Bible Discussion Thread

I have a sister who continually talks about how God is helping her and then she gets drunk, lies, does drugs, and many other bad things. I and my other sisters have tried to help her for years and she continues to lie to us and do bad things. Is it wrong of me to not want to help her anymore. The straw that broke me was when she was staying with my elderly mother. She appeared to have turned her life around and said she only wanted to help keep mother out of a nursing home. We all helped her but on the night my mother died, my sister picked up a drinking buddy and was partying and Mom died alone. My Sister then admitted she had been hiding her alcohol and drinking the whole time. My Mother left her the house for staying with her for seven months. I feel terrible because I don't want anything to do with her anymore. Is there scripture that can help me?

Melanie I am so sorry , you asked for some scriptures to help you in your situation and I didn't give you any . Here are some that might or might not help you , Matthew 5 : 38-48 , Matthew 6 : 19-21 and Luke 6 : 27-38 . May God bless you and all your family .

Dear Melanie,

I have family members that are very difficult to interact with. /this has been going all of my adult life, and I am 65. These sisters grew up hearing and gaining knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had many upon many opportunities to believe in Him and trust Him for their salvation. They each have chosen different beliefs than those Jesus taught in His life and Word. They are involved in pagan idolatrous practices and lifestyles that are called very sinful by God's Word. They are not only unrepentant, but explicitly have said to me that I (and others in our family who are Christians) they expect us to not only tolerate their beliefs but to accept them. I cannot do that. With the recent passing of my Mom, all this ugliness reared its head again. But we got through it and now can decide how we will be in our future interactions with one another. Our Mom was the reason we would all get together (all 10 of us kids). Now that she is gone to be with the Lord, we probably will not meet as a whole family much anymore. But if there is a whole family happening, I will go. There is always an opportunity to be kind, loving, and a witness in these situation. However, I and the few other siblings that love the Lord and get along have pretty much decided that we will not pursue interactions with these sisters in the future. We will not try to make the relationship better, nor accept invitations to get together with any of them in their homes or in a restaurant, etc. These thypes of interactions have been fruitless in the past. We are done. I do believe that there comes times in relationship s when we do need to shake the dust off of our feet with those who will not receive the message of Christ from us when we have presented Him over and over again in our words and deeds. When their usual response is hostile, eager to find something to create a grievance over, and other types of animosity, we just think that it is best to part ways. Hope this helps. Pray!

You don't have to have anything to do with anyone that you don't want to . We must always try very hard to forgive everyone but we don't have to have them in our lives if we don't want to . However , you cannot help your sister if you remove yourself from her . People with challenging behaviours can be very difficult to be around and you certainly need to protect yourself . I have one or two family members that I don't enjoy being around . I try very hard to be kind and loving to them because I believe that this is what God wants me to do and also , I feel slightly sorry for them and I know that they are way more vulnerable than they seem . Ultimately it is your choice , I do believe that God gives us certain people in our lives , the good ones and the not so good , for a reason . Maybe to help us grow as compassionate humans ? We must learn the lessons that God teaches us through our life experiences . Whatever you decide to do remember that you have to live with your choice and give account of yourself to God .

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