Welcome here momindeep. Thank you for your kind words about us here.
The comment you made, that jumped out at me the most..."none are Christians".
That is my reality as well. My son has openly declared that he wants nothing to do with "church", but I take this that he means "Christians". I know that going to church does NOT make you automatically a Christian either..my faith is based on my personal relationship with Jesus, and not because I attend a church and worship with other believers there. My son has really been anti-Christian, and this is the essence of our estrangement.
So interesting that our estranged adult children have decided to reject Jesus, and therefore, this means rejecting those (anyone of us) who love Jesus and follow Him. I love that you think Biblically and that your thoughts are "sifted through the Word"..a very important aspect of our forum here.
Hope we can be an encouragement to you. I receive a lot of wisdom, encouragement and understanding here. It helps also when I know others pray for me when I am going through a really difficult time. So sorry that you also have estrangement problems, but so glad you decided to post and join us.
May God bless you today...your new friend, and sister in Christ, Maddie

my son opposite claims God come first in his life says the bible wrong on Honour thy mother and Father he seems think we are not to be honoured , when he ranted vented he felt somehow God expected him stand up to me this was usually when had concerns about him (drinking heavy , being around drug user he would tell me Jesus himself went among the sinners I was wrong trying control him , I felt I was trying guide him to protect himself not shun them not look down them but merely to keep himself on right path. I talked length about many things felt he was exposing himself problems he had enough with his autism without looking for more . so not always children who reject Jesus sometimes my son believes he is Jesus second , often notice he rewrite bible convince me he is right . when we have faith in our heart we do not need defend our beliefs they are what we believe or opinion we have . I want for my son have God in his life for him also honour us parent as trying protect him , I feel slowly we are seeing him become more emotionally stable his emotional development was behind his Physical adult hood , when we grow up Mature we learn to Love mother we were given as she hopefully loved us , we must all try have good in our heart and in our deeds not always easy but we also are learning be mother God want us to be we can and do make mistake he forgives us when we get things wrong so must our children . forgiveness is Key to moving forward .

Welcome Momindeep :)
It is my hope and prayer that you will find comfort and support here. I know I have. The stronger our faith in God the more Satan will try and break that faith. The enemy will use anything including our children. All we can do is continue to pray for them in that God's love and light will penetrate their hearts and minds.
My ES has called me stupid, naive, blind and ignorant for my faith in God. These harsh words could crush a weaker person but it is that faith where I draw my strenghth.
Love and blessing to you

Thank-you for the replies and welcomes. Blessings come different ways and usually quietly...so thankful for this site...I consider it a blessing.

momindeep, we consider it a blessing to have you.

mom...when I read your post I thought of myself when I first joined DS. Even just joining was a painful realization that this was real. This was not going to go away any time soon.

Then there was the mixed emotions when I realized that I really was not alone. That made me feel blessed that I was not the only one...but then, as I read, I realized that there were too many who may never see their kids again...and I just might be one of those. That made me feel sadness, just as it seems you are feeling right now too.

Whatever happens with our estranged kids, it was surely a blessing to find other Christian to share our heartbreaks and our burdens with each other.

mom....I hope and pray that God brings your children to a saving knowledge of his offer of salvation. I was baptized as an infant but later realized that I had to make my own decision for Jesus. Hopefully, God will answer your prayers and bring you together as a Christian family united in Him.

((((HUGS))))

My son hates Christians because he says they have killed so many people who did not agree with them - he always mentions the Crusades. He also feels that Christians have too much political power in this country and that they should be prevented voicing their opinion. He only took on this attitude after spending years, off and on, in the Middle East, working directly with Muslims. He claims they are much more polite and thoughtful than Christians and denies that there is any problem for women in the Mid East. I find it sad that when he wants to criticize me for something I have posted on FB, he does it by mentioning Jesus - he will say something like, I'll bet Jesus is really proud of you for being a racist. I do not every post anything that is racist or in any way prejudicial against anyone, but I have finally stopped trying to figure out why he says it. My greatest prayer for all my kids, but especially my son, is that they will turn to God and make Him first in their lives. That is our best hope for a reconciliation and a prayer God loves to hear. I hope you will find this site as helpful as I have, though I've only been here a short time. It is so wonderful to know that we are not alone.

LilyDee,
Well I have heard all the negatives against Christians including the Crusades... and to be honest there is a lot of things that Christians have done in the past and right now that give us a bad rap. Some of it is totally justified and I cringe when so called Christians don't reflect Christ .

There is well-meaning Christians that are full of zeal and can't imagine why everyone doesn't get it...and there is questionable Christians asking you to sew a thousand dollar "seed" so the Lord can bless you and then there are those that claim healing powers and don't mind taking your money to get the healing.

Some are really Christians and many are not and for the secular world there is no division in whether someone is a true follower of Christ or isn't.

So, when someone wants to point out all the short-comings of Christians...either historically or in the here and now...I just say that that isn't who Jesus is...you are refering to people, not Christ and people have messed it up all through the ages and will continue to do so because we live in a fallen world...but it still isn't who Christ says He is and I ask them to consider seperating the two facts and look at Jesus, Himself and who He claims to be and to leave us imperfect Christians out of the consideration.

Satan is really, really, good at smoke screens...using fallen humanity as a basis to dismiss Christ and who He really is...tricky and very effective.

So, I stand on Jesus...I agree with people when they say Christians...whether genuine or not...have done atrocities...it IS true no denying it...many have twisted the Word, or got it wrong, or aren't authentic or whatever...but when the dust settles it only matters what Christ claims...period.

Maybe there will come a time when I can try to share the things you have said with my son. Right now, he only twists everything I say into something ugly. I have found it is best to be polite and pray that I will not take the bait and respond to any accusations. This is a perfect time for me to learn the lesson about putting my problems in God's hands - I am trusting God to work in my son's life and at least for now, I don't think He needs my help.
I certainly agree that Christians have many faults. As do all people of every race and religion. What I have tried hard to explain to him is that being a Christian is not an ideology, it is a relationship. He rolls his eyes and then tells me again that Christians are the bad guys, historically and currently. I trust God to put people in his life who will be able to talk to him about Jesus and one day, I believe he will let go of his hatred for Christians and thus for me.

1 PETER chapter 4 verses 12-17 (New International Version)
vs 12 "Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. vs.13. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. vs.14.If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. vs.15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. vs.16. however, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. vs.17. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins wit us, what will the outcome be for those who no not obey the gospel of God?"

Without Religion there would be no war is a charge that non-Christians love to recite but it is simply not true. Although wars in the name of religion is probably the most commonly used reason to justify conflicts, I strongly disagree with the claims.

Lives Lost Under Non-Religious Dictators

Joseph Stalin - 42,672,000
Mao Zedong - 37,828,000
Adolf Hitler - 20,946,000
Chiang Kai-shek - 10,214,000
Vladimir Lenin - 4,017,000
Hideki Tojo - 3,990,000
Pol Pot - 2,397,000 (http://www.blogos.org/compellingtruth/does-religion-cause-war.html)

Much is said, today, on the issue of religious wars even outside Christianity. Without a doubt, throughout history countless warriors have marched into battle waving the flag of various religion as it's purpose. But, if religion is really good for nothing but “starting wars,” would there be peace among all nations if it were eliminated entirely - or at least considerably diminished? Never! A warless world would never be obtainable even if religion were entirely eliminated because the inherent depravity of mankind won’t allow it. If anything we would probably annihilate ourselves within microseconds.

Religions are no more a danger to humankind than the irreligious and the irreligious are no less prone to senseless violence than the religious. Our country was founded on Christian beliefs. Our government at least has a foundation on the principles of the 10 commandments. Because of it, we are not supposed to enter wars unless provoked or asked to help defend a defenseless country - not because of religion.

In the Old Testament, God called the Israelites into battle many times but the overall theme was that they were to conquer evil. For us as a country, to lay down our arms and let evil prevail is to turn the universe over to Satan. Sin is the #1 cause of war and violence, not religion, and certainly not Christianity. It is sin that triggers all crime, cruelty, loss of life, and other such things.

In the words of Jesus “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21–23).