Dear Fellow Believers in Christ:
I wanted to start my blog with a controversial subject that has found its way in the Christian church in recent years. This teaching is called “generational curses,” and has a strong footing in many of our Word of Faith churches as well as many of the mainline Pentecostal churches. First, I want to make the point that it is not my desire to simply argue against this destructive teaching, but to answer the question are generational curses a realily in the lives of Believers?
Do we have any example in Scripture that would point to this doctrine as being a legitimate teaching? I believe that the evidence of Scripture will bear record that the answer to these questions is a resounding NO! In fact, I would lump this false heresy in the category that Paul speaks about in his first epistle to Timothy as “Doctrine of Demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
In order that we might have some background into this destructive heresy, I want to list four passages that are often used by the proponents of this teaching to substantiate the claim that the bible does in fact teach that generational curses are real. They are: Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:8; Dueteronomy 5:9. In these Scriptures we read words like “visiting the iniquity of the fathers unto the third and fourth generations of those who hate God.”
What does this statement really mean in context? Does God really curse the children and grandchildren of people who lived ungodly lives? Is this the meaning that God intended to convey to His hearers? Well, the first thing you should know is that there are whole ministries dedicated to helping people “break free” from these generational curses over their lives, many of which they may no knowledge of.
Again, I ask is this the point of the passage? Does it mean to convey the idea that God punishes the children for the sins of their fathers? For the purpose of this first posting, my intention is not to answer this question in one setting as it would simply take too much time and space. However, we want to wet your appettite enough so that you will weigh in on the matter.
Whereas God’s wrath would be visited to the third and fourth generations for those who hate God, His mercy would be visited on thousands of generations for those who love God. Notice the contrast. The point of the passage is not to communicate the number of generations who will be blessed versus the number who will be cursed, but rather to communicate that God’s mercy far exceeds His wrath.
It is important to note that the curses are on those who “hate God”. It is not for those who “love God”, but make some mistakes in life. I will add one more reason as to why this teaching is heresy. In these passages, God is the active agent behind these curses. The text is clear that the origin of the curse is God, not Satan. Why would God break the curse that He is responsible for giving? After all, He wouldn’t have said He was going to curse the third and fourth generations if He did not want the sinner’s third and fourth generations to be cursed. To invoked God’s help in breaking His curse is to ask God to will something other than what He expressly wills.
This is contradictory, and it undermines all those churches and ministries that attempt to break generational curses, for they are found to be fighting against God! Stay tuned for more.
This is a great posting. thank you for posting on this very important topic. Larry Huch is a pimp who makes a fortune teaching on this subject!
God Bless,
Phil
I agree brother
Hello. I would like to greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let me start off by saying I do believe in generational curses. What I have gathered from reading the comments above is that first off, there is confusion over the word “curse”. In the old testament, to be cursed, was to be powerless under the negative consequences of the spiritual realm. (one of the many examples is Joshua Ch. 7 where the sin of Achan cursed Israel and killed his family) Now lets fast-forward to the New Testament and modern times. Being cursed still means to be under the negative consequenes of the spiritual realm, but we are no longer powerless. Jesus’ blood frees us, although curses still exist, and are unfortunately successful.
I compare this to the closely related example of Christ death freeing our bondage to sin. Although we (christians) are freed, many of us are still slaves to sin because we are unaware of our freedom in Christ and have failed to acknowledge and confess our sin. In this way, Christ blood did not do away with generational curses, however it is all we need to overcome them. Once a person becomes saved they have all they need to overcome a generational curse, but I believe they still have to acknowledge it and bring it before the Lord, much like we must do with sin.
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself”
This passage, when taken in context (read the whole chapter is referring to the direct consequences of sin. (v. 30 I will judge everyone according to his ways). Whatever YOU do, YOU will be judged for, no one else. Understood. Lets us not confuse this with generational curses. Again I define someone who is cursed as being ‘under the negative consequences of the spiritual realm’. BASED ON EZEKIEL 18 (all verses), A father will be judged for his own sins. The son will not be judged for sins committed by the father, only his own. A GENERATIONAL CURSE DOES NOT CHANGE OR INTERFERE WITH THIS TRUTH. A GENERATIONAL CURSE, WHEN PRESENT, INCLINES THE SON TO STRUGGLE IN THE AREAS THE FATHER STRUGGLED. ALTHOUGH THE SON’S ACTIONS ARE HIS OWN, HE WILL HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY DEALING WITH THE SAME TYPES OF SINS AS HIS FATHER, BECAUSE HIS FATHER’S SIN WAS BLATANT AND IGNORED; NEVER BROUGHT BEFORE THE LORD AND CONFESSED. THAT IS A GENERATIONAL CURSE. The son will have to acknowledge the curse and bring it before the Lord, so that Jesus’ blood can provide atonement.
JESUS BLOOD DOES NOT REMOVE THE PRESENCE OF CURSES, JUST AS IT DOES NOT REMOVE THE PRESENCE OF SIN. HOWEVER, IT IS ALL WE NEED TO OVERCOME THEM BOTH, PROVIDED WE ASK.
Sin and generational curses are closely related, as I stated earlier, because generational curses come from sin that has been undealt with. Just as Adam’s sinful nature was passed down to all generations after, consequences are passed down to later generations when sin is blatant and ignored. That is why as african americans, so many evils are prevalent in because as a people, we have many sins that are blatant and ignored. I know you all know what I am talking about. That is why the majority of our youth are fatherless and statistically at a disadvantage. Caucasians have generational curses as well (racism, suicide, etc.) These must be addressed.
On a final note, slandering Dr. Evans is incredibly inmature and counter-productive to the Body of Christ. Seperate your major doctrines from your minor doctrines. Dr. Evans is a believer and is doing Christ work. His major doctrines are accurate, as he believes in Christ blood and resurrection. He is teaching the gospel in neighborhoods where no one else will go, to much avail. So to slander him on his minor doctrines is ungodly and devisive. I am by no means saying that he is correct in his dealing with others of questionable integrity. He is a man, who is a sinner like everyone else, and susceptible to satan’s attacks. What I am saying is that we are in no position to judge him; he will be judged by the father when the time comes for his actions. Us slandering a believer does not benefit the body at all. And his teachings on generational curses are accurate…
In Christ
cpeeze
Dear Cpeeze:
Thank you for your response to this subject. While I appreciate your efforts in trying to bring clarity, I must respectfully disagree with your findings. The Scriptures clearly do not teach that there are generational curses; that is more of “Word of Faith” teachings. You mentioned about “Slandering Dr. Evans”; and I am a bit confused as I do not know whom you are speaking of, nor is a “Dr. Evans” even mentioned in this posting. Perhaps this is a mistake on your part. However, I do appreciate you commenting. Take care, and may God bless you!
Sincerely,
Dear Reverend!
I am in agreement with you about this topic but If saints believe in the generaional curse all that this means is that they have recieved seed not in good ground but by the way side and in stony places and they cannot see the truth ,the bible says that yo must
be born again o see the kingdom of God not physically
but spiritually your eyes have to be open to the truth
just like Saul Of Taursus before he became Paul gong around persecuting
the churches defending the Mosaic law instead of grace