Generational Sin

[GreenMunchkin]

Is generational sin real? The concept that the sin of our parents and our parents' parents can keep us in spiritual bondage.

If so, how many generations back do we need to go? Does generationsal sin tie in to genetics, at all? A familial predisposition to suffering from depression, or addicition, for example. Are those things biologically genetic, or might they be generational sin? Satan surely attacks us through depression and mental illness and addiction, and people are often freed of those illnesses through deliverance and prayer, so it's not a stretch to believe that those illnesses are spiritual - and they get passed from parent to child frequently.

Equally, is generational sin related to Original Sin?

And where does this all leave the idea of personal relationships with Christ and salvation? Because none of us are sin-free.

[bible]Jeremiah 31:29-32[/bible]

^ That seems to deny the concept of generational sin...

[bible]Nehemiah 1:6[/bible]

^ That seems to support it.

They're OT, yes, but God is unchanging, and the OT is obviously still very much relevant to our walk.

So, what are your thoughts?

 

[JimfromOhio]

I have studied this for some time and I am still not convince completely. I have been told that I retrace my family lineage so I can be set free today. Basically, some teach that generational sins are passed on from one generation to another and we need to break that bondage. I still don't accept it simply because biblically, through Adam, we are born spiritually dead. Through Adam, we are born spiritually dead. Through Jesus Christ, we are born-again spiritually. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

I do agree that members of the family can inherit diseases that we have no control over. Family members can learn habits from others within the family. A bad habit is usually connected to wrong beliefs and attitudes. This is where we go through the means of sanctification described in Scripture that are essential for overcoming such habits.

 

[JDP]

Read the whole chapter of Ezekiel 18. I think that chapter of scripture makes it clear, atleast to me, that generational sin isn't real.

When it comes to addictions, such as fetal alcohol babies or crack babies, I just don't know. Those conditions are definitely horrible and present many disadvantages to the unfortunate individuals. However, those conditions will not make people unacceptable to God. I don't understand why certain things happen. I just continue to believe that God is in control.

 

[Simon_Templar]

The ideas of generation sin and generational curses are closely tied. I don't deny the possibility that such a thing as a generational curse, or generational sin could exist. However, I think people tend to mystify the issue too much and ignore some of the more simple, natural aspects of it.

First off, and most importantly, it is written in the OT that all who hang on a tree are cursed, and this was specifically a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross for us. He became a curse for us. Thus any curse which could possibly have laid claim to us was broken by Jesus Christ.

Secondly, one aspect of this that is always over looked is what I would call the natural, or the cause and effect issue. If a father is a sinful, lawbreaker it is likely his children will also be sinful lawbreakers because they were raised and taught by their father. Likewise parents who are godly and upright will tend to raise godly and upright children.
In other words the character of the parents has a lot of impact on the character of the children. The result is even without curses and generational sin, wickedness, and the results there of are likely to be passed down through family trees, unless God's grace is received at some point and the chain is broken.

The proverbs say, raise up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. That works both ways. Badly raised children are likely to live badly, and thus to suffer the effects of living badly.

So even without the ideas of generational sin, and curses parents leave their children a legacy.

Now, looking at the quote from Nehemiah the first thing that jumps out is he says not only that his father sinned, but that he sinned also.
I think there is a factor involved here as well of a sense of responsibility for household, or clan. In the modern world often times our sense of community has been shattered and we are totally individualistic, and disconnected. In the ancient world it was common for each member of a community, or of a family to bear responsibility for the entire family name, or the community etc.

This doesn't necessarily mean that God would judge a person guilty because their father sinned (which I think is false biblically), but it does mean that the entire family could be shamed by the wickedness of one, and it was a matter of honor to redress the wickedness of any one member who sullied the reputation of the whole family.

So in that I see not so much the idea of personal guilt for the sins of a previous generation as a desire to restore the name of the entire household, and restore the honor of the house. It is hard to express and hard to grasp somewhat for us because the concept has become foreign to our way of thinking.

 

[Nadiine]

Yes, I believe they are very real. Both God and Satan can use curses - so it's not always evident who the source is - (or distinguishing if there is an actual curse).

You can go to a Christian bookstore in the spiritual warfare areas and look into it from the authors there.

But this is said to be why sorcery runs in families - young children get psychic powers or see/hear spirits before the age of accountability, pedophilia, suicide tends to run in families, abuse... poverty, and yes, homosexuality (waits for the dog pile).
People argue that it's just passed down genetically or by learned behaviour (ie. physical abusers), but that isn't proven at all - and why cant' it be a spiritual source?
That can't simply be ruled out (it shouldn't be).

Anyone can feel free to disagree w/ me & the many who do find this to be true, but I'd urge anyone to also get some information on it before making a judgment based on mere on mere opinion.

Christian bookstores carry information on this that offer many scripture verses and examples of how it continues today. (and since the OT curses that God initiated and His promises still exist and are in full effect today, it shouldn't just be dismissed as fallacy.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge...​

 

[synger]

My pastor teaches that generational sin is real and potent in every person's life. But it is not as clear-cut as we like to think. It's not "my dad was a thief, so I have cancer" sort of thing. It is more along the lines that sin has consequences, and that our children, and our children's children, must reap the consequences of our sin.

You see that in the Old Testament stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. When the fathers did not walk with the Lord, the sons usually did not, too. That's why it is SO important to raise our children with an understanding of God, and to pray that He gives them faith to know Him.

That goes for more subtle "sins", too. My father smoked. He reaped emphysema. Chances are, the allergies I suffer from may be indirectly linked to his smoking. My parents-in-law pushed religion down the throats of their children. One BiL is Christian. One is a staunch agnostic. My husband turned from God for years, rejecting Him, or rather, his earthly parents' beliefs of Him. There were many times I thought I'd live the rest of my life with a "social Christian" -- one who professes Christ, and believes, but doesn't allow God to work in his daily life and doesn't seek His will.

Sins that are tolerated by our fathers, become accepted by us, and will be traditions to our children.

That is generational sin.