We continue our look at some of the objections offered by some who try to avoid any further religious discussions - objections which are supposed to be legitimate excuses for their disobedience.

    As we have seen so far, these are not legitimate excuses but, if answered properly, can be overcome that we might continue to teach them the words of eternal life. Let us also remember that giving up easily and quickly, when hearing these excuses, will not excuse us, either.

    We must see these for what they are [mere excuses that will not excuse anyone from Judgment] and see them for what they are [lost]. If we truly care for their soul, we will try harder to get them to see their true spiritual condition and the need to change.

    This week, we consider the following excuse and how we should answer: ''Well, I know what it says, but my parents...'' Usually, this is followed up with some belief or practice that their parents have followed, and it is usually something that has been part of the family tradition for generations. What is believed and practiced is not based on an examination of Scripture, but merely accepted traditional practices and beliefs and, when challenged, they will most often fall back on those traditions as the source of their authority, rather than accepting the Word of God. The great difficulty is not understanding what God's Word says or what it demands of us, but overcoming generations of family traditions! Some simply cannot bring themselves to choose God over a beloved family member and yet, when they open up their Bibles and see God's Word plainly contradicts or even condemns what is believed or practiced, some will try to make excuses for why they will not obey God.

    Of all the excuses I have personally heard through the years, this excuse continues to be the one most often cited for why someone will not obey the Word of God. [Please note that they "will not"; it is not that they "cannot" because it is a matter of willingness rather than ability.] I submit that this is the single greatest hurdle for men to overcome when they learn the truth, and is often the only thing standing between them and eternal life. There's an old saying: "Blood is thicker than water", that is often meant to imply that family ties are stronger than any friendship; but in this case, it often means that family ties are more important than spiritual ties! Too often, individuals will refuse the waters of baptism and choose blood relations, but what a foolish choice this is! Our entrance into eternal life will not be based on our family lineage, but whether or not we are considered by God to be His children! If it is salvation we seek, the spirit should be more important than blood!

Answer: What it all must come down to is this: Will we choose God and Christ, or will we choose family? Jesus certainly foresaw the great conflicts that would come over this choice when He said "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies 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" (Matt. 10:34-37). Anyone today who has to make the choice between Christ or parents must understand that they are not the only ones who will ever have to make that choice, but it must be made and Christ must be the choice. Jesus demands our obedience if we should ever hope to obtain eternal life, but hear Him well: If we love our parents more than we love Jesus, that is, if we follow them instead of obeying Him then He said we are "not worthy" of Him and Luke's record plainly says we cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:26). Please understand that while it may not always be a choice between the two [parents may already be obedient to the Lord], if it comes to that, we cannot please both our parents and the Lord; we must choose to follow one or the other!

For those of you who face that choice, or who have faced that choice in the past, consider that you are not alone. Imagine those on the day of Pentecost who were among the first to hear the gospel message. That gospel message taught that it was Christ, the Son of God, whom they had crucified, and when some were convicted they asked what to do. The apostles did not point them to Old Testament Scripture and command that they offer up an animal sacrifice [because 'that is what your parents did'], but Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37, 38). When they were told what to do, they did not say, "Well, I know what God says, but my parents have been following this for centuries!" They understood they had to set aside the Old Law so they might be joined to Christ (Rom. 7:4). Can we see that this was no small choice?

    The Jews lived under the Old Law at the time of Christ, and had done so for almost 1500 years. It was not as some see religion today [compartmentalized and separate from every other part of their lives], but was the rule and guide for their every walk of life. When Moses commanded that they speak of it "when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deut. 6:6-9), it was because it should have been applied in their lives throughout the day and in everything they did. The Old Law dictated what they could and could not eat (Lev. 11), what they could and could not wear (Deut. 22:5, 11), rules of law and judgment (Exod. 23:3, 6-8), how they were to plant their crops and tend their fields (vv. 10, 11), how they were to conduct trade and business (Deut. 25:13-16), and even how they were to build their houses (Deut. 22:8). Now, imagine someone who has been surrounded daily with the application of the Old Law and who now hears that this Law must be set aside and that they must now follow after a man named Jesus, whom the speakers say was the Son of God. Imagine the turmoil in their mind, trying to decide if the evidence was sufficient to believe and making the hard decision to leave behind everything you have ever known. Now imagine what their life will be like after obeying the gospel!

    The Jews of the first century who did obey the gospel faced a difficult life from their own Jewish brethren! Those who obeyed Jesus were ostracized, cut off from their families and former business partners and traders. Those who held to the Jewish ways could not deal with one who was now considered an apostate, so a man was, in a sense, nonexistent! Some historical writings seem to equate his treatment with modern-day "shunning" in which the "erring" individual could not have any dealings with those who rejected Jesus and clung to the Old Law [and vice versa]. They were as good as dead.

    For some today, they face the same future should they denounce their family's faith and follow after the words of Jesus Christ. Some, in fact, are cut off from their family and considered "dead" in the eyes of those who cling to the old ways. Many who have forsaken their family traditions to follow Christ have had to walk in faith alone [without family], but have done so knowing that they have gained a greater and more blessed family (cf. Eph. 2:19; 1 John 3:1).

    I do not know what choices you have to make, but please do not let your family ties prevent you from obeying the will of Jesus Christ. Doing so essentially forfeits salvation for relationships that are, at best, temporary. When you stand before Christ in Judgment (2 Cor. 5:10), it will seem foolish to have chosen our earthly family over eternal life in heaven! No excuses!