You are Being Fiddled.

Jesus: If you love me, keep my commandments

Satan: Just don’t be fanatical!

Your enemy and your extended family know how to play you like a fiddle. You are their foolish Christian marionette as they dance you on the end of their strings.

They plan family birthday parties on Sunday night, announce their visits to you on the Lord’s day, invite you to the Wednesday night sports programs, and insist that you attend their reunions. If you don’t accommodate them (in favor of being faithful in church) you are unloving, have bad priorities and are part of a cult. If you do acquiesce, they stash your hypocrisy away to use against you at a convenient time. You hope against hope that the sacrificing of the assembly in the Lord’s house will pay off someday in them becoming a believer. How is that working out so far?

Suggestions: When you are compelled to attend a family event, ask them to attend church with you first and then you will accompany them to the function immediately after the final amen. Or, if they choose to visit you on Sunday, invite them to come with you, it’s only one hour!!! If they decline, simply invite them to make themselves at home and you will be back as soon as possible for a lovely lunch. You don’t have to act pious or condescending or ugly. Just let them know they are high on your priority list, just behind the Lord.

Which blood is thicker? The blood of those who mock your faith and refuse your advances when you attempt to witness to them? Or the blood of the One Who gave His all for you to make you part of His redeemed family?

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are playing… will you dance to their tune or be true to your Redeemer?