Family

Answer: You have already taken the biggest step by seeing the problem and wanting to stop! It is easy as a young person to see things differently from your parents and to talk back. Tackle the problem head on as you are starting to do. Admit to your mom and dad that you sometimes say things to them that show disrespect. Tell them you are sorry about this. Then ask for their help in overcoming this habit. Most parents will deeply appreciate their son or daughter's opening up like this, and it can be the start of an open and heartfelt conversation.

The next time you are tempted to say something disrespectful, take a "time-out" and don't speak your mind. Often as humans we try to justify ourselves and are quick to reply with an emotional response. Resist the temptation. Don't give in to your emotions. Accept your parents' advice and tell them you will sincerely take it to heart. Later on think about their advice and you may see the reasons for what they told you. Your parents are bound to see your self-control and respect you even more. All of this will cause a closer and warmer relationship to develop between you and your parents.

Answer: Families that attend church together enjoy a great blessing, provided they all attend for the right reasons. It is the parents' responsibility to teach their children about God and provide them with a spiritual diet that includes reading the Bible and discussing important life lessons. Worshipping God as a family is God's desire for all. However, God allows people to rebel and reject Him. Satan the devil, the god of this world (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4), our human nature and the pulls of flesh, all work against the truth of God.

Sometimes when a person is uninterested, distracted or even rebellious, attending church will not be very helpful. A person with a bad attitude might make it difficult for others who want to learn and grow. While it is a difficult and often very emotional situation, parents may need to allow older children to choose to reject attending church. To have harmony in the family, however, certain rules must be obeyed and parents are given the authority to enforce those rules in a household. These decisions need wisdom, and counsel is recommended.

If you have an older sibling who doesn't attend church and chooses a lifestyle that you are uncomfortable with, remember that you might be able, without a word, to win him or her over. Paul gave similar advice to wives whose husbands did not obey God's Word (1 Peter 3:1). Always treat others with respect and remember to love the sinner but hate the sin. (This is not to imply that sin is always involved.)

Because every individual must work out his or her own salvation, you will have to decide whether to accept or reject the teachings of the Bible, your parents and the church you attend. There are serious consequences to the decisions that you make in life. Please choose wisely.