Venting.

[1over137]

Silver, to some extent I know how that feels. There was time my family also probably thought I am brainwashed. Somehow I think such time will come again when I start to visit church (it is on my plan).

I would call it emotional extortion.

Peace, my brother.

[Silvertusk]

Silver, to some extent I know how that feels. There was time my family also probably thought I am brainwashed. Somehow I think such time will come again when I start to visit church (it is on my plan).

I would call it emotional extortion.

Peace, my brother.

Thanks Hana. Sorry you are going through something similar.

I can just start to see family members distancing themselves. First my cousin for his militistic atheistics postings, now my Brother. When ever religion comes up with my Dad there is always tension and it usually ends up with me upset.

Most of the rest of my family on my Dads side is either atheist or would you believe it - Pagan.

Have a a few on my mum side that is Christian and that is a comfort.

Thank God (and I really mean that) that my wife is a strong Christian - in fact she was one of the catalysts for me becoming one.

[1over137]

Thankful for your wife.
I wish you peace in interacting with your family. Maybe one day they will see that you are loving and caring.

[Byblos]

Well had another argument with my Brother. I deleted him as a friend from my facebook account because he was posting quite offensive things on it about Christianity. When he learned that this was the reason he went off on one stating that I have broken one more line of communication and that I care more about a man that lived 2000 years ago than I do about my family. Also that he has even less respect for religion now because it has made his little brother disrespectful and that he thought Christians were suppose to be "tolerant" and accused me of being intolerant to his postings.

To be honest I just despaired. I did not reply because I knew that it would result in a full blown argument. I know Jesus said this would happen but it makes me desperately sad that some people seem to hate what we believe in so much. I can imagine that my brother thinks I am being brainwashed against my family but the truth of the matter is that my family have moved away from me and cannot accept what I believe. What about their tolerance?

Makes me sad.

I'm sorry you're going through this with your brother Silver, I will keep you both in my prayers. I have a similar situation with my nephew who thinks he's God's gift to atheism. To make matters worse he is super smart, infinitely more so than anyone I know (he has a PHD in physics and acoustical engineering) which pretty much makes him impossible to reason with. All I can say is don't shut your brother out, keep reaching out to him. You never know what God's plan is for him and for you as an instrument to get to him.

[Silvertusk]

Well had another argument with my Brother. I deleted him as a friend from my facebook account because he was posting quite offensive things on it about Christianity. When he learned that this was the reason he went off on one stating that I have broken one more line of communication and that I care more about a man that lived 2000 years ago than I do about my family. Also that he has even less respect for religion now because it has made his little brother disrespectful and that he thought Christians were suppose to be "tolerant" and accused me of being intolerant to his postings.

To be honest I just despaired. I did not reply because I knew that it would result in a full blown argument. I know Jesus said this would happen but it makes me desperately sad that some people seem to hate what we believe in so much. I can imagine that my brother thinks I am being brainwashed against my family but the truth of the matter is that my family have moved away from me and cannot accept what I believe. What about their tolerance?

Makes me sad.

I'm sorry you're going through this with your brother Silver, I will keep you both in my prayers. I have a similar situation with my nephew who thinks he's God's gift to atheism. To make matters worse he is super smart, infinitely more so than anyone I know (he has a PHD in physics and acoustical engineering) which pretty much makes him impossible to reason with. All I can say is don't shut your brother out, keep reaching out to him. You never know what God's plan is for him and for you as an instrument to get to him.

Thanks for that Byblos. My brother sounds like your nephew. He is supersmart and like you said makes him impossible to reason with. I have actually prayed for and will keep praying for a Damascus Road experience to happen to my brother because if he ever did he would be an incredible defender of the faith.

[RickD]

Silver,

This verse came to mind when you mentioned how smart he is:

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

When you know you're going to talk to him, be prepared. Know scripture. One can't usually win a battle of wits against a genius, but God's word can speak to him.