According to the Christian tradition, we carry the sin of Adam and Eve to this day, a sin from generations ago. Will parents be punished for the sins of their children? Say that there is a particular family. They have always been very pious and humble. However, one son in this family completely rejects the religion. His parents sent him to a good Christian school, brought him to church every week, and tried to instill Christianity into him with all of their hearts. They did everything they knew how to do but still failed. The parents atone for their failure and continue to try but eventually die, while the son continues his life of sin. Will the parents be judged for the actions of their child? What about his grandparents? Great-grandparents?
I'm guessing some of you will say that this isn't a possible scenario, that if the parents had done everything their son would be a Christian. I appreciate this sentiment but would like to hear from those who consider this a viable situation.
2007-01-01 19:32:01 · 7 answers · asked by Phil 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I love when people tell me not to worry so much when my eternal salvation is at stake. As for the statement about hereditary disease, that works nicely for that situation, but in many cultures throughout time (including today), bad acts by children bring shame on the parents. I would think this is much more similar to shame than muscular dystrophy.
And I'm not worried. I'm an atheist, so this isn't even something relevant to my life. I'm just interested in it from a philosophical point of view.
2007-01-01 19:48:12 · update #1
The parents are not held accountable for the actions of the child. Each person will stand before God one day and account for how he/she spent his life. Remember the parable of the talents? Let's call talents money to make it easier. The master entrusted each servant with a certain amount of money and went away. Two of the servants invested it wisely while the other did nothing. The two servants who invested the money were rewarded, not based on how much the money grew but based on the wise use of it. Parents are entrusted with a child to be raised properly under God. They are not judged on how the child turned out but whether they were faithful in the manner the child was raised.
Just to clarify about the sins of the father being visited on the future generations. It's not that God takes out vengeance on future generations for past sins. We live in a fallen world and each action we take ripples out in directions we cannot fathom with our mortal mind. Diseases and emotional disorders and all sorts of other pleasant things have entered the human race because of sin over time. Humans were given free will and because of that free will we also suffer the consequences of choices we make and those choices made by those who have gone before us.
2007-01-01 19:54:44 · answer #1 · answered by desi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sincerely confused, my dear it is the sins of the fathers not the children. No the parents will not be punished for the children,only in life. But children get punished over generations of time. Stands to reason even in Scientific knowledge, like disease passed on from the fathers, incest, syphillis, aids, hiv, cancer, all genetic transfers, it does not go in reverse. I would not worry about the after life no one has gotten there and come back to report yet. And anyone that said that the parents are responsible for the Child being a Christian and they tried, they are nuts. No one can force someone who is opposed from within. Maybe he/she is Christian but lives in a different form and does not believe in the strictness of the man made bible. It is not wrong to adapt later either, maybe the kid just has to grow up and get some experience. Happy New Year Dont worry so much.
2007-01-01 19:40:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey friend . . .
Well the good word says, train up a child in the way he should go . . .
As godly parents, grandparents, family, or friend, we "get to" plant seeds and water them concerning who God is and the importancy of having a relationship with Him.
Far too often, people misrepresent God, do as I say and not as I do at home away from church, etc.
We never have to try to convince or save, or play the part of the holy spirit, God is big enough to make Himself real. However He loves to use people.
Parents of whomever will not be punished if their child or grand child doesn't come to the Lord.
We are all accountable to share the love of the Lord once we commit to Him.
Its all about relationship, there are people that have religion, but dont know God.
God has no grand children, we all make a personal choice to let him be our partner, friend, saviour, Lord, etc.
I know people that were turned off by their parents who are pastors and ran away from God, so even that doesn't guarantee.
And thats another conversation.
Its perfectly fine to reject religion.
The good book says if your religion doesn't draw you close to God, than that religion is in vain.
You know Jesus is rejected all the time and yet He is the Giver of Life.
It's all about trust.
We trust God to change us, to meet our kids at their point of need as well, even though they maybe on drugs, in jail, running the streets or even being religious, having a form of godliness but no power and then sending everybody to hell they meet.
And thats another conversation.
The bible says, when you give your life to him, that your household shall be saved.
I think its pretty hopeful don't you think, we can't read someone's heart sometimes, especially if they are living the life of o'reilly, get hit by car and then bullet a silent repentative prayer that God honored without our permission or knowing.
Trust and pray and be a light my friend.
Just be the example, be transparent, be real, don't be super spiritual that you turn off people, tell on yourself when you fail so people can identify, stay humble, choose to be happy, love your wife, your kids, be a good friend to people, love God deeply and go all the way !!!
And when someone's parents and grandparents of certain individual dies and that person goes 180 degrees from God, than pray for them, and if God leads, go be a friend and don't judge.
Leave the 99 and YOU go after the one.
Someone came after me.
Remember we all can't run from a loving God, there is no place that far ! :-)
www.myspace.com/mandorodarte
2007-01-01 20:09:20 · answer #3 · answered by Mando Man 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That situation happens to more people than you know. Parents are not responisble for the sins of their children. The Bible says so. Can you control the actions of grown children? No. Neither can we blame our parents for our sins.
2007-01-01 19:36:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the sins of the parents are passed on to the first and second generation Jesus can break that just give your life to him so that u will receive forgiveness
2007-01-01 19:42:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
isn't it more like the children are punished for the sins of their parents? hehehe...
2007-01-01 19:35:04 · answer #6 · answered by That's A Lot of Nonsense 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
oh come on now, to get out of the charge of sins of anyone all you have to do is beg forgiveness from god and jesus, right???? us witches are stuck with our own messes. odd isnt it.
2007-01-01 19:34:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋