How do we treat an adult child living in our house who stole from us?

Question: When an adult child of ours, living in our house steals, and we confront them, how do we treat them at the time of the confrontation and afterward whether they are in the house or decide to leave? What should the appropriate treatment of that child be? Answer: When an adult steals, you call…

Read More

Is it wrong for a child to correct his parents?

Question: Hi. Your website has been very helpful and I hope that you keep it up. Thank you for putting all the time into it as well. I am a 16-year-old male (I am saying this so you understand how I am thinking) and of late I have been taking Christianity much more seriously. As…

Read More

Is disobeying my parents a sin?

Question: Is disobeying my parents a sin? What if I did something that’s not sinful (like daydreaming or not concentrating on school), but they told me not to do it. If I disobeyed them, did I sin? Answer: The commands are: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father…

Read More

I want to be baptized but my dad won’t let me

Question: In Spanish class, we had a test. This guy asked me for the answers; he is an upperclassman. I knew it was a sin, and I didn’t want to do it, but I did anyway. I feel stupid and hate this blasphemous sin I have committed. Only now did I realize I could have…

Read More

How do you honor a bipolar mother and an autistic brother?

Question: I’m trying to follow the whole honor thy mother and father thing. My father is not around and my mom is hard to deal with. She and I argue sometimes, but she is also skitzo and bipolar. She seems like she’s a normal person, but she told me I have no idea what she…

Read More

I want to be baptized, but my parents don’t think it is necessary

Question: I lost a lot of my faith recently due to the fact that I realized baby baptism doesn’t count and nothing that I did concerning God counted. I can’t even be baptized again yet because my parents don’t think it’s necessary after infant baptism, so I don’t know what to do. I could have…

Read More

How can I get my mother to turn away from her sin?

Question: Hello, Your knowledge and answers to my questions have helped me so much. I can’t thank you enough, but I have another one to ask. My mother has been married and divorced five times, and I know most of them are not because of adultery. She is currently with a man who is still…

Read More

Your Parents Can’t Make You Go to Heaven!

by Ted J. Clarke One of the greatest miseries of being a child is being made to do things that a child does not want to do. Eating vegetables, brushing teeth, taking a bath, cleaning one’s room, going to Aunt June’s, going to school, attending worship and Bible study — these all rate high on…

Read More

I want to marry my girlfriend, but her mother objects. What am I to do?

Question: My question is simple. My girlfriend and I are fighting some because of her family. We have been together for seven years already. We just become Christians a few months ago. We were growing together so much, but her mother keeps telling her that she hates me, and she doesn’t want me. I told…

Read More

Do I have to give my father a proper burial?

Question: Where does it say “honoring your father” means even to go as far as giving him a proper burial when he dies? Answer: “Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who…

Read More

Do adults need to honor their parents by obeying them?

Question: I read your take on the commandment Honor thy father and thy mother and noticed that you used the word “child” and “children” quite a few times. So is your interpretation to obey isolated to children who have not reached independent legal adulthood or does it imply that even the adults have to obey? Let me…

Read More

Do I have to live with my parents until I get married?

Question: I am currently going to college, and I live with my parents. One day I will graduate, and I will be able to support myself. I would also like to move out of my parents’ house, but my mom told me that as long as I am not married, that I have to live…

Read More

I don’t understand my mother, and it makes me mad. What do I do?

Question: Hello, First off, I want to say I love your site and appreciate your clear-mindedness, which is why I’m writing. I’m very frustrated about a personal matter in my life and I don’t know how to feel about it. I always try to be patient and reasonable, but lately, it’s gotten the best of…

Read More

How much control does a father have?

Question: Hello, I’d first like to thank you for this site. The question-and-answer format is really very good, being able to see the application of biblical principles in terms of case-studies, so to speak. I have enjoyed reading many of them! My question is kind of two-fold in nature, touching on both the topics of…

Read More

Is it a sin to call Child Protective Services on your dad?

Question: Is it a sin to call Child Protective Services on your dad? I had like one beer and got caught by my brother who’s a snitch. He took me home and my dad got mad and slapped me, but it wasn’t as if I was drunk. He didn’t have to hit me. Would it…

Read More

Should I stop talking to my mother?

Question: Greetings to you, I have been struggling with something for years. A bond between me and my parents that I really don’t wish on anybody. My parents have been divorced for almost 40 years. I used to adore my dad and hate my mom for things that she has done – like kissing other…

Read More

How do you handle a violent father?

Question: I am really disturbed. My dad who has been very violent since my mum joined him in a foreign country. He was broke and moved to this new country for business. Several years down the line, my mum came and joined him, but he has become proud and arrogant. Worse still there are rumors…

Read More

My parents reject religion. How can I become a Christian?

Question: My family wants to stay away from religion, but I want to go toward it. I want to embrace God’s love. I would go to church, but I am too young to drive or walk there. I have asked my parents to go to church, but they said “no.” So I have been secretly…

Read More

How do you deal with an easily angered father?

Question: How should a Christian deal with a person who is easily angered? Well, let me rephrase that — how can a Christian deal with a very easily angered father, who is always speaking negatively about people, things, and me? Answer: I’m not certain how old you are, so let me cover a few points.…

Read More

Why don’t my parents treat me as an adult?

Question: I am planning to drive to a large city for a big lectureship at a congregation there. I have never driven in a large city. I am in my early twenties and still live in my parents’ house because I don’t have the money to rent an apartment. I am a recent college graduate.…

Read More

How do I honor abusive, ungodly parents?

Question: Our parents are abusive, ungodly people. I have forgiven them and continue to ask God to help me. My sister says I have to honor them by doing what they want because they are old. She chooses to subject herself to their verbal abuse. I struggle to do as God would want. I do…

Read More

How to Teach Your Father or Mother the Truth

Adapted from an article by Edward Good via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 29, July 19, 2009. What a difficult thing it can be to teach your father and mother the truth of the gospel! There are so many Christians whose heart’s desire and prayer to God is for their father and mother. They either…

Read More

How do I relate with my mother who was withdrawn from years ago?

Question: My mom was withdrawn from about 30 years ago when I was around 5 years old. She was withdrawn from because she got remarried after an unscriptural divorce. I am a faithful member of the church and I have two young children. What kind of relationship should I or can I have with her?…

Read More