How do you differ to your parents in regard to Christianity?

My parents came from the Anglo-Irish Catholic tradition of "don't blow your own trumpet. Just do it."
Particularly my father. He was a gentle kind soul who never took himself seriously. He was incredibly hospitable to strangers as was my mother. They welcomed any of our friends into the home. Sometimes we had up to 20 people there at a time. In a small country town, it became like a hub of human fellowship, not strictly in the name of God but indirectly, as I see it now.
My father was president of a charity group called the St. Vincent se Paul for 20 years. He visited the sick and aged in hospital after Church on Sundays.
But he never once mentioned the Bible. Or did he try to evangelise to us kids. I am curious now what went on in his head. I don't think he actually prayed much. But his life was a prayer. He never held grudges, he extended his love beyond his own family. He was truly humble and deservedly popular. Some of my family made fun of his unworldliness and lack of manly leadership skills and his tendency to procrastinate on tough decisions. But these criticisms seem petty now. I believe Christ uses such humble people to spread His kingdom.
But I think my approach will be different. I see value in reading the Bible. I see talking about God and Jesus Christ as a positive. My parents may think this to be unnecessary or Pharisee like. I think its time to break that chain of thinking. I feel like I have been a slave to this "don't talk, just do" culture for too long. Nothing wrong with talking about God and the Bible. As long as you follow it up in action. As long as you don't become a hypocrite. As long as your relationship with God remains the most important thing in your life.

Winken said:

My mother was raised a Presbyterian. She later switched to my Dad's persuasion, Southern Baptist, just because she thought she should. My Mom supported water baptism as an "outward sign of an inward event", that is, it followed one's confession of Faith in Jesus as Savior. Dad was water baptized, but he really didn't care, before or after salvation. (I do not believe that immersion in, or sprinkling with, water, has anything to do with salvation). Mom looked to the entire New Testament for proofs. Dad didn't look anywhere. I only look to those scriptures which are applicable to the Christian audience described by the Apostle Paul. "Audience" is critical to our understanding of scripture. For example, the Book of Hebrews was written to those Jews who were backing away from Faith in Jesus as Savior by Grace through Faith. I'm convinced that the Apostle Paul wrote Hebrews to them, without identifying himself.

Click to expand...

It helps me understand your perspective Winken. Interesting mix of influences there. I mean the two denominations.

"Don't show off." That was like an unspoken rule in our household. And maybe for many Irish Catholic families.
"And don't make a fool of yourself."
The disadvantage I see in this kind of family culture, is we all wanted to play the role of cryptic observer. We become too afraid to go out on a limb and express an opinion, lest we get shot down in flames. But that came mainly from my older siblings.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Every man who publicly acknowledges me

Click to expand...

So in your own words, you are saying my father falls short of the ideal Christian? Not quite Heaven bound material?

now faith said:

So your Parents were being obedient to their upbringing and sound like wonderful people to me.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I think you are right. The key word being "obedience". They followed the 10 commandments instinctively.

And I just want to add that I feel that the family culture I was raised in, deemed that "talking about God" was almost bad luck. Some kind of superstitious mentality. That if we mentioned God, we were either mentally ill or it affected our real walk with God. That the minute we suggested Jesus may be the way the truth and the life, for example we made ourselves a target of Phariseeism.
That might explain some of my postings on here. Sorry.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

That is directly what JESUS SAYS.
Why do you say it is in my own words ?

Click to expand...

What percentage of your last post was in your own words?

yeshuaslavejeff said:

That is directly what JESUS SAYS.

Click to expand...

At worst I think he may have to do some time in Purgatory for some finishing touches. Otherwise it would be a travesty of justice for him to miss out on Heaven.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Below is a complete quote of that last post.
Everything that is a direct quote of YHWH'S WORD from BIBLEGATEWAY.COM is in BLACK , RED, or BLUE.

Everything below that is mine own words is in GREEN.


QUOTE="yeshuaslavejeff, post: 71424214, member: 96665"]AMP
“Therefore, the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one
I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven.

AMPC
Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him.
----------------------------------
PHILLIPS
“Every man who publicly acknowledges me I shall acknowledge in the presence of my Father in Heaven, but the man who disowns me before men I shall disown before my Father in Heaven.
--------------------------------------------
Jeremiah 9:23-24Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Boast in the Lord

23 This is what the Lord says:

The wise man must not boast in his wisdom;
the strong man must not boast in his strength;
the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.
24
But the one who boasts should boast in this,
that he understands and knows Me—
that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth,
for I delight in these things.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
-----------------------------------------------
1 Corinthians 1:30-31Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

30 But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].

31 So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories,
boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord.[/QUOTE

Click to expand...

I don't see any green at all.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Whether anyone , anywhere , misses out on Heaven is YHWH'S DOING/CHOICE, not man's ,

Click to expand...

I agree with you there. I'd just like to know if we are going to meet in Heaven. That's assuming I get there as well.