Can Christians Suffer from Generational Curses?

[Ezra]

There are many preachers and teachers today who claim that Christians can suffer from “generational curses” and must therefore be delivered from them.  Is this true in the light of Scripture?  When we examine some relevant Scriptures, we find that this is false teaching.

What does Exod 20:4-6 teach?

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

 

This commandment promises God’s judgment on those who worship idols and continue to hate the living God by continuing that practice.  But we know from the history of the kings of Judah, that idolatrous fathers (such Ahaz) were succeeded by godly sons (such as Hezekiah), who destroyed all the idols and restored true temple worship. There was no “generational curse” on Hezekiah.

What does Deuteronomy 27 & 28 teach?

Here we have both curses ad blessings, but none of them are designed to be passed on to succeeding generations.

What does Ezekiel 18 teach?

This chapter reveals the exact opposite of generational curses. We are to note (vv 19-21) that the sons will not be held accountable for their fathers sins, neither will the fathers be held accountable for their children’s sins.

Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Christians have received ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in Christ (Eph 1:3-12)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

 

[missmuffet]

Question: "What does the Bible say about breaking generational curses?"

Answer: The Bible mentions “generational curses” in several places (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18;Deuteronomy 5:9). God warns that He is “a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”

It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, there is more to it than that. The effects of sin are naturally passed down from one generation to the next. When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to practice the same sinful lifestyle. Implied in the warning of Exodus 20:5 is the fact that the children will choose to repeat the sins of their fathers. A Jewish Targum specifies that this passage refers to “ungodly fathers” and “rebellious children.” So, it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – those generations are committing the same sins their ancestors did.

There is a trend in the church today to try to blame every sin and problem on some sort of generational curse. This is not biblical. God’s warning to visit iniquity on future generations is part of the Old Testament Law. A generational curse was a consequence for a specific nation (Israel) for a specific sin (idolatry). The history books of the Old Testament (especially Judges) contain the record of this divine punishment meted out.

The cure for a generational curse has always been repentance. When Israel turned from idols to serve the living God, the “curse” was broken and God saved them (Judges 3:9, 15; 1 Samuel 12:10-11). Yes, God promised to visit Israel’s sin upon the third and fourth generations, but in the very next verse He promised that He would show “love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6). In other words, God’s grace lasts a thousand times longer than His wrath.

For the Christian who is worried about a generational curse, the answer is salvation through Jesus Christ. A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). How can a child of God still be under God’s curse (Romans 8:1)? The cure for a “generational curse” is repentance of the sin in question, faith in Christ, and a life consecrated to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

http://www.gotquestions.org/generational-curses.html

Edited August 17, 2015 by bopeep1909

[other one]

You should define a generational curse

[Ezra]

You should define a generational curse

A generational curse is a curse passed down from one generation to the next, and according to those who hold to this belief, may continue for many generations.

[Ezra]

yes. (re title)

simplejeff,

Can you support "yes" with Scripture?

[Willa]

We are delivered from generational curses when we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.  He became a curse for us when He died on the cross according to Galatians because "cursed is every man who hangs on a tree."  While this curse is referring to not keeping the law perfectly, the same principle applies.  Jesus took those curses to the cross.  We are free, indeed!

[Kan]

The text "visiting the iniquity upon..." or the Lord visiting the iniquity upon...the third and fourth generation, has often been interpreted as some kind of curse of God onto the hapless descendants, as if guilt is passed on. But this command or word was written by God, and spoken to Moses, the one who was told by the Lord that He is compassionate and merciful.

This seems like a contradiction, but the Lord visits the iniquity which is upon the generations, He does not visit the generations to punish them, but to challenge the deeds/sins/character defects passed on through inheritance and by acquired tendencies.

The Lord is interested in breaking the cycles of sin, degradation and abuse, until it is wiped out. 

Not one person in the chain of events is ignored by the Lord, but attended by the Lord's mercies with the purpose of annihilating the sins through His mercy accepted. All human beings are in the same predicament, and offered the same.

Are generational curses real? 

 

Edited August 18, 2015 by Kan
grammar

[Pamelasv]

We are delivered from generational curses when we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.  He became a curse for us when He died on the cross according to Galatians because "cursed is every man who hangs on a tree."  While this curse is referring to not keeping the law perfectly, the same principle applies.  Jesus took those curses to the cross.  We are free, indeed!

I beIieve this, too, tho I also believe their are deliverance ministries out there in which God may choose to do an instant deliverance from a sin problem, rather than the person fighting it for a while.   

[other one]

I'm not sure you all know enough about curses to really get inside the subject........   and I'm not sure most of you need to....

Let me just say that when a curse is placed on someone it is tying the spiritual world to someone in a very negative way.....   the demonic forces usually do things to and get other people to do things to the person....       Those can be generational if the person or family who is cursed does not understand what's going on.....   Jesus can quickly end the curse if he so chooses when asked, but occasionally it seems he lets us learn hard lessons before doing so.

 

Another form of generational curse comes from families who serve Lucifer and involve their children in the process.   This can go on for many many generations until someone in the family breaks away and comes to Jesus.     Carolyn Hamlett would be an example of this and though the dark side has tried to harm her for many years, Jesus has protected her from them all along.   She is a wonderful example of the power of the Holy Spirit over the dark side.

 

So I would just say that Yes there is such things as Generational Curses, but the Holy Spirit can end them if asked.

[Pamelasv]

I'm not sure you all know enough about curses to really get inside the subject........   and I'm not sure most of you need to....

Let me just say that when a curse is placed on someone it is tying the spiritual world to someone in a very negative way.....   the demonic forces usually do things to and get other people to do things to the person....       Those can be generational if the person or family who is cursed does not understand what's going on.....   Jesus can quickly end the curse if he so chooses when asked, but occasionally it seems he lets us learn hard lessons before doing so.

 

Another form of generational curse comes from families who serve Lucifer and involve their children in the process.   This can go on for many many generations until someone in the family breaks away and comes to Jesus.     Carolyn Hamlett would be an example of this and though the dark side has tried to harm her for many years, Jesus has protected her from them all along.   She is a wonderful example of the power of the Holy Spirit over the dark side.

 

So I would just say that Yes there is such things as Generational Curses, but the Holy Spirit can end them if asked.

yes, demons will follow generations.  If a person has more of a susceptible tendency to a certain sin, that spirit will have a greater chance of getting in there to cause/ enhance that particular sin problem.