Question about Scripture.

[Gianna_MarieJMJ]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

 

[zarthan]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

Eph. 6:1 “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right”.
This friend needs to honestly ask himself in what way his parents are not in obedience to the Lord. If their anti-Catholicism is hateful, then that is not in the Lord, and he has the liberty to reject their anti-Catholicism.

Secondly, your friend will soon be, or is an adult, at which time he can choose the faith he is led to pursue (unless he chooses to live with his parents). In the book of Numbers 1:1-3 adult age was considered to be 20.

More importantly, if you are a female, the type of friendship you have with him should not be a stumbling block to anyone.

May God’s grace keep you in His truth.

 

[Totterman]

Jesus,our Lords peace be with You.
To me the Bible is the Book of ansvers,but this time I think the ansver is not in the Bible. Why? Because Your friends father knows the Bible and He will always find another quote against what ever You use. (And I know the Bible,believe me.) No,it is time for a face to face talk,and not about faith but about life. I can’t see them ever be as we hope,and sadly theese things happens. But to try to save as much as there is,a talk is needed,whit a few rules,no talk about religion,God,or the Catholic Church. Old time diplomacy is what is needed here. What is needed to be said I can’t know,but a neutral ground,a prayer and Gods good will is what they need. A argue never works,(2 Tim.2:14 and 23) it wont do no good,and one very hard thing,defend what is importen to You,but do it in a way that You don’t make the counter-part feels that he is beeing humiliated.

 

[Bookcat]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

We are to obey God over men…in Acts and if anyone comes to me without hating his Father…etc he can not be my disciple…Luke 14:26

This is a rabbi/sementic way of teaching…of course Jesus does not mean one is to “hate” ones parents…it is a way of speaking …to make a point…like if ones eye causes one to sin…pluck it out

Jesus is saying…one must prefer Jesus and what he teaches to ones parents and their teaching…one must follow Jesus …not ones parents…

This must though be explained though! bent…for they may take it the wrong way…especially if they think the Church is a “cult”…

and used with great reverence with ones parents…great love…

We must follow Jesus…and this includes loving our parents…but only in the right way…

 

[po18guy]

Your friend’s dad is twisting the bible to maintain control over his son - exhibiting cult-like behavior while he accuses the Catholic Church of doing the same! Consider: cults often engage in shunning to maintain their membership. There is a certain Utah-based faith group that would lose many of its members if they did not, in effect, threaten them with the loss of family and friends.

Here are a couple of quotes that your friend can use (but I doubt that dad will be swayed):

Matthew 19:27-29/Mark 10:28-30 Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life”. (Mark includes: "who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life).

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it”.

Your friend is on a search for the truth. God smiles upon those who do not count the cost when they choose to follow Jesus. But, the persecution will begin at home - in his very family. Following Christ brings an eternal reward, but carries a price in this world.

Christ’s peace be with both of you.

 

[javasumatra]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

The bible quote being used must be put into context.

Lets say that his father asked him to commit a murder, or rob a bank. would he be bound by his fathers instruction?

No.

Further, he is an adult now and on his own. He must honor his Parents, but isn’t bound to comply with anything they ask simply because he is their son.

He is bound first and foremost to obedience to God. If his conscience is leading him to God through the catholic faith, he is bound to that.

As for scripture, there is not one explicitly refuting this passage because this passage was given with the assumption the father and mother are raising their child the way God wanted them raised.

The best scriptural resources for him to deal with this is likely

Luke
26. "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

Not that he is to actually hate, but that he must recognize his call to following Christ as he feels Christ is calling him takes precedence over his fathers feelings about how he should follow Christ.

That said, he is also bound to inform his conscience correctly. So he needs to continue to learn the faith, learn about God, so he knows what he is believing and why. This may open up opportunities for Him to evangelize his own parents.

btw, I went through something similar, as did my wife.

good luck

 

[Apollos]

**“And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram.” (Matthew 1:7-8). **Bad father, bad son. Bad father, good son. Good father, good son. Good father, bad son. Now tell me, Dad, what pair are we?

 

[JRKH]

I tend to a gree with Totterman that quoting bible verses isn’t the answer, though I don’t think it should be ignored either. Showing your friend, and he his father, that there are bible verses that “undercut” those that the father is using, give your friend reassurance, and also plants seeds in the father (though the ground is very stoney).

I would wager that the father in this case believe that we should, “…call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Mt 23:9). He probably uses this as one of his arguments against The Church (Catholics call priests “father”).
If this is the case, then the Proverb that is being quoted, would not apply to his “earthly father” but to his, “Father, which is in heaven”. So your friend IS complying with the quote from Proverbs…

Overall, the best thing is to be gentle but firm, Christlike in huumility, prayerful, and to present the most Christian life possible to the parents.

Peace
James

 

[DPMartin]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

Tell your 18 yr old friend to forgive his dad in his heart and ask the Lord to have Mercy on his dad. This would be acceptable before the Lord. No matter who is in the right, or who is in the wrong. For it is wise to leave the judgement thereof to the Lord God, the Lord knows the hearts of men. Therefore your friend will have Peace with God on the matter and good will toward his dad.

 

[diggerdomer]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

Thank you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

Matthew 10:37 ff.

 

[RichP]

Hello!

My 18 year old friends parents are Anti Catholic and thinks that Catholicism is a cult and we believe in false doctrines and are going to hell. He no longer lives in home because of this but has been communicating with his dad through email this past year that he has not lived at home. The father keeps saying that he is dishonoring his parents because he is ‘divinly appointed’ as his father. He keeps using Proverbs 1:8 ’ Hear, my son, your fathers instruction… and forsake not your mothers teaching…’
What does my friend say to this? What bible passage can he use that could show that sometimes parents teachings aren’t always right?

The roles and responsibilities of children and parents are discussed throughout the Bible. The most prominent example of this is the 4th commandment. Also, parents are the primary teachers of their children. But there is nothing in the Bible that says that parents are the *only *teachers or that they are infallible as teachers…

It is never wise to sling around Bible verses or use them as weapons. However, he might *suggest *with love and respect Eph 6:4:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

(Eph 6:4 NAB-A)