Isn't belief usually "genetic"?

[Beanieboy]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

 

[WashedClean]

Great question!

I don't "practice a religion". I have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

I was raised in a church-going family. To this day, I'm not convinced that my parents are "true" Christians. They are Christians in name only I believe. So when you say that it's "genetic" (and I know what you mean by this), it's very interesting. Because if you asked me 10 years ago what "religion" I was, I would have said "Christian" simply because I was raised that way, baptised, etc. But thank God that he showed me it's not about any of that "stuff" which is man-made. I'm grateful that when I die and stand before Him, He won't be asking me what denomination I am. He will ask what I've done with His Son.

Hope this helps!

 

[Adstar]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

I decided to accept Jesus and the rest of my family are of another religion or are atheists. There are many people who come to accept Jesus and it has nothing to do with genetics but with conscience and the Work of the Holy Spirit.

Of course it does affect the unbelieving family. But the effects are in the hands of the unbelieving family members, they can chose to accept our heart felt decision or they can chose to cast us out and renounce us. But irrespective of our families reaction nothing comes before Jesus.

Matthew 19
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Matthew 8
18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Pasat_14]

My parents aren't christian. The closest I get is my dads parents being Catholic...I've been confirmed in a Lutheran church though, which my grandma wasn't happy about...
I decided to look into what Christianity was when I found a lot of my friends were Christian. My parent's aren't exactly supportive. For my confirmation my mum just snapped and said "tell me when it is and i'll go"
I'm not about to start arguing though, I want to show them that me being Christian is a good thing and that it's changed me for the better etc.
So in answer to your question, no. It can just become a bit sticky thats all...it's almost the same as going out with someone who isn't Christian - but I definately don't want to start arguments about that! lol.
hope i was a help with your question though. God bless. xox.

 

[Rafael]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

No, not genetic, but each person decides for themselves when they get to the age where they can understand that they are responsible for their own choices in life.
Jesus talked of this in the Bible, knowing that He would cause families to seperate over who He was and what He came to earth to do as Savior of mankind. See verses - Jesus speaking:

Matthew 10:34-39 "Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.

I, too, have had to go against what my family believed because I read the Bible for myself and asked God for His help instead of just doing what others told me to believe.
I do not try in my own power to convert any by sharing the good news about Jesus and God's great sacrificial love for His creation in man. I do as God bids me in the Bible and tell others because He commands it. It is His responsibility, by His Spirit, to touch the hearts of men and thereby bring about the new birth of spiritual life He can cause within them that leads to true life. The Christian plants and waters, but God gives the increase and should be more of a witness by the way they live their lives instead of what they say. So often, that is not true in our lives because we all still fight with our old natures we are born with that are dead spiritually. Overcoming the old sin nature of the flesh is not easy, but it is part of what we learn, personally growing in God's grace, as we journey towards God and the final peace we have with Him as His family.

 

[rocklife]

You can learn more testimonies from more often first generation christians with a free newsletter at www.persecution.com. the newsletter shares testimonies of christians being persecuted for the faith in Christ right now. How we can pray for them and help as led. Many of these ones are first generation, leaving Hinduism and Islam and other ways for Jesus, even suffering for it.

also many in India are converting, including first generation christians. you can learn more from another free resource, a book called "Revolution in World Missions" at www.gfa.org A native Indian christian and their missionary organization sharing what is happening in India.

 

[TiaLola]

I have always felt that at least ONE spritiual parent will help guide a child towards faith, but I do not think that we are what we are because our parents are as well. My father is Agnostic, and my mother was raised Catholic. She has her own issues with the Catholic Church, but raised me Catholic. I was Catholic in my upbringing, took a hiatus from the Church for a while, and found it again on my way back. I respect my mother very much, as a person and as a Catholic. I look at myself now as Christian, as I have found that the Non-Denominational Church that I go to far better preaches what I believe than the ritual based Catholic Church. It is all a matter of who you are..and what feels right! Hope this helped

 

[Endure2]

raises hand...

i do not believe any God acts in my life. i dont believe christianity...my entire family is christian and i was for 22 years myself. but it didnt split my family up..but it did cause some issues...some worries some stress, some slightly broken hearts. but i had to do what i had to do...no matter how they felt...i had to.

it was hard as hell for me when i finally gave up on christianity to go find something better for myself... tearfilled conversations, worries, its ruff...talking about such things with your family who raised you to be a certain way...and its quite an emotionally trying experience to put something that you loved, cherished trusted and hoped in your whole life...to go off into the great unknown to try find something..not knowing where to start...its real hard.

 

[duskiness]

my parents are atheists (agnostics when they are in good mood). But they baptized me and made me attend religion classes (what made me aggressive atheists some time ago). Now I'm kind of "black sheep".in family They don't feel "comfortable" with my faith but try to be as supportive us they can..

 

[Key]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."

That is a fine way to discover, that you need to find God on your own. It is not easy. But it is a personal relationship, not one of "family Idea". So this is a Good Sign that you, alone, need to find God for yourself.

Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Maybe, but then again, maybe not. It all depends on the person and the family.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

Nope, I found my own path. Which is different then my Mothers, or my brothers, or my fathers, grandfathers, etc. Each one of us, follows our own path to God, but respects that each of us, are on our own path to God. Maybe I am just lucky.

God Bless

Key

 

[Shubunkin]

Not really genetics in this.... but I do believe that a person's family has much to contribute to someone's belief. My mother is a Baptist, and my father was raised Catholic and never really believed until his later years. I am neither of those. To say influenced by the Baptist belief, yes. I was influenced, but ultimately rejected it. We have to find our own path, but hopefully God will be just when considering what each one of us has to endure to get where we are.

 

[PhilosopherD]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

No, I don't.

And this is one reason Jesus said that He came to bring a sword, and set one person of a household against another. The against, however, in the context is that the rest of the family would likely whoop up on the newly converted Christian member.

 

[InnocentOdion]

1. My nan is atheist.
2. My grandad was atheist but has converted to Christianity recently.
3. My sister is atheist.
4. My mother is Christian but non-practicing. At all.
5. My fiancée is Christian but can only just about name 4 books of the Bible - something I'm trying to help her out with - we go to church together though.
6. My father is atheist/agnostic.
7. My brother was atheist. Now he's Christian. He was Christian before me, in America.
8. I was atheist. Now I'm Christian. My brother prayed for me, but he didn't make me convert. He was willing to answer any questions, but I never asked him any.
9. My friends are a mix of anti-Christians. So was I, because they were. I still have to tell them (except for one) I'm Christian but that's another thread.

So, my conclusion is: Belief isn't genetic, genes are genetic. People do tend to bring you up with what they think is right. It's part of a family upbringing, I guess.

I think it tends to be more "friends" who have an impact on what you do and say, to follow the norm, but I think belief is a personal thing, it was for me.

I'm going to bring up my kid with Christianity though.

Hope this helps!

 

[Merlin]

Me, I'm more concerned about a person's relationship with Jesus than what parents might think.

 

[calidog]

Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

Doubtful that belief is genetic, but it is certainly influenced by your family.
Faith in God comes from God.
Just because faith in God is'nt current in someones life does'nt mean that he/she will never have faith.

 

[gratis]

I believe un-belief is more genetic than belief.
People only believe when they are are drawn to believe and are ready to believe. Family influence can help that along - but not make it happen.

With children I believe they ride along on their parents faith (in whatever) until they are old enough to make their own choices and have a good understanding of life.

 

[EmbracingHim]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

Lol!! Interesting concept, but faulty by statistics as it were in my personal life. I had a Catholic grandmother and a Lutheran Dad and I'm Baptist.

I know a woman from college and she is athiest, but her daughter is a Christian.

I do however believe that family does have the initial push toward or away from denominational preferences and religion.

Overall, though I believe that God keeps a tight grip on His children. .

 

[JoyforJESUS]

I once attended a conference for Lutheran Youth. We selected BreakOut sessions, and I went to Why Are We Lutheran? When asked, I began, "Because my parents are, and because my parents' parents were, and so on. Even deciding to convert to Catholicism would freak out my parents, even though both denominations are Christian."


Because of that, it seems that converting someone who is from a non-christian family is about as distruptive to the family and as intimidating as telling your Christian family that you are going to convert to Hinduism, Islam or the Jewish faith.

Is that something that you consider when seeking a convert?
Do most of you practice the same religion and denomination as those of your parents and grandparents?

I am answering the last question....

I am also a Lutheran Christian.

My Father was raised by a Quaker step father, and a Nazareen Mother, his biological father was Baptist. His biological Grandfather was also Baptist, with a linage that includes at least 2 Baptist preachers. The first converted from Catholism.

My mother was raised Methodist. Whose grand parents were Quakers.

How did I come to be raised as a Lutheran Christian.
A non denominational preacher suggested to my parents to look for a church home where both of their spiritual needs could be met, and that they felt could teach their children the values that they wanted to instill into us.

 

[salida]

Beanieboy--

Well, no. I was brought up a totally different denomination and now I attend a nondenomination church - this is the same with my husband.

God deals with a person on an individual basis and just because your grandpa or grandmother went there doesn't determine you are going to many times.