1st generation christian esp. pls help!
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gave birth, not jesus gave him his parentsOriginally posted by sgdiehard:I thought your great grandparents gave birth to your parents? no?
your parents sure din come from the rock, evolved from the monkey, or picked up from the dustbin!!! -
i agree with your last para.Originally posted by sgdiehard:It is never, ever a choice between God and our parents!!! if you cannot honor your parents give birth to your physical body, how can you honor your heavenly father who give you life; if you cannot appreciate your parents for your upbringing, how can you appreciate the pain that Jesus endured on the cross??
just make sure that you do not use Jesus as an excuse or justification when you quarrel with your parents.
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as a non-christian all i can say is pleaase do not try to convert them.
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Parents should not control what kids can do, like I said when i was quoted in the Straits Times, *beams proudly*, the more the parents try to control their kids, the less mature they will become
To summarise what some non christians had also said, which i also found personally irksome from time to time, dont use faith as a justification for everything you do. Some things dont, and you have to recognise it. -
My case is vice versa.Originally posted by brown_obsession:Everyone around me play a big role in influencing my burning interest in discovering purpose of life.
Burning interest in discovering the purpose of life brought me from christianity to buddhism. Christianity couldn't give me the answers.
I think one should know all religions and philosophies and then see which one satisfies him at most. -
ok lah, me also similar, been to Taoism, Buddhism, Occultic practices, New Age ...etc and only Christ give me peace and hope.Originally posted by thinkdifferent:My case is vice versa.
Burning interest in discovering the purpose of life brought me from christianity to buddhism. Christianity couldn't give me the answers.
I think one should know all religions and philosophies and then see which one satisfies him at most.
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Hi,
Continue to pray sincerely that you will be a Christian and pray that your family will accept you. Prayer works in strange ways, it's a way or a method which can help you in this situation.
Also during these times, relax a bit, dont get into conflict with them, slow down and lower down your guards, so you can smoothly bring the transition over. Being low key is the way.
Show them your love and care towards them, how much you love them, and how much you care also about your new found faith. They love you and they will definitely come to an understanding and acceptance. They will. Love and faith is the key. Just dont rush because acceptance may take time. -
ok.. i am not going to quarrel with them.. probably it is going to be one-way scolding. yea, i have to take it slow.. any more 1st generation experience?
slow and steady win the race , thanx
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quarrel with parents abt ur faith is not needed and unglorifying to God. unless and until that person persistently trying to oppose and mock at watever the truth you hold is.....he/she needs a little waking up. but then, the work of conviction comes from the Spirit of God and not us.
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I am a first gen Christian. My parents are probably still buddhist in their hearts but they have removed all the idols and the altar.
Growing up in such an environment is never easy. Some folks may have understanding parents who does not mind, while others have parents who are adament that their belief should not change.
They will be scrutinizing your behaviour and will find fault at your new found faith. Every little thing can be a flashpoint leading to a big argument.
Don't lose faith in your belief, more importantly when in such an argument, don't loose you temper.
The one thing I would guard against - over-involvement in church. This works against you. I would spend more time with the family. One fear about non-christian parents is: what has my son become? that the loyalty is no longer at home but in an environment that takes him away from the home. -
This is absolutely true. Christians don't convert, the Holy Spirit does.Originally posted by NT2:quarrel with parents abt ur faith is not needed and unglorifying to God. unless and until that person persistently trying to oppose and mock at watever the truth you hold is.....he/she needs a little waking up. but then, the work of conviction comes from the Spirit of God and not us. -
being a christian is hard and you will have a rocky rock ahead but alot of pple will hate u as stated in the bible but your ultimate reward is in the heaven
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why should people hate you when you become a Christian??Originally posted by ghimpheng:being a christian is hard and you will have a rocky rock ahead but alot of pple will hate u as stated in the bible but your ultimate reward is in the heaven -
pardon me if i sound ignorant but if you do not participate in the conversion then whats asking pple to go church and talkign about god to other pple?Originally posted by sgdiehard:This is absolutely true. Christians don't convert, the Holy Spirit does. -
pardon my english, christians can ask can preach can talk, but it is the Holy Spirit that changes the hearts.Originally posted by hisoka:pardon me if i sound ignorant but if you do not participate in the conversion then whats asking pple to go church and talkign about god to other pple? -
The most important that you need to do other than praying is to show your parents that you are still you. You are let them see that you have not been "brainwashed" by some over-zealous Christians who tell you that you are nothing except for what GOD & Jesus have done for you.
When people don't understand, they will try to refrain. Therefore, if you changed you behavious suddenly, like getting upset to them or argue with them whenever you start a converstaion with them about religion, they will definitely be upset & will want to oppose you. Never use SATAN as the excuse. You must be conscious of whatever you say or do to them. -
I'm a 1st Gen Christian myself and in the same family setting as you. I came to know Christ when I was in P4 and that's in the year '99. I accepted Christ in my heart during my Boys Brigade Devotion Time. Let me share my testimony.
I started to have confidence to pray when I'm in P5 and that is the year 2000. During that time, I go church once in a blue moon, during Boys Brigade activities such as enrollment, BB Week and Sharity Gift Box. I started to know more about Christ. P6 was when I decide to go church whenever I have the chance but I still have objection from Parents and my Grand-Mother. I continue to pray, knowing that one day, God will open the way for me.
During Sec 1 in the year 2002, I started interacting with Christian friends in my class and that built up my Christian life. In Sec 2 and that's the year 2003, I faced a difficult family problem and during one of the time, I just cried out in prayer during the situation. The first time I prayed loudly in front of my family members. My parents is argueing every night and eventually my mother attempted suicide one evening and sent to CGH and eventually to IMH for a fortnight. That is when I asked for permission to start going to church. Permission was miracluously granted without any condition. That deepen my faith in Christ.
I started attending church service for 1 1/2 year. During this time, we started a prayer group with my friends in school and build up my Christian faith. In Aug 2004 when I took my step to accept Christ during alter call and take on my cross to follow Jesus. My family problem have somehow quieten down alot. I decided to be baptised, but don't know how to tell my father. That very night after I've prayed, my father called me, I'm staying with my aunt. I took the chance to ask him and he agreed. During that 1 month between my Baptism Preparation Course and date of Baptism, I have times when my family members tried to ask me if I wish to delay my Baptism. I told them I've decided for myself and they didn't probe further. I took my step of faith and went ahead with my Baptism on 15 Aug '04.
From then on, I have a great time with God and He answered all my prayer. My Christian life was fun. I was suddenly hit with a case of severe internal bleeding in Mar '05 and I stopped schooling. I prayed, I tried almost every form of praying for the whole year but the bleeding never stopped. Experience so much agony and felt that God is forsaking me. However, I still hold on to Christ everlasting Promise that He've made. During that period, I continued praying. During Dec '05, I went to Thailand with my Boys Brigade and did mission work. I never have the thought of leaving Christ and putting down the cross I'm carrying. My operation date is already set by then. Up to the very day before I went in for my operation, people pray intensely for me, I prayed too. I know God wants me to go through this trial of faith.
I went in for my operation on 14th Feb and even at that very moment, I was praying until my G.A took effect. During my initial recovery in hospital, I suffered intense pain and vomiting. But I still hold on to my faith in Christ. Each time I have pain, I messaged my church group to pray for me and I pray and rebuked the pain. My pastor came to visit me and prayed for me too.
Right now as I looked back, I realise that Christ never forsaked me in any moment. Instead, because of the rough times I've been through, I'm now a stronger Christian. And also through these, my aunt is starting to believe in Christ. Praise God.
Don't ever think it's too long to get your famiily member to give you the approval because I took 2 - 3 years of prayer before I was given approval. God have everything drafted out for you. Continue praying because prayer is a powerful weapon. With Christ for me, nothing is against me ! -
It also boils down to communication. Those with kids, or those who are still with their parents..ever had a clash of ideas on almost everything in your daily life, be it the school your are going to, the friends you hang out with, the girl you are going to marry? Gee, I have even seen it when parents had a big tiff with their kids when they wanted to do MLM.
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ic thx. was just wondering. hope no offenseOriginally posted by sgdiehard:pardon my english, christians can ask can preach can talk, but it is the Holy Spirit that changes the hearts. -
Originally posted by laurence82:
Exactly. On the reverse side, how about Christian parents who have children who turns to another faith or another lifestyle. These children don't exactly get it easier.
It also boils down to communication. Those with kids, or those who are still with their parents..ever had a clash of ideas on almost everything in your daily life, be it the school your are going to, the friends you hang out with, the girl you are going to marry? Gee, I have even seen it when parents had a big tiff with their kids when they wanted to do MLM.
In my household, my boys are told to share with me their plans, aspirations, and goals. It is my aim to listen objective and provide my comments, considering the pros and cons, the practicality and the consequences of such aspirations.
Life is not a one lane road, but a multi-lane expressway, children should be allowed to veer a little here and there. They also need not follow the other cars but can chart their own course. -
I have known many friends who are Christians, whose parents are of other faiths. Did received some initial protests, but my friends were able to convince their parents their maturity in handling their own spiritual path, so the parents are now clear about what they are going to do and dont object.Originally posted by Chin Eng:Exactly. On the reverse side, how about Christian parents who have children who turns to another faith or another lifestyle. These children don't exactly get it easier.
In my household, my boys are told to share with me their plans, aspirations, and goals. It is my aim to listen objective and provide my comments, considering the pros and cons, the practicality and the consequences of such aspirations.
Life is not a one lane road, but a multi-lane expressway, children should be allowed to veer a little here and there. They also need not follow the other cars but can chart their own course.
I think there is also an issue with age. Maybe some Christians go through this path, where when initially converted, were fanatical about everything Christian, attend cell group meetings daily (!), seek to convert on a mass scale, perhaps even veer towards the extreme side etc etc.
When progressing into older phase, perhaps like the twentyish like my age group, they will slow down, take stock of what they have done during their teenage years, began to balance their life, work, family and spirituality.
Well, i guess people have to let go and let nature takes its own path too -
My Catholic parents actually wanted to leave the church after a misunderstanding with my godmother and they got me out while I was a kid.Originally posted by laurence82:I have known many friends who are Christians, whose parents are of other faiths. Did received some initial protests, but my friends were able to convince their parents their maturity in handling their own spiritual path, so the parents are now clear about what they are going to do and dont object.
I think there is also an issue with age. Maybe some Christians go through this path, where when initially converted, were fanatical about everything Christian, attend cell group meetings daily (!), seek to convert on a mass scale, perhaps even veer towards the extreme side etc etc.
When progressing into older phase, perhaps like the twentyish like my age group, they will slow down, take stock of what they have done during their teenage years, began to balance their life, work, family and spirituality.
Well, i guess people have to let go and let nature takes its own path too
If was only much later that I made my way back to the Catholic Church and my mom objected. She and the rest of the family did not turn up for my confirmation and that really broke my heart.
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So how did your stay in the Protestant church fits into the story?Originally posted by Honeybunz:My Catholic parents actually wanted to leave the church after a misunderstanding with my godmother and they got me out while I was a kid.
If was only much later that I made my way back to the Catholic Church and my mom objected. She and the rest of the family did not turn up for my confirmation and that really broke my heart. -
In my Pri Sch, my teacher invited us to her Sunday School. I thought it was a fun thing. And my mom saw that I had nothing to do, so she let me. When I was older, she started hearing horror stories about youngsters being brainwashed into giving money to the church instead of their parents, she lagi objected me attending church. But by then, I was old enough to have the mind of my own and defy her.Originally posted by Icemoon:So how did your stay in the Protestant church fits into the story?
After my O level, I made my way back to the Catholic Church. She had less objection, but refused to give me any moral support. Nevertheless, whenever I go for Novena, she will tell me to pray for her. -
Back to Catholic Church? Wasn't that Sunday School part of a Protestant Church?Originally posted by Honeybunz:In my Pri Sch, my teacher invited us to her Sunday School. I thought it was a fun thing. And my mom saw that I had nothing to do, so she let me. When I was older, she started hearing horror stories about youngsters being brainwashed into giving money to the church instead of their parents, she lagi objected me attending church. But by then, I was old enough to have the mind of my own and defy her.
After my O level, I made my way back to the Catholic Church. She had less objection, but refused to give me any moral support. Nevertheless, whenever I go for Novena, she will tell me to pray for her.
But ok lah .. I think Catholic Church less likely to brainwash people.