Other Christians asking about if your children are Christians

[elliejjtiny]

I've always noticed people at church talking about other Christians teen/adult children and whether they are Christians or not in a bit of a judgy way but now my dc are older someone has asked my MIL about my dc's faiths behind my back. Which my mil thinks is kind and thoughtful and I think is judgy. As it happens my dc are all Christian which I'm thankful for but absolutely don't judge anyone whose dc aren't, or even mention it unless they bring up the subject.

Is it more a, we used to see them at church regularly, but know life gets busy, how are the children/grandchildren now? Type of question? Rather than a, are they Christian? one?

Tbh you can't see into the asker's heart and so in a way, you are judging them for what may be merely simple interest? It's lovely to hear that somebody's offspring have given their lives to Jesus and if they haven't, it can assist 'prayer points'.

Thank you. It's difficult because some people at church talk about people's children who aren't Christians in a kind of hushed whisper and patronising tones like "Oh, Bob and Jean are such a nice couple, such a shame about their son, you know their daughters are both Christians but their son isn't, isn't it awful for them?"

I understand what you are saying, and if the comments are from a place of misplaced criticism, then that is on them. I would not give them headspace as any conviction of their hearts will come from the Lord. My prayer group pray for the ‘prodigals’ from a place of love and understanding for the parents or grandparents, and a place of love for prodigals who have strayed, or those who have walked away. I would like to hope that any Christian who is a parent would have compassion and understanding towards parents of prodigals. 🙏

I've never heard of non Christian children of Christian parents being called prodigals before, that's really lovely.

I find we get judged because our 11 year old who is autistic and will mostly draw or play games on his tablet during the service. I am so tired I will fall asleep as soon as I sit down so I bring my knitting for the sermon. So people say it's my fault he can't just sit there because I don't either.

So sad to read this. I would say to forgive and pray for the judgey people, and be strong in your own faith in the sure and certain knowledge that God knows. It is on them, not you! If knitting during the service helps you and if drawing and being on his tablet helps your autistic son, then keep knitting and drawing!

Once upon a time, they are with the Lord now, but there was one individual who used to fall asleep every Sunday ... their mouth would open and their top set of false teeth fall to the bottom. Church is full of beautifully unique human beings and the Lord loves every single one.