At what point do you walk away?

[Sojourner414]

I hate the thought of not talking with my only sibling before I depart, but what she is doing almost seems demonic. Who tries to get their dying brother to abandon his belief in God as they are dying? It makes me angry, sad and every emotion all at once. We stopped speaking over 10 years ago because she is evil. I began speaking with her again in January, only to explain the Bible, Jesus, his love and Heaven. At first she would ask questions, then I began hearing she was making fun of my beliefs. Now she is almost mocking them. I tried with everything I had to make my family a family again. It didn't work. Now I just feel dumb for trying, or expecting someone to understand. She grew up in church. She knows the Bible stories. She's never known Jesus though and does t seem to want to. It is maddening to me as I just want the entire family in Heaven someday.

Dan, I have an older sibling who is pretty much psychotic (he's into the occult) and hates the Lord. I tried over the years to reach out to him, but he would play sick games. Without going into too much detail, he severed the ties in a brutal and horrific manner (physical damage as well as emotional), and literally destroyed my family.

As much as we and the Lord don't want someone to end up in hell, we cannot change their heart toards God or anyone else. If your sister is mocking your beliefs, you are not required to be part of her life, and she is not entitled to be part of yours.

Just because someone is related by blood doesn't mean they are "family".

I know that thought hurts, and you just want everybody to be with the Lord in eternity Dan. That's not wrong, but if she insists on her way, there's really nothing to be done aside from prayer and leaving it to the Lord. Some folk are just going to insist on a destructive path; what we can do is pray that the Lord use her circumstances to bring her to a point where she realizes that her ways are failing her.

 

[borrowedtime]

Dan, I have an older sibling who is pretty much psychotic (he's into the occult) and hates the Lord. I tried over the years to reach out to him, but he would play sick games. Without going into too much detail, he severed the ties in a brutal and horrific manner (physical damage as well as emotional), and literally destroyed my family.

As much as we and the Lord don't want someone to end up in hell, we cannot change their heart toards God or anyone else. If your sister is mocking your beliefs, you are not required to be part of her life, and she is not entitled to be part of yours.

Just because someone is related by blood doesn't mean they are "family".

I know that thought hurts, and you just want everybody to be with the Lord in eternity Dan. That's not wrong, but if she insists on her way, there's really nothing to be done aside from prayer and leaving it to the Lord. Some folk are just going to insist on a destructive path; what we can do is pray that the Lord use her circumstances to bring her to a point where she realizes that her ways are failing her.

If I may piggy back off this.

I come from a house of 4 siblings and a dozen aunts and uncles. My parents were both abusive (dad physically and mom emotionally). I had a pedophille uncle and a bunch of degenerate cousins. I loved my siblings and my cousins but I had to cut them off as well.

The last bit of my family that I dealt with came to a halt when my brother started acting highly abusive to his then wife and son. I was caught in the middle of it cause the one paying the price was my 4 year old nephew. My ex sister in law wasn’t working and during the separation process my brother COMPLETELY cut off all money to them. I would feed him and ended up setting her up with my child custody attorney (he’s a cop and they have free ones they use) and my family came at me with a vengeance.

They brought up my affair, gambling addiction and even though I had made reconciliations with my wife and children and was recovered through counseling they would berate me for questioning why he thought it was ok to video tape himself burning all her clothes cause he paid for them.

They thought I chose a side. Even though she would have admitted I chastised her about bad mouthing my nephews dad in front of him. She even knew my only concern was my nephew.

I talk to zero family now and only have my daughters as far as blood lineage goes.

I’ll have all the family and friends I need in Heaven with Jesus.

 

[AnewcreationinJesus]

Today was the first time I felt openly mocked for my beliefs. My sister began throwing out stupid things, like aliens are real so i need to look into that, or Elon Musk says we are in a simulation so I need to watch him on some podcast. I've been practically begging her to come to Christ before it is too late. In return, she has made me out to be a fool to the family. I'll just keep on with the prayers, but I no longer will try and discuss things with her.

 

[Andiamo]

Hey Dan,

I wanted to say I have so appreciated the honesty and transparency of your posts. I have learned so much from you. It is truly inspiring to see your concern and care for others during your own personal situation, where one could easily turn inward and forget about everyone else.

I could have written much of what you said. I have recently stopped witnessing to my family. Except emails to a certain Aunt, and only if she asks me a question. I feel like I'm going to explode sometimes, I want to say something so badly. But I've realized that I can't replace the Holy Spirit in my family's lives. After all, He is their Creator, and knows them better than they know themselves. He has been there every day of their life. He has heard their every thought. He knows just the circumstance, person and moment that is "it." I will just let Him do it now.

With Love,
Andi (Another Fool) (Look up the song, "God's Own Fool," by Michael Card on Youtube. The one with the lyrics and illustrations.)

 

[athenasius]

I hate the thought of not talking with my only sibling before I depart, but what she is doing almost seems demonic. Who tries to get their dying brother to abandon his belief in God as they are dying? It makes me angry, sad and every emotion all at once. We stopped speaking over 10 years ago because she is evil. I began speaking with her again in January, only to explain the Bible, Jesus, his love and Heaven. At first she would ask questions, then I began hearing she was making fun of my beliefs. Now she is almost mocking them. I tried with everything I had to make my family a family again. It didn't work. Now I just feel dumb for trying, or expecting someone to understand. She grew up in church. She knows the Bible stories. She's never known Jesus though and does t seem to want to. It is maddening to me as I just want the entire family in Heaven someday.

You've witnessed the truth.

Her response is obvious.

Silence speaks louder than words. God can move on her in that silence, rather than her constantly using her arguments with you-- the human person to distract herself from dealing with GOD.

It's hard. But it's ok and God can do the heavy lifting now with her. You did your part.

You don't have to be there, being the one doing the talking. Because God is.

Hugs Dan and I hope this helps.

Love in Christ from your sister in Christ!

 

[usoutpost31]

I don't know if you've ever seen the evangelical film Future Tense but it contained what I consider to be an interesting idea for witnessing to your family. In the film it was about a new believer who found his family resistant to what he had to say. So he decided to record on audio cassette what he believed and why he wanted to share it with them. Which he then sent to them in the mail. His reasoning was, there would be no awkwardness because of the subject matter when it was just them listening to the tape. There would be no fighting or tension because he wasn't in the room. If his family didn't like what he was saying on the tape, all they had to do was stop playing it.

In the film it wasn't clear if his family ultimately responded to his message but they did listen to the tape seriously, because his action in doing this impressed them with his sincerity.

Perhaps if you wrote her a letter, or made some kind of recording, and arranged for your sister to receive it after you ascend to glory. Just taking one last shot, what you believe and why you feel so strongly that she should know about it. You could say whatever you have to say without the strife and arguments.

Who knows? Perhaps later in life her heart softens towards the gospel. And your last words to her may be something that she can refer to over and over again.

 

[Armor of Light]

I hate the thought of not talking with my only sibling before I depart, but what she is doing almost seems demonic. Who tries to get their dying brother to abandon his belief in God as they are dying?

Dan we have to remember this is a battle not only on the ground but in the spirit realm. The unsaved are moved and prodded by unclean spirits, they do not realize they are performing what is being whispered in their ear, or the thought entering their mind.
My brother and I had a falling out many years ago(20) at the time my dad was near death, never went to church, I was reading bible verses and witnessing to him, my mom got mad and called little brother, he called me at midnight swearing up and down that my parents did not need all this Jesus stuff and his best friend in college got all Jesus on him and he didn't want to hear any of it and leave mom and dad alone about it. My fear was dad was lost, he said Jesus wasn't God, that's the anti god talking and dad would not listen, he was set in his thinking. I just prayed from then on and asked God to do what I could not, I could not make them see or hear. I pray for their eyes and ears to be open, for the gospel message to soften their hearts by whoever God sends across their path to deliver the message they need to hear. My brother and I get along now, see him from time to time but I do not try to save him, I let the way I live to please God do the talking. I think brother will come around to the fact he needs Jesus, God is working on him and he is using me indirectly at times. I have sent my brother some writings from Daniel Greenfield, and the stories have the RF address and he said he liked the last one I sent him.
So keep in prayer for your lost family members, if they mock you, curse you, make jokes or mock God remember they are lost, they know not what they do. I know it's hard to not get angry or upset but we can't make them see, only the Son who heals the blind can.