Some of you have already written me off for even asking the question. I think questions are good and this one is especially good. I have been taught repeatedly that generational curses are real, but that they can be broken. I am not convinced that they are real and even if they are, I am not sure what makes us believe they can be broken. Let me explain:
Now I know some of you are already quoting certain passages in you mind (or at least portions of them) and thinking I am some kind of heretic. Before we go too far let me quote a little scripture as well. Let me start with John 9. In this story the disciples ask Jesus why a certain man was blind from birth. Was it because of his own sin? That doesn't seem possible since he was born that way. Or was it his parents sin? Jesus repudiates this. Now I will admit that Jesus did not deny the existence of such a curse, but it is clear that the disciples wanted to apply Exodus 20:5 in an inappropriate way and Jesus stopped them. There is another scripture, Ezekiel 18:1-5. It seems this passage clearly repudiates the generation sin concept.
Let's consider Exodus 20. First, I am not going to pretend I have this verse all figured out, but I think just a few observations will cast significant doubt on the theology of generational sins. The broader context is of course the 10 commandments and the laws of God. Verses 4-6 are speaking specifically about idol worship. It is appropriate for us to limit this passage to this one commandment. If it was intended to apply to all the commandments it would be found after the ten commandments or as part of some kind of summary statement. It does not appear that is the case here. There is also an emphasis on the feelings these people have toward God. either they hate God and there is a curse, or they love God and He loves them back. Either way it is God who is doing the action.
Last, what makes anyone think there is a way to nullify this "curse?" If it is God doing the "visiting" how can anyone stop Him? Why would they want to? If there was a way to overcome this generational sin wouldn't it be mentioned somewhere in scripture? It seems that if there is a way to fight this generational thing it is by simply loving God.
Perhaps we should be careful about our application of this concept! Actually we may want to abandoned the more popular application all together.
Monday, August 13, 2007
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5 comments:
You raise some interesting questions, though Exodus 20 is not the only place in Scripture where generational sins are mentioned; see Leviticus 26:39-42, which clearly states that we overcome generational sins by confessing them. Another place where generational sins/curses are mentioned is in Deuteronomy 28:59.
I think a more appropriate question isn't whether generational sins are real but whether they can affect Christians. I confess I am not completely sure of the answer. While I have never seen a New Testament passage which states that believers need to confess the sins of their ancestors, I have heard of cases where Christians appeared to succumb to the same kinds of sins their ancestors were involved with (this is most often seen in the occult, which is closely related to idol worship).
In the autobiographical work "The Beautiful Side of Evil," Johanna Michelsen shares how she was born with occult powers that she inherited from her great- grandmother. Even after she gave her life to Jesus, Johanna continued to be drawn further into the occult and eventually suffered horrible demonic torment. She was finally delivered after she renounced her involvement in the occult and repented.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
PJ, my wife and I have been inundated with this kind of thinking from those in the deliverance movement at our local jail. I personally do not think that a born again believer needs to concern themselves with curses and demons, we are under the blood of Christ and were delivered by his sacrafice. Unbelievers may be a different story as much of what they do are an invitation for demonic activity and if certain sins or practices have been prevalent in their family it could very well carry from generation to generation. Again the difference is in whether you are talking about a believer or unbeliever.
Also, I have yet to see any fruit from their so-called deliverance efforts and casting out of demons, I think they spend too much time preaching about the devil when they need to be preaching Christ and Him crucified, that is where true deliverance is found.
Another concept to look at with generational sin is to look at the tendancy of children to walk in the ways of their parents. For example my wife and I have seen in our experience parents who had children out of wedlock very often have grandchildren who are born out of wedlock. Is that because of a demon or because of what they were taught or because of some other factor? Each case may have a different answer.
On the subject of demonic activity in the life of a believer. I believe that born again belivers are very much able to be affected by demonic activty. For instance is not temptation to sin demonic some if not all of the time? Often times godly people do ungodly things and this is a result of strongholds in their lives which is demonic at it's root. Can a born again believer be possesed? No they can't because God owns or possesses them, but they can be oppressed. If you don't believe that talk to most believers about sharing their faith with others and they will tell you about an onslaught of irrational fears that often times come over them. Sounds deomonic to me. Anyhow I know I changed subject midstream there but my basic point is perhaps generational sin and curses are very real just our understanding of them is off. Jesus corrected our understanding of adultery when he said looking with lust counted, why not correct our understanding of generational curses and sin as well when he points out about the man healed?
"I personally do not think that a born again believer needs to concern themselves with curses and demons, we are under the blood of Christ and were delivered by his sacrafice."
For the most part this is true. As believers, we are under the blood of Christ and saved from eternal damnation by His sacrifice. However, that does not mean we need not concern ourselves with demons. Speaking to the church, the apostle Paul said that the devil is a roaring lying seeking whom he will devour. He also warned believers not to give the enemy a foothold. In Ephesians, Paul states that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against invisible powers in heavenly places. All of this indicates that believers should be aware of the reality of demons and how they operate.
"Unbelievers may be a different story as much of what they do are an invitation for demonic activity..."
This statement assumes that a believer will never engage in activities that could be an invitation for demonic activity. Tragically, this is not always the case. Johanna Michelson was a born-again believer even while she engaged in such occult practices as transcendental mediation, psychic surgery, and more. She even had a spirit guide called "Jesus." Although born again, Johanna was completely ignorant of the Bible's teachings against occult involvement. Her involvement in the occult was an open invitation for demons to torment her; she had given the enemy a foothold (sadly, hers was not an isolated case. I have known many believers who dabbled in the occult through ignorance of Scripture).
"I have yet to see any fruit from their so-called deliverance efforts and casting out of demons."
There could be any number of reasons why the deliverance efforts you saw bore no fruit, and the Bible (most notably in the Book of Acts) shows that there are both true and false deliverance ministries. Many Alliance missionaries overseas, including the late John McMillan (author of "The Authority of the Believer") have successfully cast out demons, as did Jesus, His disciples, and members of the Early Church.
"I think they spend too much time preaching about the devil when they need to be preaching Christ and Him crucified, that is where true deliverance is found."
Yes, true deliverance is always found in Jesus. However, Jesus spent a good part of His earthly ministry teaching about demons and deliverance. He cast out demons Himself and commissioned His disciples to do so.
The Christian apologist C. S. Lewis warned that there are two extremes concerning belief in demons: one is that they are nonexistent and we not concern ourselves with them; the other is to become unduly concerned with them, seeing one under every bush. And, says Lewis, the devil is happy with both of those extemes.
Julie, I would agree with pretty much everything you said in response to my post. I think in trying to just make a statement and keeping it brief, I ended up ranting about an extreme I've experienced and reject instead of what I do believe and accept concerning this subject.
Believers are giving opportunity all the time for the devil and his demons to create havoc but we have to remember they have to pick their battles because unlike God they cannot be everywhere at once. They are for real and are the adversary we are constantly in battle with in the spiritual realm and many times manifests itself in the physical as well. Sorry for being so vague.
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