What advice can be given to an adult who wants to join Christ's Church and receive true baptism, but whose close relatives oppose it, accuse them of fanaticism, and try to pull them out of the Christian community as if it were a sect?

What advice can be given to an adult who wants to join Christ’s Church and receive true baptism, but whose close relatives oppose it, accuse them of fanaticism, and try to pull them out of the Christian community as if it were a sect? #

A person who has decided to follow Christ and become a true Christian needs to carefully read the Gospel and understand that hostility from relatives and close ones toward any true Christian’s faith is not unusual. Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples:

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
(John 15:19)

This hostility stems from the deep enmity of the world, which “lies in wickedness,” against God. This enmity is evident not only in how entire nations of pagans turned away from their Creator to worship idols, animals, elements, and even demons. Even the people to whom God revealed Himself and with whom He spoke directly, performing miracles among them, rejected, exiled, and killed the prophets and righteous ones sent by God. When God sent His Son to them, they rejected and crucified Him. Therefore, Jesus Christ presents one simple yet challenging condition for anyone who wishes to be His disciple:

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”
(Luke 14:33)

Christ gave up everything, left the heavenly abodes, came down to earth, and willingly surrendered His life and body to suffering—all for our salvation. In return, He expects the same from His disciples: complete dedication and absolute loyalty:

“He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.”
(Matthew 10:37–38)

Thus, a person who wants to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, a genuine Christian, will inevitably face hostility from the world and from those around them, including their relatives. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his Second Epistle to Timothy:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
(2 Timothy 3:12)

However, such attitudes from unbelievers, followers of other faiths, or even nominal Christians should not provoke resentment or aggression in a true Christian. Any persecution or opposition for the sake of faith, even from close relatives, should be met with joy and gratitude. The Apostle Peter writes in his First Epistle:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
(1 Peter 4:12–16)

Relatives who speak against the Christian faith and try to hinder someone’s spiritual and prayerful life should evoke compassion and pity in a true Christian, as they are like seriously ill people whose minds have been darkened by Satan. However, through the prayers of the Christian, the Lord can, in time, open even the most hostile enemies of faith to the truth.

— Priest Mikhail Rodin.