12/8/12: Generational curses can be a silent killer. The term “silent killer” meaning that an unrecognized condition or behavior that detrimental effect, seemingly without explanation. This was brought to mind an event more than 25 years ago when I first learned about generational curses. I recalled a well known and large Lebanese family in my town who had suffered 3 fatal car accidents over two generations and in period of a few years. I prayed with one of the family members to stop this and to my knowledge, none have occurred since.
It recently occurred to me about new born deaths in my heritage, which should have been obvious years ago. After both of my daughters lost a child at child birth or shortly thereafter, I recalled the same happened to my mother with my sister Rona Lee. I then recalled my paternal grandmother had several miscarriages and still births. She had 7 live births. Wow! I have prayed that this tragic tendency or curse for what ever reason be stopped in the Name of Jesus for my descendants going forward.
Many Christian families are unaware of this potential or even deny it. In my mind to do so is to their detriment. Generational curses in the spiritual realm are controversial in main line Christian theology. They argue that Christians are redeemed from the curse based upon Galatians 3:13 (Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law). Also, in Romans 8:1 it says “there in therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”. I have no argument; however, no mention is made of redemption from the consequences of a generational curse. In fact a father’s sin will result in consequences to others who are other wise innocent from his actions. In the Old Testament there is the admonition to ask for forgiveness from the sins of our fathers. This was because under the old covenant the blessings and curses were congregational on the Israelis, not toward the individual as under the new covenant.
Absent the theological controversy, I am a pragmatist. I think of it this way. No one would argue against DNA hereditary transmission. Aside from physical characteristics we know that certain diseases have hereditary basis. Few would argue against intellectual capacity generational transmission. It is known that divorce runs through families. Therefore I want to be aware of the potential of a spiritual inheritance affecting my life or my descendants. I prayed forgiveness for my divorcing and freedom from such for my descendants.
On the positive side there is the benefit for one’s household for following Christ. They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Romans 16:31) There is the benefit of provision for the righteous man’s descendants. “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) ”The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. (Proverbs 3:33) “Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21) “Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.” (Proverbs 20:7)
