My mom and I just had this conversation

[JacquelineDeane55]

Me: Mom, have you never felt led by the LORD to witness to the lost?

Mom: I went with you door-knocking before.

Me: I know, but that was just one time and a long time ago. Are you sure that is not enough?

Mom: OK, I am getting really mad at you and I'm not talking to you.


I am kind of disgusted and angry at my mom because she doesn't see how important it is to win the lost to Christ like I do. Christ has led me to be a witness every day that I am alive. I do it every day, while she just sits on her butt all day and watches TV on her computer. For hours and hours. She seems to care about that thing more than GOD. I hope she is not committing idolatry with her computer. Treating a computer like a god is idolatry. I don't think she cares that people are dying and going to Hell. She has on these rose-colored glasses, she thinks life is alright and OK (there are no problems) all the time, and I tell you, for the lost everything is not OK. For them life is terrible. I wish she would see that. I wish she would take off those rose-colored glasses and see life for what it really is like I do. It seems almost selfish to me that she does not care about the eternal destiny of others.

So my mom and I are not on speaking terms right now. I firmly believe she should witness more (doing it only one time is not enough!), and she does not seem to think so. We disagree with each other. No matter how many times I speak to her, I make no impact. I wonder if my words are falling on deaf ears. All she wants to do is watch TV all day, and this disgusts me so much I want to take her computer and chuck it out the window. I don't care what she would think of that. That thing is preventing her from living for GOD, it must be evil or something.

I have noticed that she does not pray or read her Bible as much as I do either. I am wondering if she is a just another lukewarm Christian. I am serious about my faith. Is she? It makes me mad inside.

 

[JacquelineDeane55]

I have had to ask GOD to forgive my mom for failing to perform the Great Commission like Jesus commanded. We are all supposed to do it.

 

[brinny]

Me: Mom, have you never felt led by the LORD to witness to the lost?

Mom: I went with you door-knocking before.

Me: I know, but that was just one time and a long time ago. Are you sure that is not enough?

Mom: OK, I am getting really mad at you and I'm not talking to you.


I am kind of disgusted and angry at my mom because she doesn't see how important it is to win the lost to Christ like I do. Christ has led me to be a witness every day that I am alive. I do it every day, while she just sits on her butt all day and watches TV on her computer. For hours and hours. She seems to care about that thing more than GOD. I hope she is not committing idolatry with her computer. Treating a computer like a god is idolatry. I don't think she cares that people are dying and going to Hell. She has on these rose-colored glasses, she thinks life is alright and OK (there are no problems) all the time, and I tell you, for the lost everything is not OK. For them life is terrible. I wish she would see that. I wish she would take off those rose-colored glasses and see life for what it really is like I do. It seems almost selfish to me that she does not care about the eternal destiny of others.

So my mom and I are not on speaking terms right now. I firmly believe she should witness more (doing it only one time is not enough!), and she does not seem to think so. We disagree with each other.

Pray about this. You live with your mom, under her roof, and she is kind enough to allow you to live there. She is also kind enough to agree to be your legal guardian. God will not honor your intentions to "evangelize" if you cannot respect and honor your mother. God looks on the heart. If you have contempt for your mother because you don't "approve" of what she does or doesn't do, it wrecks any testimony you hope to have. God is not in it.

Are you in counseling?

Praying for your mother, your family, your household, and you too.

 

[Albion]

I cannot be harsh with anyone who wants to spread the Gospel of Christ, BUT there are other considerations as one is engaged in doing that.

For one, what are your qualifications for following through if someone shows interest? Bible school graduate? Seminary student? What? Because I assure you that if someone responds positively to door knocking and a " Do you know the Lord?" a lot of follow-up questions may come at you and even if they do not, you will have to know the best way to guide the people involved in how to take the next step.

Second, many people just naturally are going to resist having somebody try to sell them something uninvited, whether that's merchandise, a political candidate, or a religion. To know the best way to approach people is critically important to having success.

Your concern is appreciated, but I recommend seeking the help of a church before moving forward with this project...and do not neglect to make amends with your mother.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Piecing together other threads of yours recently, I must warn you that you seem to be elevating yourself over others you deem to be inferior in faith.

That is a fruit of pride. Humble yourself. Instead of calling people idolaters for not wanting to witness as you do, pray for them. You are not going to win any disciples for Christ through pride and may fall by the wayside yourself.

I say this in love but it needs to be said. With what measure you judge it shall be judged to you. Be careful

 

[JacquelineDeane55]

Actually, when I posted this there was no pride in my heart whatsoever. Nor was I trying to elevate myself. I am sorry if it sounded that way, but you guys don't know me so you don't know what I am really like personally. I have hardly ever been arrogant in my life.

I guess I just have a hard time understanding someone else who does not share the same concern for the lost that I do. I witness because I have genuine concern about others.

 

[macek]

Sister, you mean well and i respect that a lot. It is true that here on the internet we don't really get to know each other as well as if we had an eye to eye conversation.

May i be permitted a bit of presumption on my part, but you seem to move with urgency, with great haste for witnessing. I understand, the time is indeed short, but people move at their pace and often resent when someone tries to upset that pace. What i am saying is that its like farming, there is time for planting and there is a time for harvest. Both seasons need patience in work and cannot be rushed to yield fruit or the fruit my not be lasting. It took Jesus several years to move me in His direction but when the time was right it all fell into place and i repented and started to seek Jesus with an honest heart. Praised be Jesus, You are merciful, kind and super patient, my Lord. Blessed is Your name.

Please don't take as discouragement. Nay, i encourage you to go and witness, just keep in your heart that people sometimes need some space and a lot of patience on your part.

God bless you, sister, keep your good work in Jesus name.

 

[LaSorcia]

Me: Mom, have you never felt led by the LORD to witness to the lost?

Mom: I went with you door-knocking before.

Me: I know, but that was just one time and a long time ago. Are you sure that is not enough?

Mom: OK, I am getting really mad at you and I'm not talking to you.

First of all, I'm sorry you had this kind of interaction with your mom. I believe it is the parent's job to set a healthy example. I'm a parent.

Two things I'd like to say, I hope they're helpful.

1-Not everyone is called to witnessing to the lost as their main ministry. Some have ministries supporting other Christians so that they can in turn minister to others. Some have prayer ministries, some hospitality. Look up spiritual gifts and the body of Christ.

There are needs everywhere we look and no one person can fulfill all of them.

2-Having said that, your mom cut off dialogue with you when she had a great opportunity to discuss such things with you. Maybe her guilt got in the way of her being able to talk with you? I don't know what the situation is, but I do know that as a parent, one needs to be open to discussing difficult things with their children. Parents get scared too. But as parents, they should put that aside for the benefit of their children. They can tell their children they are afraid, and show them how to handle fear in a healthy way.

 

[ValleyGal]

LaSorcia pretty much said what I was thinking - your mom might have other gifts than evangelism. Search the Bible - iirc, Corinthians - for spiritual gifts, and see that not everyone has the gift to evangelize. Some are given other gifts such as tongues or prophecy.

She probably is upset with you because you are trying to force her to adopt your values, when she has her own values to live by. She might feel judged...or even maybe guilty for not evangelizing more than she does.

Evangelism is not just about verbally sharing the gospel. I personally believe that you must build a respectful relationship with someone before trying to tell them about the Lord and his saving grace. If anyone tried to tell me to get right with God, I would put up a huge wall of defense and then never trust that person to respect who I am and my freedom of choice.

 

[brinny]

Actually, when I posted this there was no pride in my heart whatsoever. Nor was I trying to elevate myself. I am sorry if it sounded that way, but you guys don't know me so you don't know what I am really like personally. I have hardly ever been arrogant in my life.

I guess I just have a hard time understanding someone else who does not share the same concern for the lost that I do. I witness because I have genuine concern about others.

You posted in your first post that you are disgusted and angry with your mom.

In the midst of your disgust and anger with your mom, please share how you are demonstrating love and grace to your mom?

Thank you kindly.

Praying.

 

[Serving Zion]

All she wants to do is watch TV all day, and this disgusts me so much I want to take her computer and chuck it out the window. I don't care what she would think of that. That thing is preventing her from living for GOD, it must be evil or something.

I have noticed that she does not pray or read her Bible as much as I do either. I am wondering if she is a just another lukewarm Christian. I am serious about my faith. Is she? It makes me mad inside.

You are absolutely right, actually. Grown-ups have become accustomed to being in control of their life, having nobody to answer to except themselves, and after a while we do come to carry a lot of regret and shame. (Whereas children always have had to answer to their parents so they have always stayed obedient and repentant). The last thing your Mom wants is to be secretly humiliated by her own daughter's righteous words, or even by the very stranger to whom you are witnessing!

So don't make it harder for her to let you do your work for The Lord by rubbing it in It would be perfect if you can find an enthusiastic friend from church to go with! Maybe you can approach the pastor and ask that they will announce it in the notices this week

You're right about the TV too. Grown-ups have more temptation and opportunity to be dishonest about what really goes on in their head, and they have more practise too, because they have been doing this for a longer time.

Then combine that with the sorts of junk that comes through the TV, where some shows purposefully show human bodies in ways that tempt us to be lustful, and other shows actually depict rape, murder, torture. Some shows purposefully create characters that craft us to think in ways that are hateful (he who hates is a murderer in heart) .. so you can see that TV is actually tempting us to become adulterers and murderers in heart. Maybe you haven't been trapped by that yet, in which case I encourage you to be wise and guard the righteousness that you already have, remaining pure (Revelation 2:20-25).

Of course, once an evil spirit finds an opportunity to leverage our weakness (by believing that we can actually get away with thinking these thoughts and nobody would know), then it has found a way to displace The Holy Spirit in us because we have chosen to have sinful thoughts instead of turning our eye from evil (Isaiah 33:14-15).

Do not be deceived: you cannot serve two masters, for you must come to love one and hate the other.

So, we either do have a holy and pure, innocent thought life where The Holy Spirit dwells in a consecrated temple (1 John 1:6) - or we must deceive ourselves in order to be able to say that we have The Holy Spirit even though we really have chosen to reject Him and allow sin to reign in us.

This makes TV the number one ultimatum for Christians these days.

(I am not saying that TV is bad, because it can be used for good. I am saying that we must be very careful and responsible with who we yield our mind to, and that almost every TV show tempts us with sin, so it is not representing God at all: James 1:13).

TV is not the same as being in the presence of someone who is tempting us to sin, because we can always convict that one's sinfulness and bring a change of heart to remove their tempting ways. With TV, we can only sit there and take it in, or turn it off. There is no opportunity for rebuttal or discussion to give dominance to The Holy Spirit.

The more that people let the bad influence of TV corrupt their way of thinking (1 Corinthians 15:33), along with their increased ability to be dishonest about their thought life (Ezekiel 8:12), the less and less there is of those who truly do have a clean thought-life (Isaiah 6:12-13).

.. so, keep in mind Jesus' Words:


For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’

“He who loves father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Matthew 10:35-39

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels!”
- Mark 8:38

Make every effort to break through the spiritual bondage that is against you, while you still have the energy, enthusiasm and drive to serve Him! .. and forgive your mother, their generation has been gradually lured to accept depravity in television - TV and Music was once a reflection of a righteous society (before mid-1980s).

Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, tenderhearted, humble-minded. Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead—it is for this reason you were called, so that you might inherit a blessing. For,

“The one who loves life,
wanting to see good days,
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must seek shalom and pursue it.
For the eyes of Adonai are on the righteous
and His ears open to their prayer,
but the face of Adonai is against those who do evil.”

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not be afraid or worry about their threats. Instead sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with humility and reverence—keeping a clear conscience so that, whatever you are accused of, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Messiah may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good (if it is God’s will) than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:8-17

Also, read Jeremiah 9!

"Young woman, the power's in your hand! Slam your fist on the table and make your demand! Take a stand, fan the fire for the flame of the youth! You got the freedom to choose, you gotta make the right move...

Youth is the Engine of the World"

 

[Serving Zion]

In the midst of your disgust and anger with your mom, please share how you are demonstrating love and grace to your mom?

.. See how cunning the enemy is, and how easily it can tempt us to become a sinner? (Ephesians 4:31).

Please do be wise, OP, and strong! Do not forsake The Lord, but by wisdom and prayer, find the support that you need through being equally yoked in your work (are you a member of a Youth Group? It might help!).

 

[brinny]

.. See how cunning the enemy is, and how easily it can tempt us to become a sinner? (Ephesians 4:31).

Please do be wise, OP, and strong! Do not forsake The Lord, but by wisdom and prayer, find the support that you need through being equally yoked in your work (are you a member of a Youth Group? It might help!).

Our sister is an adult. She lives with her mom because her mom is her legal guardian and is legally responsible for our sister.

Praying.

Let it rain.

 

[Serving Zion]

Our sister is an adult. She lives with her mom because her mom is her legal guardian and is legally responsible for our sister.

Praying.

Thank you for sharing that information. She speaks with the purity of a youth, and has power in her righteousness and knowledge of God, that is rare. I would like to see her equipped to serve The Lord instead of quenched.

Keep going, OP. You aren't stupid at all, and I can see that

 

[brinny]

Thank you for sharing that information. She speaks with the purity of a youth, and has power in her righteousness and knowledge of God, that is rare. I would like to see her equipped to serve The Lord instead of quenched.

Keep going, OP. You aren't stupid at all, and I can see that

God bless our sister, her mom, and the household, and may God's inexplicable grace, wisdom, discernment, and clarity reign in ALL things, and may His will be done. Father may it be so, in Jesus name, amen.

Let it rain.

 

[brinny]

You are absolutely right, actually. Grown-ups have become accustomed to being in control of their life, having nobody to answer to except themselves, and after a while we do come to carry a lot of regret and shame. (Whereas children always have had to answer to their parents so they have always stayed obedient and repentant). The last thing your Mom wants is to be secretly humiliated by her own daughter's righteous words, or even by the very stranger to whom you are witnessing!

So don't make it harder for her to let you do your work for The Lord by rubbing it in It would be perfect if you can find an enthusiastic friend from church to go with! Maybe you can approach the pastor and ask that they will announce it in the notices this week

You're right about the TV too. Grown-ups have more temptation and opportunity to be dishonest about what really goes on in their head, and they have more practise too, because they have been doing this for a longer time.

Then combine that with the sorts of junk that comes through the TV, where some shows purposefully show human bodies in ways that tempt us to be lustful, and other shows actually depict rape, murder, torture. Some shows purposefully create characters that craft us to think in ways that are hateful (he who hates is a murderer in heart) .. so you can see that TV is actually tempting us to become adulterers and murderers in heart. Maybe you haven't been trapped by that yet, in which case I encourage you to be wise and guard the righteousness that you already have, remaining pure (Revelation 2:20-25).

Of course, once an evil spirit finds an opportunity to leverage our weakness (by believing that we can actually get away with thinking these thoughts and nobody would know), then it has found a way to displace The Holy Spirit in us because we have chosen to have sinful thoughts instead of turning our eye from evil (Isaiah 33:14-15).

Do not be deceived: you cannot serve two masters, for you must come to love one and hate the other.

So, we either do have a holy and pure, innocent thought life where The Holy Spirit dwells in a consecrated temple (1 John 1:6) - or we must deceive ourselves in order to be able to say that we have The Holy Spirit even though we really have chosen to reject Him and allow sin to reign in us.

This makes TV the number one ultimatum for Christians these days.

(I am not saying that TV is bad, because it can be used for good. I am saying that we must be very careful and responsible with who we yield our mind to, and that almost every TV show tempts us with sin, so it is not representing God at all: James 1:13).

TV is not the same as being in the presence of someone who is tempting us to sin, because we can always convict that one's sinfulness and bring a change of heart to remove their tempting ways. With TV, we can only sit there and take it in, or turn it off. There is no opportunity for rebuttal or discussion to give dominance to The Holy Spirit.

The more that people let the bad influence of TV corrupt their way of thinking (1 Corinthians 15:33), along with their increased ability to be dishonest about their thought life (Ezekiel 8:12), the less and less there is of those who truly do have a clean thought-life (Isaiah 6:12-13).

.. so, keep in mind Jesus' Words:


For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’

“He who loves father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Matthew 10:35-39

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels!”
- Mark 8:38

Make every effort to break through the spiritual bondage that is against you, while you still have the energy, enthusiasm and drive to serve Him! .. and forgive your mother, their generation has been gradually lured to accept depravity in television - TV and Music was once a reflection of a righteous society (before mid-1980s).

Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, tenderhearted, humble-minded. Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead—it is for this reason you were called, so that you might inherit a blessing. For,

“The one who loves life,
wanting to see good days,
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must seek shalom and pursue it.
For the eyes of Adonai are on the righteous
and His ears open to their prayer,
but the face of Adonai is against those who do evil.”

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not be afraid or worry about their threats. Instead sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with humility and reverence—keeping a clear conscience so that, whatever you are accused of, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Messiah may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good (if it is God’s will) than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:8-17

Also, read Jeremiah 9!

"Young woman, the power's in your hand! Slam your fist on the table and make your demand! Take a stand, fan the fire for the flame of the youth! You got the freedom to choose, you gotta make the right move...

Youth is the Engine of the World"

God have mercy!

Praying.

Let it rain.

 

[Serving Zion]

God have mercy!

Praying.

Amen. They do not know what they are doing.

 

[brinny]

Amen. They do not know what they are doing.

May God's will be done ALWAYS and His wisdom, discernment, and clarity reign. ALWAYS. Father may it be so, in Jesus name, amen.

Let it rain.

 

[brinny]

Praying for you Jacqueline, and your mom and household too.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Actually, when I posted this there was no pride in my heart whatsoever. Nor was I trying to elevate myself. I am sorry if it sounded that way, but you guys don't know me so you don't know what I am really like personally. I have hardly ever been arrogant in my life.

I guess I just have a hard time understanding someone else who does not share the same concern for the lost that I do. I witness because I have genuine concern about others.

Not saying what you do or don't do but I will say, if we are "that way" it's generally not because we are "trying to", it often happens and we don't see it at all.

Take it easy with your Mom....it's a commandment.