How do I handle a mean and sinful parent?
Question:
Hello Mr. Hamilton,
I just wanted to ask you something. I know God doesn’t like ugly. I believe what goes around comes around. I have had people try to do things to hurt me, not physically but in other ways. I can't do anything but pray the God to protect me from them at all times. I’ve seen people do things intentionally to hurt people but God made sure the “suspect” got hurt even worse by allowing bad things to hurt them for hurting others.
I’m the only Christian in my household, but I have to distance myself from one particular person who is very revengeful and tries to hurt people intentionally. What advice can you give me because this is the person that pays for my college education and I have to honor my parents? I can’t talk to this person because they are can be very angry a times, use very explicit profane language, drinks to the point where they are talking “reckless”, takes their anger out on me and another loved one. The only thing I do is pray for this person that God opens their heart and mind to let them know they are wrong for the way they have treated themselves and others and their body. This person is also going through a family crisis on their side of the family. This person claims he wants to go to Heaven but the way he lives his life tells people otherwise.
Please give me all the advice you can to help me. Thanks.
Answer:
"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17-21).
"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (II Timothy 2:23-26).
Response:
Thank you so much for these very two scriptures. I will live by these two verses regarding this situation.
