New Christian w/ Catholic family mocking & avoiding. How can I reach them?

Q: I just found out that my family wants nothing to do with me - because I am a Christian. I called my auntie and I ask her why she isn't answering my calls and she said that "I don't have time for your Bible study". Ever since I became a Christian my family doesnt want to be around me and I am about to cry. My family claims to be Catholic but they stop going to church and they don't even like to hear about God. Ever since I became a Christian my family has been "avoiding me" & my mom doesn't even call me at all. My family is making fun of me saying that "I am not really a Christian because I am a lesbian" also saying that they "don't know if I am a lesbian or straight." I understand that being a lesbian and wanting to change my gender is a sin. I am not trying to be that way any more because I am trying to live for God. But my family holding my struggles against me. I know that I am not a perfect Christian, and I still have temptations... but I am trying to do better. I need godly counsel pls, and prayer. 

A: Praying, and remember God is in control. All things are possible both for your growth and their salvation. Have patience and trust God. 

If God has saved you then he has "transformed you into a new creation". We all start as babies in the faith, and stumble a bit as we grow. But we should love righteousness, hate sin, and pursue holiness, [& to be like Christ]. 

Those not saved (incl counterfiet Christian religions) will behave as those "in their sin nature" do, its all they can do, they dont know nor have God in their life. Regardless of what they call themselves or what religion they practice. Those who belong to God will be persecuted, mocked and mistreated by the unsaved. But God is with "us", and we follow Christ at all costs, so keep going. Scripture says there will be division and a sword even in ones family like what youre describing you are experiencing. Just shine the light if Christ in love, patience, forgiveness and grace towards them.

For your struggles with identity these can be a great help. Having a proper understanding of God & who He made you to be- is the key. This is a great resource.

As a new professing believers this will greatly help you as you start out and grow well into maturity as a believer.

 

Here's resources you can look through to help minister to your family trapped in the false religion if Catholicism. As you will see, Catholicism fails the "basic litmus test" of what God [thru Scripture] defined as to "what makes one a Christian". 

I wouldn't try to get them to go to Bible Studies unless its a course for seekers who desire to learn the basics of Christianity (that will include a very clear Gospel presentation). The unsaved have "no desire" to go to [a true Christian] church, as they are spiritually dead, thus they dont love their Creator God, nor Christ as he is not their Savior. They do not have spiritual life but only enmity towards God, (with many going as far as creating [or chasing a religion with] a false version of God and Jesus to suit their sins, and likewise creating a false alternate salvation/Gospel they prefer, that in truth...only ends in eternal damnation). This is why it is important for us to grasp the essentials of the Faith & the Gospel itself, so we can minister to the lost in our circle of influence. Yes live as a light reflecting Christ, but we have to also share the Gospel and answer questions. Most questions appear in the form of an objection, and that's why we use Apologetics [defense of the Faith] to answer those and get back to the Gospel. Theyll forever be in the "what abouts" and deflecting towards "others", to avoid "self" examination and accountability to God. This is why our focus is to be on presenting the Gospel. And its why Scripture shows us that until someone's saved, we dont add them to the church and disciple them. We go into the world to reach them with the Gospel truth. If God saves them, *then* we add them to the church, baptized, and disciple them. 

For now your mission/goal is to be the light in your family and among those you know, to properly articulate the Gospel [see NeedGod.com video], understand the Essentials to present them well; they go hand in hand with the Gospel presentation, and this can help with conversation starters to help you stay in control [swinging it back to the Gospel and avoiding the rabbit hole of endless apologetical questions/objections. Apologetics is in the realm of intellectual, the Gospel realm focuses on the heart/conscience. The Gospel is what has the power to save. So keep circling back to it. You can at some point in their attempts to svoid accountability to God with endless questions just say "that's a good question, let's circle back to it later, but..." and get back to where you were in sharing the Gospel. Truth is, believers have endless questions too; but are genuinely seeking answers as it's to learn. The unsaved use them sinfully to deflect and shield. So go around that shield and get to their heart. So they can look in the mirror of the Law and see the Gospel truth (and their urgent need to embrace it). 

Here are resources for answering a couple of their questions while also helping you with the (above) icebreaker to get to the heart of the matter swiftly. As, until theyre saved, nothing you say or do will be of any use, it will fall on deaf ears [as talking to a pile of dead bones in a cemetery]. While yes you could be planting seeds among your family, but you'll just constantly plowing hard rocky ground (in an endless cycle), unable to get the seed "in" that soil so it can grow [and later be harvested]. So focus on the Gospel. It will plow through that hard ground, and call the dead to life. Those who will be saved, will be & in God's timing. Just be faithful to the Great Commission, and faithful to present the true Word accurately. 

For more helps on getting equipped to evangelize, this will help. 

Read Scripture daily every day, pray, allow God to grow you in the Faith, and... live faithfully to Him. 

God bless 

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