The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.

Question

What is your obligation to your parents if they’re not Christians, they’re in their 80s and they drink alcohol and expect you to serve it in the home and have no respect for your Christian faith?

Answer

Now, that’s a very important question.  You know, the Bible says that you are to obey your parents.  The Bible says you’re to honor your father and mother—and the Old Testament people were promised long life for doing that.  Jesus comes along in the New Testament and says you have to be willing to leave your father and mother, even to hate them.  What’s the difference?  Simply this: when your father and mother invite you to do those things that they have the right to ask of you, obey them.  Even though they’re things that you would not prefer to do and even though they may restrict the things that you think you should do, obey them.  This is God’s plan. 

When they invite you to do those things which are contrary to the direct command of the Word of God, at that point you have to say what Peter and John said: “You judge whether we ought to obey God or man.”  So, your obedience is continually to those people, you continue to honor them, until it comes to the place where they would have you violate the principles you know to be revealed in the Word of God.  At that point, you follow the injunction of our Lord and you have to be willing to say goodbye to mother and father and to step out and live for Him.

That’s as simply as I can state it from a biblical viewpoint, without getting into detail. 

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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