How Do I Honor Unbelieving Parents?
1) Direct Answer
Honor unbelieving parents by showing respect, care, and obedience in all that is right, while refusing—gently but firmly—to follow them into sin or unbelief. Keep a sweet spirit, meet their needs, pray for them, and let your life testify of Christ without compromise.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Honor and obedience: “Honor thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12). “Children, obey your parents in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20). Notice that obedience is “in the Lord”—never against His Word.
- Jesus’ example: He “was subject” to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51), showing respect even as He fulfilled the Father’s will.
- Care and provision: God rebuked those who dodged caring for parents (Matthew 15:4-6). Children and grandchildren should “requite their parents” (1 Timothy 5:4), and failing to provide is condemned (1 Timothy 5:8).
- Peaceful witness: Win them “without the word” by a chaste life and respectful behavior (1 Peter 3:1-2; Romans 12:18).
- Boundaries for conscience: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If they demand what God forbids, you refuse—respectfully. Christ must be first (Matthew 10:34-37; Luke 14:26).
- Holy separation without rebellion: “Come out from among them” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Do not join in sin (1 Peter 4:3-4; Ephesians 5:11), yet keep a right attitude.
- New household order if married: You still honor your parents, but you cleave to your spouse as your first earthly loyalty (Genesis 2:24).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Honor is an attitude and an action: respect in words, help in needs, gratitude in heart. It does not require agreeing with error.
- “In the Lord” sets the limit. If there is no conflict with Scripture, obey and assist. If there is a conflict, choose Christ—but keep a meek, steady spirit.
- A consistent, clean life speaks louder than arguments. Your patience and kindness keep the door open for their salvation.
4) Practical Ways
- Speak kindly; avoid harsh debate (Proverbs 15:1).
- Serve them: calls, visits, errands, financial help if needed.
- Thank them for the good they did; don’t rehearse their failures.
- Pray for them by name; ask God to open their eyes (1 Timothy 2:1).
- Set clear, calm boundaries when asked to join sinful practices.
- If there is hostility, keep a peaceful distance while remaining respectful and willing to help in right things (Romans 12:18; Psalm 27:10).
A final word: Put Christ first, keep a right spirit, do right by your parents, and trust God to use your life as a witness.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Token
64-0308 §61
...r line.) He ever remained true to that token. Did He? He does yet. All these thousands of years He has never once one time failed to display it. He was true to that token. Shows us that He ever ... and never will fail to honor his tokens. I don't care if it's... If Jesus don't come for ten thousand years you have the token---He's still got to honor it. No matter how many things changes, and whatevermore, He's got to honor that token. He said He would. All right. He expects us now to display his token over our God-g...
Influence
63-1130B §17
...e Uzziah was a great man. He come from a fine background. His father and mother, both, were strictly staunch believers in God. And they had raised their boy to serve and to honor God. One of the great lackings of our day today, in America and the rest of the world, is godly parents, to set an influence upon their children. The parents of this day got away from the principles of the Scripture. They went more to the fashions of the world. And the churches did the same thing. In doing that, we let it loose, and brough...
The Investments
64-0314 §21
...church; he belonged to church. He'd proved it. Jesus said to him, "Keep the commandments. Thou knowest them. Do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, defraud. And honor your father and mother." And this young fellow proved that he was a fine, cultured boy; not a ... just a ... some, what we'd call today, a hoodlum. He was a fine type of boy, been raised up in a good home. He said, "Master, I've done these since I was a boy, all my life." See, he showed that his parents was nice parents. He went to a churc...
Standing in the gap
63-0623M §20
...she become a great servant to You. Bless the home that she'll be raised in. May she be brought up in the admonition of God and serve Him all the days of her life. Bless her parents and may they live to see this child an honorable vessel unto the Lord because of their act today, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. God bless you. God bless you, sir. Her name is... [A sister speaks to Brother Branham] This is Sister Tabet, Teresa. I just don't know whether we're going to be able to hold Teresa, or not. I don't think so. She...
Speak to this Rock
53-0512 §72
...d the gift of God is in the building. O God, Thou who can make evil spirits leave, have mercy upon this audience of people tonight. Send Thy Holy Spirit, rebuke every foul, unbelieving spirit. May the devil leave every one of these sick people. Come out of them, Satan. Make them well, Lord Jesus. Stand to your feet. Raise up, accept your healing, everywhere over the building. Give God praise! Give Him honor and power!