There are times when i want to go to a service or a christian event and the pull is huge. Loving Christian friends or new people to meet and share our faith.

My wife is a non believer and we have 5 sons. Sometimes i really have to remind myself that a big part of my faith, is how i interact with my family. Is that extra evening service really important? Is that social at another church crucial?

I have friends in various churches who show me a side of myself. Their faith is almost measured by how many friends they can prove they have, in how many churches. Also how many services they go to a week.

Now there is a difference, between quietly attending a service daily and doing it for your relationship with our Lord. Fellowshipping daily with a few close friends. And attending a service and rushing to tell as many people as loudly as possible.

If like me, you, especially over christmas, get invited or see extra services - please consider the balance between your immediatly family and friends v your personal need for excitement. If you are attending regularly and have a good relationship with our Lord Jesus - perhaps this time you should use that time to see your own children/ wife through new eyes.

We all want to serve our Lord, respond to the Love we have recieved freely. An excellently respond might be to share God's love with our own family. SofTy.

Good post, SofTy.

Its too bad you can't take your son's with you...even if your wife doesn't want to go. I have never encountered Christians that talked about having alot of friends in alot of different churches...but then in my town if you attend any church, with them interacting with each other so much, its hard to not know people from other churches...lol. I can see someone out in public and know they attend some church...(our town is small in that way). So it means nothing to know alot of 'church people' here.

Anyway I am sorry this is difficult for you...but it is a helpful way at looking at things for those living with nonbelievers. :)


God bless

Moonglow - sadly i know of at least 4 men (who i can think of immediatly without trying) who have put their faith before family. They are seperated from their wives and children. All still very active in different local churches.

Their wives are also Christians and church goers. This is definitely NOT, a believer with unbelieving partner topic!

Too many people, me included, feel the pull of christian/ church events and it is in some cases causing friction and in the worst cases - but regularly causing marriage break down.

It is never too late. But sadly these people are continuing to 'work' for Jesus in a way that i believe he doesn't want them too. You can't seperate from your family, because you never spend any time with them because you are always out at the church - then just continue working 7 days a week at the church and say the church comes first.

This is a very serious issue. It's a bad witness. SofTy.

I'm in a similar situation.

I'm the only one in my family that knows Christ. In the past year He has begun to soften them, but I have a priority to be here. At times I feel the desire to be more active, but instead I choose to stay with my family. God's used it, just tonight when I told my dad that I took off from work so that I can go to my little sister's concert, his eyes lit up. The only thing that will save them is God's love. God wants to use US to show it to them... how cool is THAT?!