How can I help my dad grow closer to God?
My dad believes in God but hated church, he hates religion and thinks that when he dies no one will know what really happens. He does not believe that Jesus will return in his lifetime. He is 75. He never reads his Bible and refuses to read it at all. He hates going to church and always swears.
Clarify
•
Share
•
Report
•
Asked February 11 2014
•
Brian Loehr
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
JD Abshire
Brian, James 2:19 states:"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Is your dad truly born again, saved, born from above? If not, there is no way for an unsaved to grow closer to God. Closeness first requires that an individual knows God and is known of God. So often today we hear about the mercy, love and longsuffering of God, etc. Yes, these are all wonderful attributes of our great God and Savior but........ there is a flip side. He is a righteous, just and holy God who will execute judgment on the unsaved. All are guilty before God Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. Salvation cannot be earned. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Christ has provided the only way. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved“. What is Required of us? Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“.
Emo Tenorio
I humbly submit, that from what is stated it appears your loved one is holding unforgiven anger toward something that is known only to them from the past. If you can get them to talk about their life in general, maybe through a genealogy project for example, a door might be opened for some insight? This deep seated anger appears to be directed at God for some past failure or injustice and has become a stronghold in their own mind. Was it the untimely death of a loved one, or some family misfortune, possibly some sort of abuse from within a trusted religious sphere? Thread very lightly in love with much prayer, to help them release and let go of the anger that has held them captive for so very long, and be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 In the Lord's freedom and reconciliation..............warrior on
Jay Saunders
The Devil beleives in God too. That will not save him from damnation. This is what I know to be true if you ask for your father's salvation from God the Father in Jesus name and beleive. God will give your Father an oppertunity to be saved. But he must ask to recieve it. Sometimes God will allow Satan to distroy a person's body to save that person's soul. God's mercies are renewed every day. But he will not force himself on anyone, he has given us free will. All you can do is pray that you or someone will be given an opportunity to lead him to salvation. Only God saves but we can petition him for your Father's salvation and you can rest assured that he will receive an opportunity to be saved. At 75 years of age, I am sure he probably has had opportunities. But to be sure pray and believe God. God is merciful and desires to give his children the desires of their heart. Make it your heart's desire, watch and pray.
Frederick Thomas
My dear friend I know your concerns for your father Here is a promise in God’s word for you to hold on Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and THOU SHALT BE SAVED, AND THY HOUSE. Act 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. Act 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to THIS HOUSE, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. to this house--The house is no longer polluted; it is now fit to receive Me. But salvation to a house is an exceedingly precious idea, expressing the new air (which is you) that would henceforth breathe in it, and the new impulses from the saved one which would reach the rest of its members. It may be implied here that the faith of a father or any member may be expected to be the means of the salvation of his family this day is salvation come to this house: to the master of it, and it may be to others in it; the Arabic version reads, "to the inhabitants of this house 1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (He is sanctified but he will still behave ungodly until one day his eyes will open and he’ll be saved because she will win him over by her behavior) 1Co 7:14 - sanctified--Those inseparably connected with the people of God are hallowed thereby, so that the latter may retain the connection without impairing their own sanctity (compare 1Ti_4:5) because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God. Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. if it seem evil unto you But know this, if you should all be so base and brutish, as to prefer senseless and impotent idols, before the true and living God, it is my firm purpose, that I will, and my children, and servants (AS FAR AS I CAN INFLUENCE THEM) shall be constant and faithful to the Lord. And that they resolve to serve God. Have faith to the end trusting Gods promised that salvation has come to your house because you are a child of father Abraham (faith) So do you believe and confess against all odds, as for me and my house we will serve the lord At his age I think he needs a lot of your support. As a father myself I crave for my son just to socialize with me, to speak to me to do things for me anything just to bond. God showed me that is how He longs for me to spend time speaking to Him. Now when I get to my dad I spend time with him because I know how it feels to be in need of your children’s love. I spoil him and do things for him and I know one day he is going to serve God.
Danny Hickman
Supporter
Have you ever tried to help anyone else grow closer to God? If so, the fact that this time it's your dad doesn't change anything. Here's a very similar Bible account of one family member introducing another to Jesus. It's the story of how Peter, arguably Jesus' closest friend while he was here, met Jesus. One of the two who had heard John speak (John was preaching about Jesus) and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own (don't miss the word 'own') brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter). John 1:40-42 This is packed with theology pertinent to your concern for what to do when you have met and believed in the Christ, and you have family who don't yet know him. You take them to Jesus who will do the rest. Since Jesus isn't here physically, it has to be done the only way we have in which to communicate with the Lord, it has to be done prayerfully (in prayer). I like the way Jesus took charge. He didn't wait to be formally introduced to Peter, he let it be known that he already knew who he was, and that he had already planned on how he was going to use him. He even had a name he would call Simon that would describe his ministry as a preacher of the gospel of the Christ. (It would be the foundation of the Church that Jesus would build. The preaching of the gospel). I read your complaint; I hope you know that's what you lodged. A complaint. Your dad has had the gospel of the Christ preached to him. He is acquainted with the Church. He doesn't care for the Church or its inhabitants. He is as normal as a 98.6 body temperature. (LOL) There are pastors who feel the same as he does about their own congregations. It's not that hard to develop hard feelings for stiff-necked people. There are plenty of stiff-necked people in many congregations. There's no remedy for that. Long story longer: you probably won't be able to convince a 75-year-old man to embrace a congregation of people. But that isn't a mandate for "getting closer to God." Corporate worship is a great way to draw closer to Jesus, but it ain't the only way. In fact, it might be one of the things that has your dad turned off to Jesus. The thought goes something like this: how can Jesus be worth getting close to and these are the people he calls his followers. (Not a good attitude, but very normal for "the world."(sorry, but that's what that is) What are you to do? You say he won't read the Bible. Well why would he? He sounds VERY normal! Bible study is great if it's your thing. If not, it's like pretending to like the Opera because you think it gives you status. But what are you to do? Many people with elderly loved ones who have similar resumes try to use 'Hell fire' to scare their parents into the arms of the Savior. That helps no one. (In my opinion, that whole thing only adds to the frustration of a person who questions God's love for them, but that is for another time). There has to be something you can do to comfort yourself concerning your dad. That's the real issue here. Andrew took Simon to Jesus to acquaint him with the Lord. That's all he could do. What if Peter had rejected Jesus? How would Andrew have felt? Probably the same as you do today. What more could he do to help Simon to embrace Jesus? Not much. He would then need to try to find his own comfort in the Lord. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Cor 1:3,4) Have you tried worship music? Many people respond to it with a spirit of praise for the Lord. Your dad sounds like he needs to be comforted. Comfort him with soft words about God's love for him.
Add your Answer
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
- Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
- Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
- Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
- Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
- For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible