. :-(

so, I dunno. I'm not even -in church- , largely because...did I mention what an outcast and straight up weakling I was? now, I'm not a weakling, but I am a "mental patient" (social role, not my own view of myself), so...it makes 'doing church' a lot more difficult.

rambling...they're -good people- , but everyone needs Jesus, no matter how good they are, and sometimes...I wonder if being intelligent and doing well financially might make it a bit more difficult to see the need for Jesus. not to criticize; like I said, they're wonderful human beings. other thing: I depend on them, so I don't think they'll take anything I say about...life, Jesus, anything...too seriously, especially with the Schizophrenia on board.

OK. Thanks.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

You never know. Just keep praying for them. God hears our prayers and He might answer them through you being a source of Christianity for them to see, or God might answer your prayers some othe way. I've read some wonderful Testomies of a person patiently praying for someone in their family to find God and after many years it happened.

It's a hope I have for some of my family too. Good luck Christ_empowered, and know that your life and your struggles are in many of our hearts and thoughts. I hope you and your parents find church friend in real life like that too, but I just wanted to remind you that you have friends here too. A lot of us are probabley church people too.

 

[Christ_empowered]

hi. thanks, Not_Now.Soon .

I didn't mean to come down too hard on church people. Its just...politics, people with ulterior motives...blah. just...blah. :-(

but its OK. Christians follow Jesus, the church is just a building that (ideally) disciples the saved and does good work in the community. Something like that, anyway.

I'm hoping to find a good church for myself. will my parents join? I dunno, honestly. I think they just wanted me in a church to provide guidance and such, since I was once so wayward. Now, I'm not so wayward...Proverbs 4:11 - type situation, I believe.

ok. thanks, again.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

No worries Christ_empowered. I wasn't offended, I meant it to encourage you.

I had a simular struggle in highschool when I was looking between Christianity (my mom's faith and several other family members faith), and Baha'i Faith (my dad's faith)

Back then I had more of a connection with the Baha'i community because it was a smaller community and when we went to some of their things I got to know them more. Where as at churches I didn't get to know people at church my age as much, and there were more people so I didn't get to know them as well.

Anyways, back then I thought hard on the verse that you'll know them by their fruits, meaning I'll know who's a good follow of God by their actions, and back then I struggled with the issue of Christians who weren't that good and the stereotypes that can negitively assoicate with Church people, or with Christians in general.

Just saying that there are good church folk out there, as an encouragement to you. Hope you and your parents find more people like your Pentecostal friend or find a church community you can grow relationships in.

 

[Truthfrees]

praying that the Lord will be clearly presented to your parents by someone in a way that they understand and agree with so that they may be saved

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks. they really are -wonderful- people...just saw them, for a lovely Sunday meal. and...

-sigh- I'm blessed to have them, I really am.

Thanks again.

 

[Tessa]

Prayomg that the Holy Spirit will be guiding them to salvation