5 Things to Remember as a Non-Christian at Easter Dinner
Good luck out there friends
Good luck out there friends
If you’re like me, you don’t believe in Jesus or God, but your entire extended family does. I was raised southern baptist and I always heard that we had to grow in our walk with God to be a better person and get to heaven. Needless to say, that part of me came to end many years ago.
However, you might still find yourself sitting around a table with your extreamly Christian family today. If that’s you, keep reading.
All families are different and this may not work for you, so I can only speak on what works for me.
Be polite — Smile and say hello. Shake hands if someone reaches for yours. When you sit down and at the table, when they pray, sit silently and be respectful since you’re in their home.
Provide Information when Asked — If they ask you a question, answer it truthfully. You don’t have to lie for someone. If your response is true, they can make their own decision, but it needs to be based on what you believe.
Be Open to their Opinion — Just because you are no longer/never where a Christian, doesn’t mean you have all the answers either. If you read the Bible all the way through (which I have) you’ll know that much of it is similar to other religions around the world. In fact, the more you learn, the more surprised you’ll be to find that the parts that make people hate each other are very small and rarely mentioned.
When Confronted, Remain Clam and Speak from the Heart— The final, and most difficult, piece of advice is to remain calm when someone is staring you in the face and telling you that you are damend to Hell. But remember, if you don’t believe in Hell, then they aren’t condeming you anywhere. They might as well wish it to rain on your house tomorrow. So I don’t take offense to that and neither should you. Keep your voice down, relax your body, and breathe between statements. That small pause will help you focus on your next answer.
Don’t be Afraid to Not Know — You won’t always know the answer to every question. Openly admit you don’t have the answer to a question if you don’t know the answer. This will give the other person time to explain their answer which you can then use to infer your own opinion. Sometimes you might agree. Use phrases like, “Hmm. That’s interesting. I’ll need to think about that.”
I hope these ideas help you tonight or at any family gathering!
Remember, I love you all and I’ll see you next time.
