Advise please

[forgivin]

My mother is an atheist, and she has been getting interested in Christianity here lately and has even gone to church twice. Any way she sent me this Email today. It's an eye opener for us and I would like to here your feelings on this. How would you respond?

:
My thoughts when I should be working:



I seen a small child being brought into the DFCS office,

He was so sad looking, confused, and a little embarrassed

And I thought, we take in too many foster care children these days.



Our world is one that forgets about the other children,

We are so busy taking care of our own children,

Getting them to soccer games, shopping for new video games

We forget that some children are suffering.



Our world has always had forgotten children,

This is not something new, it’s been around for centuries,

Children are suffering, starving, cold, abused and dying.



Why are these children forgotten, and who are the people to help?

Where are the good “Christians” that attend church on Sundays

But forget the rest of the week about lending a helping hand?



Why do only a few seek to help a child or a family?

Why do only a few visit the sick and elderly?

Do people only go to church to say they attended?



Does that one day make them feel like they are child of God

And no further action is needed to be a Christian?

Are they saved enough if they never help someone in need

As long as they go to church on Sunday?

What if a person got involved with helping and working with the

Poor, the hungry, the suffering children

But they didn’t go to church

Would they go to heaven???????

 

[Momzilla]

I think a lot of non-Christians, and even some Christians, feel the way your mom does. It's hard to see a whole crowd of people say one thing and do another. But here's the response I might make....

Christ clearly demanded that we help each other (tell her about the parable of the sheep and the goats). There is no denying that some Christians fail to heed this call, to their detriment and to the detriment of the world. But just because some Christians fail doesn't mean that all do. She doesn't know how many of them give up their lunch hour to do Meals on Wheels. She doesn't know how many devote a lot of their free time to teaching sunday school. She doesn't know how many get up at 5:00 a.m. (as many in my church do every Monday) to give out sandwiches to day laborers.

The long and short of it is, there are a lot of christians who should be doing more. Is that a reason for rejecting Christianity? I don't think so. I think it's a reason to get in there and lead by example.

The other thing I might point out is that chances are, a greater percentage of Christians serve their community than do atheists. which is not to say that atheists don't serve their community--I have an atheist coworker who, with his wife and kids, is a shining example of community care in action. But, I think that Christians are probably more likely than non-theists to engage in various forms of community service.

 

[sawdust]

Hi Forgiven,

My response would be to ask your Mum if she really want's to know the truth of why that child is suffering, then she will find the answer by looking at the picture on the bottom of your sig. She won't work it out without God's help but if she is really serious about finding the truth then tell her to ask and let Him explain it to her. I'll give her a hint (and you just in case you don't know the answer)..the Cross is like a mirror. It reflects back to us what we are.
I'm praying for you both.

love and hugs

 

[Rage4Christ]

forgivin, you must empathize with your mother. To me she sounds very frustrated with the world, upset at the hypocracy of most people-- and powerless to fix things.

Give her your undivided attention. Really try to understand her-- Most people really don't want to argue, they just want to be heard.

I would tell her, "I don't know. Some people think ritual is required, others think that the mere acceptance of Christ without works is enough. What do you think?

Give her unconditional love. Respect her questions, but let her resolve them for herself. Confronting the horrors of the world is not easy-- Christians and Athiests alike must struggle with how they personally deal with the tragedies of the world. Some Christians my react with indifference and ritual-- some Athiests volunteer and help. The distinction that one group has the one way is to create a false obsticle against unconditional love.

 

[seangoh]

The other thing I might point out is that chances are, a greater percentage of Christians serve their community than do atheists.

Probably right on that point. There are children suffering, much in Africa. Christians do what they can in their own communities. Don't expect us to go all the way to Africa although some do. For me? I feel my gift is to edify the body of Christ and to be a good listener. In this way, i feel i'm fully utilized (check my profile). There are others who would have different gifts that they would use. I think instead of focusing on other christians, the question that would challenge us is "am i fully fulfilling my potential as a christian?"...it's probably not answering your question on how to answer your mom but it sure is a first step that you can take the chance to embark on if you haven't.

 

[nickie8705]

hey that was an eye opener, but the truth is that non-christians and even some christian I used to be one, would attend church because it makes them feel better. In some cases they begin to think that church will save them. Not all of them listen to the messages being tought.

But there are those who do and for evertone that does a child can be saved and saving one child or even 100 out of 300 is better than 0 out of a 1,000 is it not?

I guess what I'm saying is if you can save one starfish from a beach would you?

 

[lampwicke]

dear forgivin,
What do you feel is your mothers intent in seeking a response from you? Does she see you enough? Is she lonely? Is she concerned about unwanted children? feeling guilty because she is not involved with helping. wishing,to persecute christians for their lack of interest,or compassion? Only you know your mother better than anyone here? Off the wall ,perhaps the best tack you should take, is to ask her why she wrote you this letter, to clarify just what she is looking for? You can explain to her, if she is wanting to know why christians aren't coming to the aid of unwanted children,let her know that there are many types of christians, there are the unbelieving believers,the carnal, the uninvolved,the social,and I'm sure some which you can catagorize also? Explain to her that the love of ones God is not a church? It is the deeply personal and loving relationship between a person and their God.It is a heart to heart relationship,not what a person can do with their hands? It takes both, faith and works. not just one only. Unfortunately like all people, athiests and christians alike: not all are responsible in their faith or non faith in personal values? Not all christians who go to church are true believers,just like all athiests do good works because christians don't live up to their commitments as a whole? She lives in a world which is cold and hard,which she is beginning to see,it seems that just the title of "christian" ,labels us all as the ones responsible for all that christianity fails in? To the unbeliever,this is a normal attack mode, for christians,Jesus said they(the world) would hate you, expect it, for they hated me. (Paraphrased)Your mother does seem to be seeking, the simplest response it seems to me is, why do you want to know? then go from there once you determine that. In His love, lampwicke xxx

 

[forgivin]

Thank all of you so much for your help. I have used all of responses to aid in a better way to help her come to Christ. God is working on her heart. At least she is looking for answers. I'm glad she is questioning Christianity. Before she didn't care what Christians did or didn't do.