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For one thing, it suggests that someone else is responsible for one’s wrongdoing. That fits in with the secular idea that all wrong behavior can be explained by a natural cause and need not be called sin.

There is no question about the fact that heredity and environment do pass some things on to descendants.

"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, but showing love to a thousand generations! ..." (Exodus 20:5,6).

What is YOUR view point???

2007-09-27 01:37:49 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

The idea of a generational curse has captured the thinking of many Christians because it sounds so reasonable. Without doubt, parents have an influence on their children through inherited traits and parental teaching and example. But God holds individuals responsible for their choices and sins, not the sins of ancestors.

2007-09-27 01:39:26 · update #1

If the sins of the previous generations affect us, for whatever reason, what can be done to break the "curse"?

2007-09-27 02:01:04 · update #2

23 answers

God says "but showing love to a thousand generations"
--God chooses us, this goes to show this once again in the Bible, as there are MANY scriptural references of God saying He chooses us. And that we have NO glory in salvation. Only He does!
Read Ezekial 18 as well (concerning this question)
Here is half of the chapter:
vs 14-32
14 "But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:

15 "He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor's wife.

16 He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.

17 He withholds his hand from sin [c]
and takes no usury or excessive interest.
He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

19 "Yet you ask, 'Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

21 "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

24 "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. 27 But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. 28 Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30 "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

2007-09-27 07:01:49 · answer #1 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 0 0

MY viewpoint is that I'm not a Biblical scholar, but I DO own several commentaries, and this is Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible:
Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children - This necessarily implies - if the children walk in the steps of their fathers; for no man can be condemned by Divine justice for a crime of which he was never guilty; see Ezekiel 18. Idolatry is however particularly intended, and visiting sins of this kind refers principally to national judgments. By withdrawing the Divine protection the idolatrous Israelites were delivered up into the hands of their enemies, from whom the gods in whom they had trusted could not deliver them. This God did to the third and fourth generations, i.e., successively; as may be seen in every part of the Jewish history, and particularly in the book of Judges. And this, at last, became the grand and the only effectual and lasting means in his hand of their final deliverance from idolatry; for it is well known that after the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were so completely saved from idolatry, as never more to have disgraced themselves by it as they had formerly done. These national judgments, thus continued from generation to generation, appear to be what are designed by the words in the text, Visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children, etc.

The question in additional details is answered in Ezekial 18:20-32

2007-09-27 23:13:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

In the Biblical text, it is a warning to fathers, that by hating the Lord, their sins will affect their children for generations to come. And often it is the case, it is very hard for a child to live down the reputation of a father. But I do not believe that this should be taken literally. Like so many parables in the bible, you have to look and what your reading and think about it. I think ( personally) that it is saying to live your life, Love the Lord, raise your children to Love the Lord, and live your life in a decent Christian way, being honest and kind.

2007-09-27 01:53:10 · answer #3 · answered by dar3412002 1 · 0 0

No, it does not suggest that someone else is responsible for one's wrongdoing. It tells us that there are consequences to everything we do, and that consequence does not always affect JUST us. When you do something wrong, it can hurt your family, your kids, and in extreme situations it can hurt your descendants. God knew that the Israelites would make poor decisions that would ultimately destroy their civilization. He was warning them that they need to be good people and follow his commandments. That means no stealing, no cheating, not murdering, no disrespecting, and no idolatry. It means putting others before yourself. It means working together with those around you. It has nothing to do with heredity or natural causes. It's all a matter of decision making and the consequences of bad decisions. It's just a fact of life; a pretty obvious one regardless of one's religious beliefs.

2007-09-27 01:43:33 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1 0

"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." (Ezekiel 18:20).

The children suffer only when they participate in their father's sins. Children learn and inherit sinful tendencies from their parents. But with God's help we all can change.

2007-09-27 01:49:59 · answer #5 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 1 0

i'm chuffed which you ask. There are actual some that practice interior the Bible that Jesus is God. Hebrews a million 6 And lower back, whilst God brings his firstborn into the worldwide, he says, "enable all God's angels worship him." 8 yet relating to the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will final endlessly, and righteousness stands out as the scepter of your kingdom. 9 you have enjoyed righteousness and hated wickedness; for this reason God, your God, has set you above your companions by skill of anointing you with the oil of excitement." Isaiah 9 6 For to us a newborn is born, to us a son is given, and the government would be on his shoulders. And he would be referred to as surprising Counselor, powerful God, eternal Father, Prince of Peace. so a strategies as unique sin, as in, something that would practice that each and every person adult males are sinners, they die. death replaced right into a curse reported by skill of God upon Adam. And their offspring. And so we die. That one is actual shown via skill of the qualifier; human beings have been dying without exception.

2016-10-09 22:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

This was cleared up in Ezekiel chapter 18. You'd have to read the entire chapter to understand, but the main verse that seems to sum it up is verse 20, which says,"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."
So basically, we each are accountable for ourselves.

2007-09-27 01:48:45 · answer #7 · answered by Jed 7 · 3 0

My view point is of common sense.

Justice and Equality means everyone is responsible for their own sins. And its not fair for me to pay for the sin of someone I dont even know.

How can you claim that God is all Just when you claim He will make you pay for the sin of someone else???

2007-09-27 03:35:58 · answer #8 · answered by Antares 6 · 0 0

You've pretty much clarified your question in the additional details.

"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. " - Ezekiel 18:19,20.

2007-09-27 01:44:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

I just take it to mean, that your actions can affect other people...and I don't know any Christians that are superstitious like that, although I'm sure there are some. If a husband or wife cheats then goes through a divorce, their children are being affected by their sins.

2007-09-27 01:41:37 · answer #10 · answered by Chickenfarmer 7 · 0 1

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