Generational Curses.

[ANM29]

OK, seems we're arguing over the true definition of "generational curse."

So would someone please give me the biblical definition of it, along with at least one scripture that makes abundantly clear that your definition is the true one?

Don't hold your breathe..lol!

 

[Floatingaxe]

James 3:10
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!


Psalm 109:17-19
17 He loved to curse others;
now you curse him.
He never blessed others;
now don’t you bless him.
18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,
or the water he drinks,
or the rich food he eats.
19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
may they be tied around him like a belt.”

Deuteronomy 30:19
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!


Here's a reminder of a definite promise of God to children:

Deuteronomy 4:40
If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

For parents, to avoid generational strife:

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

 

[ANM29]

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

deleted.

 

[Floatingaxe]

They are the opposites of blessing.

A child cursed by his father grows up with a father-wound. He passes that father-wound on to his own son, and so on and so on. It is a bothersome trait, an attitude, an emotional lack, right on down to a disease caused by the suffering of a hurt or curse on the person within a family.

 

[Cassidy]

And yet Axe clearly quoted scripture where one does have a choice..."choose life so that you and your decendants may live" <----kinda sounds like we have a choice and when we do choose 'life' (Jesus) then it stands to reason that we are not living under the curse of the law of sin and death anymore.

 

[KleinerApfel]

OK, so a generational curse is not what I always understood it to mean then?

I understood the phrase to apply to an innocent descendant of a sinful ancestor. A person who has had no personal involvement with the act, yet now reaps a curse - a judgement from God, a punishment, an "anti-blessing" if you like.

Despite being a born again Christian filled with the Spirit and walking with God, I've been told that the generational curse can still afflict them, until they pray a particular prayer using the right words to renounce their ancestors' sins, at which point they are freed, healed, etc.

So for instance - a grandfather who was a freemason caused a generational curse to be let loose upon his descendants.
Perhaps he was a reasonably good, moral, kind man, who loved his kids, grandkids, did them no harm. Yet the curse is at work.

One of those descendants later becomes a Christian, yet according to this theology the curse remains on them and causes oppression or sickness until they get specialised prayer ministry/deliverance.

This is the biblical definition I have always heard before, from pulpits and healing ministries, and these scriptures show what a generational curse is from that point of view -

Deuteronomy 5

8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

Exodus 34
5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.

If some of us have a different definition of a "generational curse" from the above biblical one, it would be hard to understand each other.

 

[KleinerApfel]

I wouldn't want anyone reading that last post I made to be afraid and think they're now under a generational curse, so I'd better reassure you by re-posting the updated word God gave to the prophets saying such a curse was not to be in effect for His people any longer...

Jeremiah 31
29 In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

30Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes&#8212; his own teeth will be set on edge.


Ezekiel 18

1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

3As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

4 For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son&#8212; both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.



Therefore it looks like God says if you're His then you do not carry a curse from a past generation and you don't need to "do" anything extra, just be His child and the blood of Jesus covers it all.

 

[Strong in Him]

ding ding ding ding ding. This is what a generational curse is.

In your opinion. But isn't it just a matter of terminology?

I mean you could say that if a family are not Christians and none of their ancestors were Christians, then their atheism/agnosticism/apathy is a generational curse. And anyone from that family who comes to Christ is affected by/under the "generational curse" because their ancestors were all non believers, maybe even God-haters.
But isn't that true of most people? Are we ALL under "generational curses" until we come to Christ?

 

[Floatingaxe]

We don't carry the sin, just the effects. It causes real problems in some people's lives. Look at incestuous families. Look at the terrible fallout on women who have undergone the rape of their fathers as children. Look at some Christians' testimonies of how they had to overcome the ravages of that, and they find that it existed in their families for more than their generation.

Look at Christians who testify to the homes they were brought up in where the occult was practiced, and how they needed to renounce that effect of the sin in their family and break that terrible thing so that now they are free and the next generation is free.

These are only two examples that I have seen and there are many more.

 

[Elijah2]

generational curses are real i know it because i am affected by it since i came back to my mothers house. there are issues my family does not wn to address, things they dont want to talk about, things they dont want stand up to, all the while they PLAY CHURCH and pretend. these are demons hiding behind a religious facade. its very real and its a very great threat, once you get to dance to those demons pipe they can steal you much that god has taught/given you the years before.

Yes mate, those dark shadows are hard to quell, when you walk into the hornets nest, some curses made by "idol worshipprs" are hard to overcome, when relations may be still practicising them.

 

[Strong in Him]

So for instance - a grandfather who was a freemason caused a generational curse to be let loose upon his descendants.
Perhaps he was a reasonably good, moral, kind man, who loved his kids, grandkids, did them no harm. Yet the curse is at work.

One of those descendants later becomes a Christian, yet according to this theology the curse remains on them and causes oppression or sickness until they get specialised prayer ministry/deliverance.

This is exactly how it is for me. There have been Christians who have said that my illnesses are due to the fact that my grandfather was a freemason. And I guess they would attribute my aunt's many allergies/asthma, and my mum's hayfever to the fact that they sometimes went to ladies' nights at the lodge while my grandfather was in meetings?

There might be something in that were it not for the fact that;
a) my mother became a Christian, or at least started going to church, before she was married.
b) My parents always took me to church - I would have gone almost immediately had there been a creche, instead I had to wait til I was four.
c) It is the women in our family who have suffered the most with allergies - my cousin Joanne had them quite badly, has now outgrown them and remains a humanist, while mine were diagnosed a few years before I became a Christian and have continues ever since - despite prayer to "renounce" any connection with Freemasonary and break whatever hold it might have had over me.
d) My 3 brothers, and 2 male cousins who had the same grandfather, do not have these allergies.
e) You would have thought that my grandfather himself would have had lots of problems, after all, he was the one in the meetings, especially after he started attending church himself.

This is why I say that it depends on terminology and how you look at it.
Freemasonary is not something I have ever had any interest in, yet there are those who are ready to say "ah, generational curse", when they hear about my grandfather and the fact that I've been ill. This doesn't make sense to me.

 

[gratefulgrace]

Yes but some of that applied to me and you said I was NOT under a curse.(the incest part). so who decides who is and who isn't under the curse. Also I am not sure the scriptures you posted AXE really applies to the discussuion we are having as it seems to indicated present and personal curses rather than generational. Curse can mean many things in the context of these verses.
James 3:10
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

This is a choice I make as a christian.


Psalm 109:17-19
17 He loved to curse others;
now you curse him.
He never blessed others;
now don&#8217;t you bless him.
18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,
or the water he drinks,
or the rich food he eats.
19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
may they be tied around him like a belt.&#8221;

Not sure who this is talking about as i haven't read the entire context but again it seems like the curses people use to bring down others come back on to the curser.

Deuteronomy 30:19
&#8220;Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

I love this verse it is so important as a Christian to choose Christ and give up our sinful tendancy to blame others or "curse" others parents government boss etc. for our situation. God has given us LIFE we need to realize that and walk in it with all perseverance.


Here's a reminder of a definite promise of God to children:

Deuteronomy 4:40
If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.&#8221;

These are also wonderful words

For parents, to avoid generational strife:

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
__________________

Most definitely but again a here and now situation that will bring the peace of the Lord into our homes. Blessings got to scoot to work now. gg

 

[ANM29]

I wouldn't want anyone reading that last post I made to be afraid and think they're now under a generational curse, so I'd better reassure you by re-posting the updated word God gave to the prophets saying such a curse was not to be in effect for His people any longer...

Jeremiah 31
29 In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

30Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes— his own teeth will be set on edge.


Ezekiel 18

1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

3As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

4 For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son— both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.



Therefore it looks like God says if you're His then you do not carry a curse from a past generation and you don't need to "do" anything extra, just be His child and the blood of Jesus covers it all.

 

[~RENEE~]

question the appoinents of this subject. Why are you allowed to use the OT to prove your point but we're not allowed to use the OT to prove ours?

Is there a doublestandard goin on here?

Why are you so special?

 

[gratefulgrace]

I believe that the OT states the fact of curses but then says later that this statement should not be used anymore that the situation has changed. Also the NT verses seem to totally negate the idea of generational curse IMO. I don't think we are using scripture unfaithfully and I hope we are "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" gg

 

[~RENEE~]

K so then we have actually beent old don't use the OT use the new. So then you are special and get to do what you tell us not too?


OK well adios you can have this thread the doublestandard is ridiculous.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Yes but some of that applied to me and you said I was NOT under a curse.(the incest part). so who decides who is and who isn't under the curse. Also I am not sure the scriptures you posted AXE really applies to the discussuion we are having as it seems to indicated present and personal curses rather than generational. Curse can mean many things in the context of these verses.
James 3:10
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

This is a choice I make as a christian.

What if it was your grandfather who cursed your father and in his ravaged self-esteem, passed his weakness and pain on to you? That, my friend, is a generational TROUBLE. You must deal rightly with it to cut it off from your children.

It is our duty as believers.

Psalm 109:17-19
17 He loved to curse others;
now you curse him.
He never blessed others;
now don’t you bless him.
18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,
or the water he drinks,
or the rich food he eats.
19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
may they be tied around him like a belt.”

Not sure who this is talking about as i haven't read the entire context but again it seems like the curses people use to bring down others come back on to the curser.

It passes down the generational line by God Himself in order to bring people to the knowledge of God and freedom in Him.

Deuteronomy 30:19
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

I love this verse it is so important as a Christian to choose Christ and give up our sinful tendancy to blame others or "curse" others parents government boss etc. for our situation. God has given us LIFE we need to realize that and walk in it with all perseverance.

Yes it is important! are all Christians perfect and victorious in their walk?

Here's a reminder of a definite promise of God to children:

Deuteronomy 4:40
If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

These are also wonderful words

Yes, they are! Our children need to heed that command. Those before us who have failed to obey it reap the consequences. They land in our own homes.

For parents, to avoid generational strife:

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
__________________

Most definitely but again a here and now situation that will bring the peace of the Lord into our homes. Blessings got to scoot to work now. gg

We often deal with the ravages of the disobedience of godly fathers and mothers in this area.

What about unbelieving parents? What damage have they wrought?

 

[KleinerApfel]

We'll never be able to agree while one side sees a curse as a spiritual matter between God and man, and the other sees a curse as a natural behaviour between man and man.

The issue isn't whether parents harm their children by their natural activities or negligence or passing on of biological traits, we all know that to be so.

Rather, the issue is that biblically a curse is a pronouncement of God afflicting the sinner individually, and in the case of a generational curse also afflicting his innocent descendants.

Since some people believe that a curse is exactly the same thing as the cause and effect of natural behaviour and the ensuing consequences, I don't know any further way to explain.

As gg says, I have used 2 particular OT scriptures only to demonstrate that God later said the earlier existing OT generational curse from the Penteteuch, spoken of by those in the thread who believe it exists, is no longer active. If a NT scripture was needed I'd have used it, but the OT did the job, and so by the time the NT was written the generational curse was already history.

There is therefore no need to prove from the NT that such a curse was never reinstated, but if you think there's a place anywhere in scripture that states it was reactivated, then let's see it and go from there. (Save yourselves time and don't bother, it isn't there! )

 

[Elijah2]

"'The Lord is patient and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but HE by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation'. Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people...The the Lord said: 'I have pardoned, according to your word..." (Num. 14:18-20)

When we beg our Lord Jesus Christ to pardon the iniquity of our ancestors, HE will pardon and forgive them. The whole release is so simple, just by prayer, we are pardoned of the iniquity of our ancestors.