Help i am frustrated!

[MissBrattified]

This is a hard one, but I tend to lean Scotty's way. We are to obey our parents, our elders, women obey their husbands, the laws of the land, honor the king, etc., but then there's a scripture that says its better to obey God than man. (Acts 5:29) I know when it comes to my submission to my husband, the line is drawn should he ever ask me to go against God on any matter.

I hesitate to advise anyone to go against their parents. But I do recall a few instances in the Bible where children went against their parents for the sake of righteousness.

Even if teen gets baptized in spite of his parents' wishes, he doesn't have to be defiant or disrespectful to his parents regarding the matter. There are times when it is permissible, and even appropriate to disobey your parents. IMO, this is one of them, because salvation is a personal experience between the convert and God, not parent-led redemption.

Would some of you suggest that teen obey his parents if they forbade him to pray? Or if they told him not to speak of God in their home? Or tried to make him throw away his Bible?

I would be interested to know the pastor's opinion.

[mizpeh]

Obedience to God trumps obedience to your parents. Baptism is a command of the Lord for all believers. But your attitude toward your parents should be one of respect and not defiance.

If I was in your place, by the grace of God, I would prayerfully tell my parents that I was going to be baptized and why. I would also ask them to be there because it would mean a lot for me to have them there. I would let them know how much I love them but that I love God more.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Obedience to God trumps obedience to your parents. Baptism is a command of the Lord for all believers. But your attitude toward your parents should be one of respect and not defiance.

If I was in your place, by the grace of God, I would prayerfully tell my parents that I was going to be baptized and why. I would also ask them to be there because it would mean a lot for me to have them there. I would let them know how much I love them but that I love God more.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by teen

Many of the members have began to tell me that if I really loved the Lord I would find a away to get baptized no matter what. Some have even began to make feel so unworthy and unwelcome in the church that I have faithfully gone to for so long. I don't know if I should leave this church and go to another Apostolic church because they have really made me feel like God doesn't love me because i have yet to be baptized.

If anyone has made you feel this way, I'm sorry. Hopefully, you're misinterpreting what they've said, because I doubt if they really believe you are unworthy or unwelcome!!!

However, there is a time when maturity must kick in, and a child's relationship with God becomes autonomous from the parental umbrella. When you become aware of right and wrong, and you understand what God wants from you, in my opinion, it is at that point you are responsible to act upon what you know is right, regardless of who agrees.

A mature Christian is able to differentiate between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, and decide which ones are priority, and which ones aren't. I do not believe that any of the scriptures in the Bible advocate blind obedience, even to parents. For instance, would you obey your parents if they told you to steal something? No, of course not. You would choose to obey God's laws instead--right?

If your parents are in error about something, and instruct you in a way that would cause you to violate God's commandments, you are within your rights to respectfully choose otherwise.

Look at Daniel and the three Hebrew children...did they bow to the king? Does the Bible teach we should honor our authorities? Yes! But because the king was asking them to bow to a false God, they obeyed God instead. However, did they ever show disrespect to the King? Not that I recall. And their obedience to God brought forth a miraculous event!

Getting baptized doesn't mean you are going to become a disobedient or disrespectful child. It means you are going to continue to be respectful and obedient, in all matters, except in matters of your walk with God. There are only two people in that relationship. You and God. Not every child is blessed with parents who can assist them in their walk with God. If you are not, you must continue to love your parents, but prefer God's opinion above theirs on more important issues.

[Sherri]

Can the church be liable in a lawsuit over this? We try not to baptize anyone under 18 without their parents' consent (verbal, at least). I can just see some angry parent trying to sue a church over something like this.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Can the church be liable in a lawsuit over this? We try not to baptize anyone under 18 without their parents' consent (verbal, at least). I can just see some angry parent trying to sue a church over something like this.

I thought of that, too, Sherri, but I think the "obey God rather than man" clause applies there, too. I fear I'm sounding overly radical here, but were the apostles afraid of what the government had to say? In regard to evangelism, baptism, etc.?

As I mentioned above, would you say the same if his parents were forbidding him to pray? If they sued the church for brainwashing their child into thinking he needed to talk to an invisible deity?

[Sinatra]

Miss Brattified,

You pointed out something I am curious to know also, concerning the Pastor's opinion.

Teen, have you discussed this with your Pastor, or maybe even your Youth Pastor? If so, what advice have they given you?

You also mentioned you fear repercussions if you disobey your parents. Can you elaborate? Is it worry that they won't let you continue attending church, or is it something more?


Sinatra

[Sister Alvear]

I think you should talk to the pastor. Do your parents espect the pastor?

My sisters hate our type churches because they were hurt many years ago however they often mention their espect fo pastor so and so...as time passes we learn to seprate hurt and the church...we may have been hurt by someone but usually not everyone in the church...I know there are some pretty sick things where people have been deeply hurt however maybe you or someone that your folks respect can talk to them.

Maybe you could write a letter to her....

[Sinatra]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I think you should talk to the pastor. Do your parents espect the pastor?

My sisters hate our type churches because they were hurt many years ago however they often mention their espect fo pastor so and so...as time passes we learn to seprate hurt and the church...we may have been hurt by someone but usually not everyone in the church...I know there are some pretty sick things where people have been deeply hurt however maybe you or someone that your folks respect can talk to them.

Maybe you could write a letter to her....

I agree, Sister Alvear, Teen really should discuss the situation with his/her Pastor, if Teen hasn't already done so. The Pastor probably knows this family(didn't you mention your Grandmother used to attend or does attend), so is possibly the best person to "council or advise".

Sinatra

[Falla39]

We see Jesus as a babe and then we get a glimpse of him at twelve. After being lost
from his parents, and being found in the temple, he went with Mary and Joseph and submit-
ted to them. He had suggested that he had to be about his Father's business, yet he submit-
ted and went home with them. And he grew in wisdom and in stature.

Now Jesus told his disciples that he did only the things his Father (Spirit) told him to do.
And that he only said the things his Father told him to say.

It is my opinion that his FATHER told him (a twelve yr old boy) to submit to his earthly
parents.

God gave children parents because they needed them. The elder teach the younger.
I believe there is an order in God's creation.

Falla39