One of my favorite things about the holiday season is that I get to spend much more time with my family. After this difficult year and its major transitions, the encouragement and support I receive from being with family is much needed. However, I know many of us have family members who are not Christians or who do not live a Christian lifestyle. How are we supposed to interact with these family members?

Before I approach different applications, I need to stress how the gospel should take precedence over our families. Most of the time, being a Christian will mean being a better family member.  We are supposed to obey and honor our parents (Eph 6:1–2), love and submit to our spouses (5:20–33), love our children and not provoke them to wrath (6:4). However, Jesus tells us that there will be times when our faith and our families conflict, in which case, we are supposed to remain loyal to God rather than man. In this respect, he said that he came to bring a sword, not peace, “For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:35–37; ESV).

Now, how are we supposed to share our faith with our family over the holidays? First, we should try to win them through our conduct. This is how Peter says wives should try to win over their pagan husbands to the gospel (1 Pet 3:1–2). Second, if you want to have a conversation about faith with a family member, try to approach them privately. There was probably a reason Nicodemus waited until night to talk to Jesus alone (John 3:1). In the right context, do not shy away from telling them the gospel truth. They may not be in God’s grace, according to Scripture, and we need to share that with them before it is too late.