Guest Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Just because your actual siblings are your blood must you keep in touch? I have nothing in common with my brothers. After years of forcing myself to endure their company due often to pressure from our mother, i have realised i am wasting time, energy and money on people who are toxic towards me. I am civilised to them, polite. But we see the world so differently that it is pointless. I certainly will not confide in them I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Please help me ease my guilt and put this right before God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeauJangles Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 44 Topic Count: 229 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 10,900 Content Per Day: 2.93 Reputation: 12,145 Days Won: 68 Joined: 02/13/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 08/14/1954 Share Posted March 7, 2019 1 hour ago, Melinda12 said: Just because your actual siblings are your blood must you keep in touch? I have nothing in common with my brothers. After years of forcing myself to endure their company due often to pressure from our mother, i have realised i am wasting time, energy and money on people who are toxic towards me. I am civilised to them, polite. But we see the world so differently that it is pointless. I certainly will not confide in them I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Please help me ease my guilt and put this right before God. Hi Melinda, No, the Word of God does not say that you must be close to your relatives. This specifically being these brothers of yours, as is in the post submitted. In fact, our Saviour as stated in the Gospels, was adamant that He was be first in those who followed Him. Since you are civilized and polite, this should be more than adequate. Don't let the guilt be cause for condemnation. This is not from the Lord. Try and be at peace with them, as best you can. God bless! Shalom, David/BeauJangles 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blood Bought 1953 Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 13 Topic Count: 48 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 6,726 Content Per Day: 2.89 Reputation: 6,258 Days Won: 5 Joined: 12/03/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 (edited) Matt 12:47. Your Mother and brothers are outside ,wanting to speak to you.Then pointing his hand at his disciples,he said,here are my mother and my brothers.Whoever does the will of my Father is my brother, sister , and mothers. Edited March 7, 2019 by Blood Bought 1953 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,990 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,688 Content Per Day: 11.83 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 7 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Just because your actual siblings are your blood must you keep in touch? I have nothing in common with my brothers. After years of forcing myself to endure their company due often to pressure from our mother, i have realised i am wasting time, energy and money on people who are toxic towards me. I am civilised to them, polite. But we see the world so differently that it is pointless. I certainly will not confide in them I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Please help me ease my guilt and put this right before God. No, just because they are your siblings you do not have to have a relationship with them. We should not keep company with toxic people but perhaps you could pray for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzephanyahu Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 69 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,625 Content Per Day: 0.79 Reputation: 2,033 Days Won: 1 Joined: 09/10/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 12 hours ago, Melinda12 said: I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Shalom Melinda, This issue is close to my heart as I have an older sister who I have a poor relationship with. She's also an atheist and also close-minded. But be at peace! As far as I am aware, honouring your father and mother are the only mandatory family relationships to maintain (if possible). Conversely, the Bible does contain stories where siblings do not get on - Jacob & Esau, David & Brothers, David's sons, Jesus & His brothers and sisters. This is not to say we shouldn't make an effort and we shouldn't be the ones to try a build a bridge of peace. However, if the sibling is not willing and sees our Christian life as hypocritical, or based on fairytales, it's better to not fight or contest with them. It's better to let your life be an example and the Father will bless you before them. Just remember to not rub your new life in their face or hit them with scriptures for "No prophet is accepted in his home town". It is sad this happens (all to regularly), but just keep your hand open - in case one day they reach for it. Here's a verse for encouragement sister - Matthew 12:46-50: While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” One final verse for your encouragement! Matthew 19:29: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. So, be at peace sister (for you are my sister!). Don't burden yourself with this guilt which is unnecessary and out of your control. If anything, burden yourself with praying for them regularly. Love & Shalom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 0 Topic Count: 904 Topics Per Day: 0.19 Content Count: 9,642 Content Per Day: 2.03 Reputation: 5,830 Days Won: 9 Joined: 04/07/2011 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 27 minutes ago, Tzephanyahu said: Shalom Melinda, This issue is close to my heart as I have an older sister who I have a poor relationship with. She's also an atheist and also close-minded. But be at peace! As far as I am aware, honouring your father and mother are the only mandatory family relationships to maintain (if possible). Conversely, the Bible does contain stories where siblings do not get on - Jacob & Esau, David & Brothers, David's sons, Jesus & His brothers and sisters. This is not to say we shouldn't make an effort and we shouldn't be the ones to try a build a bridge of peace. However, if the sibling is not willing and sees our Christian life as hypocritical, or based on fairytales, it's better to not fight or contest with them. It's better to let your life be an example and the Father will bless you before them. Just remember to not rub your new life in their face or hit them with scriptures for "No prophet is accepted in his home town". It is sad this happens (all to regularly), but just keep your hand open - in case one day they reach for it. Here's a verse for encouragement sister - Matthew 12:46-50: While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” One final verse for your encouragement! Matthew 19:29: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. So, be at peace sister (for you are my sister!). Don't burden yourself with this guilt which is unnecessary and out of your control. If anything, burden yourself with praying for them regularly. Love & Shalom well said! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enoob57 Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 35 Topic Count: 99 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 41,065 Content Per Day: 7.97 Reputation: 21,395 Days Won: 76 Joined: 03/13/2010 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/27/1957 Share Posted March 7, 2019 15 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Just because your actual siblings are your blood must you keep in touch? I have nothing in common with my brothers. After years of forcing myself to endure their company due often to pressure from our mother, i have realised i am wasting time, energy and money on people who are toxic towards me. I am civilised to them, polite. But we see the world so differently that it is pointless. I certainly will not confide in them I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Please help me ease my guilt and put this right before God. Luke 8:21 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. KJV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 Oh how i love it when fellow christians call me Sister! We have a massive family as christians. How can we lack or be lonely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billiards Ball Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,502 Content Per Day: 0.66 Reputation: 662 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/05/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 16 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Just because your actual siblings are your blood must you keep in touch? I have nothing in common with my brothers. After years of forcing myself to endure their company due often to pressure from our mother, i have realised i am wasting time, energy and money on people who are toxic towards me. I am civilised to them, polite. But we see the world so differently that it is pointless. I certainly will not confide in them I feel guilty. They are atheists. I am Christian. They think i am nuts! Huge difference and i find it irritating. Does the Bible say anywhere that we must be close to our own relatives? Please help me ease my guilt and put this right before God. It's simple--a LOT of Christians get "stuck" witnessing (lifestyle, sharing the gospel) to a small subset of hardcore unbelievers. I will share a story, see if it makes sense to your situation? So, I'm counseling a small group of college young people, and for the 16th week in a row, when we discuss witnessing, so-and-so says, "I'm AGAIN this week inviting my roommate to church, but they never show up." I think, "Hmmm, there are thousands of other students here, many of them, open to Jesus. Forget the roommate THIS WEEK." Get it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still Alive Posted March 7, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 13 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,024 Content Per Day: 1.34 Reputation: 1,224 Days Won: 3 Joined: 02/05/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted March 7, 2019 Looks like we have a pretty clear consensus here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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