MK forum

Wondering if anyone else deals with parents that still ask questions about your "spiritual life." When I quick called mom from work today, she still managed to find out if i'd gone to church or not, and said that was what she was most worried about. I gently reminded her that she was welcome to just be a mother, that she didn't have to be a pastor to me, so she moved on to my daughter, does she have any Christian friends at work? Why do I feel violated? It makes me not even want to spend time with them . . .and of course my answers will be discussed and "prayed over" with my dad . . .ugh. 41 and feeling like 14. When do I get to evaluate them? It must be nice to be so above reproach, and to only have jobs where you go to church all the time and feel good about it . . .and then pray for those who aren't at your level.

Hah! I forgot about that phrase, "the center of God's will for your life.". What rubbish! Yeah, I remember hearing people say that . . . Mom must have given up on me on that one!

@tow mater; I believe this is the same uncle who said he would be praying for me and was very concerned about my anger towards my abuser. Imagine!!

There is little that infuriates me more than Pharisees. The superficial Christian that lives with no glimmer of humility and brokenness. That Christianity repels. Ugh! Too many “uncles” like that. Run! (I’d probably first confront their shallowness – then wipe off my feet and leave them in their mess.)

Yes, it does repel. What hurts though, is when I look back and see the Pharisee in me, the people that I've turned off with a righteous attitude . . .glad my husband stuck with me thru the years even when I treated him as "less spiritual" . . .grateful for the friends who shared their real lives with me, and confronted me when I was too other-worldly.

And the same uncle, Survivor, who told my brothers and sisters that it was God's will for them to come work at the kids camp he is starting. Interesting...don't you think God would make it clear to the person what HIS will was. It is this kind of thing that just infuriates me...as though he has some higher spiritual standing than others!

I guess it would be one thing if he were outraged at the abuse--as God is!!

arrogance masked as spirituality

My dad has continued to question us about going to church. My daughter and I were going to church and we would tell him that but I don't think he believed us. Even now it is not above him to question my hubby and I to make sure we are still going to church.

The uncle you all have such great affection for might benefit from the following book on God's will: http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Making-Will-God-Alternative/dp/1576737411

Cliff notes: God's will is not a dot, so there is no such thing as being "In the center of God's will." Within parameters of God's moral will, we are free to choose without worrying about being "off the dot."

It's kind of nice how biblical concepts are pro- freedom rather than pro-bondage.