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Original poster

If you're a Christian, how important is God/Church to you?

24 replies

theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:15

Is it more important than your family? Than your children?

I'm just curious. I can't understand how God can be the most important thing in your life if you have children.

TIA

OP posts:
FlameNFurter · 11/01/2008 22:17

Not Christian, but with my beliefs, there is deity in everything, so it is the most important thing because it runs through everything, including my children.

But that doesn't help you does it?

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:18

yes, i can understand that. but - say, hypothetically - you had something which both the Church and your child needed, which would take priority?

OP posts:
Waswondering · 11/01/2008 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

singledadofthree · 11/01/2008 22:21

will go out on a limb and say theyre all of equal importance - God is as much a part of my family as my kids - altho they take up far more time and money - and they moan and ask for more - and they help out less too...isnt all that equal anyway, hope you get the drift.

as for church - well, i get there when i can, but family comes first.

SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:22

bugger, I was going to bed.

Erm, it's intertwined, really.

God is more important to me than anything else on earth. However an essential part of God being the most important part of my life is that I also pour out my life in love of my children and husband.

So, if I said I loved God and abandoned my family, I'd be a big fat hypocrite, because part of loving God is loving the people He has given you care of.

FlameNFurter · 11/01/2008 22:23

I can't see how a god of any faith would want you to give something up that your child needs

Waswondering · 11/01/2008 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:25

ok - how about changing "god" for "Church".

say you had something that your child needed and the Church asked for it. would you give it to them?

and what about Abraham and Isaac anyway?

OP posts:
SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:27

Oh, and I can't imagine your hypothetical situation arising, UD, because it's kind of part and parcel of my church's teaching that I must take good care of my children.

singledadofthree · 11/01/2008 22:27

if any child needs something He wouldnt - depends how you determine 'need'. i should do everything i can for every child 'in need' - but i dont of course.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:28

Sue - how about when your kids are grown up? does it still apply then?

OP posts:
SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:28

Abraham and Issac is sort of a distinct case, because he had the actual voice of God speaking to him. Nobody on earth has that kind of authority now.

SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:29

UD, yes - but you're going to have to be more specific, really, because 'need' is such a broad term.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:29

and if it's part of God's teaching that you need to take care of your children, then why would he make Abraham put Isaac up for sacrifice? that's a bit messed up isn't it??

OP posts:
Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:29

Sue - will email you.

OP posts:
JingleyJen · 11/01/2008 22:31

If you are talking about God then my feeling about God then that is a vital part of my life and makes a difference to how I bring up my children.
However if you are talking about church - this is a man made interpretation of God's will therefore fallible. If the organisation asked me to do something that wasn't in the best interests of my children I would not do it.

SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:33

Apples and Oranges, really. On the one hand you've got a man God chose to make His big covenant or promise with, covering all of His people on earth, and he was put through a test. Pretty bloody hairy one, I grant you, but then read some of the prophets, they were told to do some odd things too.

On the other hand, you have the direct instruction of scripture in the New Testament letters that Christians are to responsible for their dependants.

So it's an example of an extra-ordinary event contrasted with simple day-to-day direct instruction for living. Bit different.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:34

Sue - have CAT you.

OP posts:
SueBaroo · 11/01/2008 22:34

OK UD, that's fine. I really need to get to my bed, actually.

LadyMuck · 11/01/2008 22:42

Well church doesn't equate to God in my view. And Abraham sacrificing Isaac is an unusual one, because Abraham already had the promise that through Isaac he would be the father to many nations. So it could be argued that Abraham knew that God would provide a way out, event though he didn't exactly know how.

"I can't understand how God can be the most important thing in your life if you have children."

Well firstly I believe that my children are a gift from God, and that they're not mine as such - they're his, but I have the task of raising them, which includes guiding them on a spiritual journey.

There is obviously a particular issue behind your question! I haven't had to think about your particular type of issue (which I'm assuming realtes to adult children), but my impression of biblical children is that once the children have grown-up then the parents responsibilty towards them is no greater than to any other young person. The offspring is an adult and is responsible for their own actions. However the responsibility of honour and respect goes the other way - the offspring is exhorted to continue to honour and respect their parents, and also to look after them in old age. Eg on the cross Jesus asked his disciple John to take care of his mother.

Does that help at all? Could obviously be barking up the wrong tree.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 11/01/2008 22:44

LadyMuck - yes that does help, thank you.

OP posts:
SueBaroo · 12/01/2008 02:11

UD, I'm out of bed again, and your message has only just come through the email! Just wanted you to know I'd got it, and I'll reply over the weekend

Yummers · 13/01/2008 13:28

Good question - i have been wondering this too - esp as there are points in the 4 gospels where jesus specifically says something along the lines of 'leave your family, take up the cross and follow me'.

Mum2Luke · 13/01/2008 23:47

I truly believe that God/ the church is very important when you are a Christian, you need the fellowship of others who believe in the same God to be able to grow spiritually.

I also believe children are given to us by God and that we as parents should guide them. I have 3 the eldest is 17,then a 14 yr old and 5 yr old. The two eldest choose not to attend church now that they are older, I pray everyday that they might come back, not for me but for themselves. The youngest comes, sometimes unwillingly but after the morning service I cannot get him out of the place!

Funnily enough we had a conversation tonight in our coffee lounge after the evening service about helping friends who are childless, I am not sure I could go through a 9 month pregnancy and give a baby over to even my sister or brother but have not been in that situation and most agreed that we could not agree to our husbands donating sperm, we thought that babies were a gift and if you were not able to carry a child then why not adopt or accept that you were barren? I know it sounds hard faced but sometimes we are dealt these cards. What do others think about this?

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