My sermon this past Sunday was titled “Learning to Surrender.” Submission to God is a very difficult thing. We want what we want and often do not care or think of the consequences. There are also moments when we are called to surrender circumstances that are not our own. A good friend often says, “I didn’t break it, and I can’t fix it.”
What if we are called to surrender our worry about someone close to us? In my message, I brought up our kids as one example.
I Samuel gives us two examples. First is Eli and his sons. Eli was one of the last judges of Israel and was a priest. I Samuel 2 tells us this story. Eli’s sons were evil. They seduced women in the Tabernacle and stole from the sacred sacrifices. While Eli is righteous, his sons are not. So, God raises Samuel to be the final judge of Israel.
In 1 Samuel 8, we see that Samuel is now old, and the situation is repeating itself. Samuel’s sons were also wicked men. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. It does seem that Samuel kept his boys from serving as priests. I suppose that is something. Perhaps he remembered the sins of Eli’s family and how God wiped them out.
Whatever the reasons, the children of Israel came to Samuel and asked for a king to rule them. They wanted to look like the nations around them. Samuel took this request to the Lord, who instructed him to do as they had asked.
I want to focus on these two connected accounts and show that there was a righteous father and wicked sons in both places. Parents, you are not responsible for the sinful choices your children make. Be released from the guilt. It only serves as a way for the enemy to keep you discouraged.
Where does this idea originate?
The Law of God stated that the Father’s sins would be placed on the sons to the third and fourth generations. In the same way, a father is guilty of his son’s sin. He should raise his kids to know better. This Scripture gives us the often-cited idea of generational curses. Oh, how the Christian world has latched onto this idea and run with it…even using it as an excuse for sinful behavior.
The problem is Ezekiel 18 undoes what was written in the Law. Here, the prophecy states that you will no longer say this. Instead, the father is guilty of his sin, and the son is guilty of his. Ezekiel is teaching personal responsibility and destroying the poor theology of generational curses. As a point of clarification, the Law and Ezekiel are both Old Testament. Yet, many bring that idea into the New Testament context.
That, too, will not hold up. Galatians 3:13 reminds us that Jesus became the curse for us and broke the curse of the law and sin in our lives. I find it counterproductive for believers to pronounce that they are under a curse. How foolish. Why would I profess to have what Christ Himself bore and broke for me, especially since most believers understand the power of our words?
Some might say yes, but what about generations of cancer or alcoholism? These things certainly affect the fallen world we live in. I would also agree that there is a place and a need for deliverance in our world. Maybe more than ever before. My mom died of cancer at the age of 60. If, God forbid, He allows me to also die of cancer, do I believe the Lord has cursed me or has allowed the enemy to curse me? Do I think the sin of my great-great-grandfather causes this cancer? ADAMENTLY NO!
Perhaps it is somewhat semantic. Maybe it is our reality colliding with our beliefs.
According to Scripture, this must then connect with the idea of sons, fathers, and guilt. Parent, you are not responsible for your adult child’s choices. Their relationship with God is theirs. You cannot save them. You can intercede for them and give the situation over to the Lord, trusting that He will faithfully pursue your prodigal.
I realize many Christians will disagree with me, and that’s okay. We learn by studying diverging thoughts and beliefs. I have studied this for many years. Mainly because I see the result of the guilt parents walk in and the tendency to blame our bad behavior on generational sins.
Therefore, I have included the following article for those who want to study my opinion more deeply. Whether you choose to do so or not, do not allow your children’s actions to condemn you. Pray for them. Believe in their salvation but surrender them to God. Only He can save them.
Article: Generational Curses by Dr. Opal Reddin
https://dividingword.net/Original Sin/Generational curses.html
Dr. Reddin taught at the Bible College I attended. Though I never sat under her. She retired the semester before I arrived.
Through Time 