I’m a relatively new believer who converted to Christianity about a year ago. My parents were cool with it when I first told them about it but over the last few months, they’ve really changed. They think I’ve been brainwashed and that I’m giving all my money to the church. They get very irritated whenever I pray before eating, when they see me reading my bible or even when I leave for church. Any advice on how to deal with this?
Thanks for submitting your question and reaching out. This is a hard situation to be sure and there are a number of important details left out from your question that make it challenging to answer. For example, how old you are, whether you are a member of a church, or what changed in the last few months that may have caused their sudden reaction.
Some parents are bothered about their child’s new faith because it changes the family dynamic immensely or they might see it as an embarrassment upon them because they feel they failed somehow as parents. But it could also be because they love you and want the best for you and perhaps see your faith as something that will harm your relationship with them. Of course, it could be a combination of those things. There is no easy solution to this dilemma. What’s important to recognize is firstly that Jesus warned us that following Him would bring this type of behaviour (Matthew 10:35-36). As challenging as it is to see, you are, in a sense, living out a promise from Jesus in your current situation. The second thing to remember is that it’s important to be biblical. Whether your parents are believers or not, as a Christian, you have a responsibility to honour your parents. This is not just a good idea but a commandment from God and the right thing to do (Deuteronomy 20:12; Ephesians 6:2). How that plays out is largely based upon the family dynamic. But what you don’t want to do is while keeping this commandment, betray another by giving them the honour that is God’s and His alone. Your first allegiance is to the Lord. A third recommendation is that you strive to live your life by showing them the Lord Jesus. Show them how it has changed your life for the better and do it in front of them in love and peace. Finally, what is crucial is that you speak to your pastor and make sure the congregation you are associated with is aware of the situation. If you are not a part of a church, it’s imperative that you associate yourself with one. It’s necessary for you to surround yourself with Christians who can support you. If you need help with this, please feel free to contact us.
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