This assumption is not based on scripture, but it is rooted in superstition and occult philosophy. Next is a compilation of teachings in comparison to the teaching of ancestral/ Generational curses that is being bandied about in the churches today, this is no different to the following information: [2] an occult website (that pursues the dark arts saying that it is dedicated to the promotion of Shiva Consciousness, Shamanism, Magick and Goddess Spirituality, teaching on voodoo), states: "Quite often you will notice that there is a certain pattern in your family. Maybe of great financial losses or of violent death, of unhappy relationships, or problems with a particular element such as water or fire, etc. The pattern can be so obvious that even people without spiritual training notice it and draw the conclusion that there is a "curse" on their family or on them. Though ancestral curses are common, this is not the only possible cause of the problem. Sometimes ancestors carry them and pass this on through many generations and so we effectively curse ourselves."

"Due to all the misinformation about what happens prior to and during death many souls become earthbound. This is getting so bad that we can almost talk about an "overpopulation problem" on the astral! of course there is no space problem on the astral, but we are having a built up of negativity due to so many earthbound spirits most of whom are not happy in this temporary realm. All spirits need to draw energy from living beings (mostly humans, but they can draw it from your pets also) to avoid the breaking up of their astral bodies and the so called second death."

The language contained in such books and taught from the pulpits is very much the same, it is believed by those who hold to this view and in the case of Church teaching in difference to generational curses and ancestral curses it is hidden in amongst Christian doctrine; it is not uncommon for the Bible to be taken contextually incorrect in this way.

The teaching on ancestral curses and generational curses resonates in the teachings of Voodoo (Vodun) whose practices are witchcraft. Voodoo also uses Christian terms as it is a mixture of the Roman Catholic Religion and paganism; this is how the use of Christian terms can be explained. [3]

Other Cultures and religions teach the same thing.

In the following [4] David Furlong, a practicing new-ager, teaches the same teaching of ancestral curses that is in the churches today:

It is an interesting supposition that the enmity felt between the Arabs and the Jews could have an ancestral cause. Both trace their origins back to Abraham; the Arabs tracing their descent through Ishmael the eldest, but illegitimate son, whilst the Jews are descended from Isaac. Had both sons been treated evenly perhaps the present level of antagonism between these two races might never have occurred. In a similar way there are a number of aristocratic families in Britain that have family "curses" that appear to run inexorably down through the generations…..

Ancestral curses have been taught also in the "Ancient Egyptian story of Isis and Osiris, his brother Set cut Osiris into 14 pieces. This is a curious number that does not find echo in other traditions."

David Furlong reveals that Ancestral curses are linked in with Ancestral worship shown in other cultures such as ancient China: Also your family tree chart mirrors exactly the developing tri-grams of the I Ching of Ancient China. This starts off with two lines yang _ and yin _ _ which represents your father and mother. The next line represents your grandparent's parents and then progresses to the 8 tri-grams that are the basis of the 64 hexagrams. The I Ching was originally used in Ancient China by the Emperor to consult with his ancestors for the benefit of his people.

About this occult astrologer [5] Anand Sagar Pathak: says: Curses of forefathers can cause serious health problems which may become so complicated that medical practitioners may fail to diagnose the disease and medicine prescribed may become totally ineffective. The problem goes beyond the scope of medical sciences.

Symptoms like abnormal behaviour, uncontrollable anger, inflicting fatal injuries to others, depression, suicidal tendencies, uncontrollable pain persisting even after medication; rashes in body parts without any visible cause, nausea may have some relationship with such curses. Many such problems have a cyclic occurrence and seem related to the movement of planets. These relationships show that complicated health issues are due to "Pitra dosha" and steps should be taken to solve these problems through astrological methods suggested in the astrological classics. A psychiatrist and an astrologer can work together in finding solution for such complicated issues.

In addition to the medical problems mentioned above, the "Pitra dosha" can cause some more problems like:-

a) Childlessness b) Repeated miscarriages c) Family disputes d) Health issues in the family e) Obstacles in career and education without any apparent reason. f) Inability to get married g) Addictions h) Birth of mentally challenged children i) Demise of children at young age

This is also believed by many Christians to be the only indication that a person has any of the following has a generational or ancestral curse. The root of this way of thinking is exactly the same as spoken of by many different religious practices, this is also rooted in ancestral worship.

[6] The Banda Tribe in Ghana, the Banda Tribe is 85% Sunni Muslim "The non-Muslim Banda practice pagan's ethnic religions such as ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for help or guidance). When a person dies, the family sets up a special shrine in his honor. Every important step in a man's life is recorded at his shrine. The ancestral spirits are worshipped at the shrines, usually by the men. The spirits are believed to be "guardian spirits" over the family's children. "

The Banda are very superstitious. They wear magical charms and make medicines to protect themselves from curses or diseases. When a woman has twins, this is viewed as a punishment or a curse on the family. Parents of twins must be purified. The Banda believe that anyone who defies the magical charm or purifying medicine will be cursed.

African Tribal Traditions

The following will explain how the belief in how ancestral/ generational curses are tied into ancestral worship: [7] "Ancestor worship is reverence granted to deceased relations who are believed to have become powerful spiritual beings. Ancestor worship and reverence (defined as awe or respect) is based on the belief that the spirits of the dead continued to dwell in the natural world and have power to influence the fortune and fate of the living. Ancestors are believed to powerful great authority, having special powers to influence the course of events or to control the well being of their living relatives."

The West African people believe that the ancestors reincarnate in their descendants. This creates symbolic relationship between humans and their ancestors. They are eventually reborn into human society only if humans remember them and make regular offerings of food and prayer. In return, the ancestors or shadows of the deceased will help the living relative. If neglected, the ancestor may cause disease and other misfortunes.

Every family has their share of uninspiring ancestors. If you know a particular ancestor suffered from substance abuse, and extremely destructive behavior, their names do not need to be included in the invocation process. The ancestors we invoke will influence our behavior. We do not need the influence of child molesters, drug dealers and sociopath criminals!

Comparing the teachings of ancestral/generational curses you can clearly see that there is no distinction in the teachings themselves they are the same, nowhere can you relate this teaching with the scriptures, the Bible says 1 Timothy 1:4 - Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do].

This teaching is refuted they are mixing in this case endless genealogies with the Gospel, the Bible is against this practice and teaching as it puts people under the very law that Jesus came to liberate us from, spoken of in Romans 8 that Jesus Christ has come to set me free from the Law of sin and death, in Galatians 3:1

‘O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?’

Here Paul is saying why do you not believe Jesus Christ who was crucified, Galatians 3:10 says For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Placing people under the belief that they have an ancestral curse is unscriptural and places people under condemnation, in Galatians 3:11 – 13 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

This teaching of ancestral/generational curses is a complete rejection of the cross and an attack on penal substitution. It nullifies the cross and puts the Gospel of Jesus Christ into to disrepute.

Hebrews 2:14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus Christ has broken every curse. When a person is bought by the blood of Christ and through Faith is a believer the moment that the regeneration of the soul takes place he knows, through Faith in Jesus Christ, that he is no longer under any curse, as this comes through repentance, no believer has any reason to believe that he/she is under a curse of any sort.

Colossians 1:20-22, 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The moment a person is a believer he is covered by the Blood, all things are reconciled through this we are considered by God to be Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his very sight. If a person is saved what reason is there that a person should remain under a curse, unless of course the people who believe in these superstitious beliefs are not of faith but of works? Their faith, then, is dead. If their faith was in Christ, who put himself in our place, this teaching would not be applicable.

1Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Bible teaches that it was through Adam we received the curse, Gen. 2:16-17, And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

It is curses that bring death. The word curse literally means “God’s judgment” and this was brought to the whole human race as mentioned in Gen. 4:8, Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, this says, then, that the curse was removed, is finished with. As confirmed in 1 Corinthians 15:22, if we are made Alive in Christ there is no more curse, the teaching that you can be a Christian and be under a curse or Possessed by a demon is a lie.

What this teaches is that Christ's death on the cross is not sufficient and has not broken the power of sin. The Bible gives us a very clear warning on this issue,

1 John 5:10 - 12 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

If we are under curses there is no life in us, if we have believed Jesus has set us free then there is no more curse. The teaching of Generational curses makes God out to be a liar, even to say a Christian can be possessed by a demon goes against the account of John in 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. If a person is truly saved he cannot be possessed by a demon, it is impossible as he is God’s possession- unless that person is not really saved by regeneration: Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

To say we need to break curses is not showing that we truly put our faith and trust in God, it is putting people under the law and the works of the law, Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

This teaching that Christians are still under the curse by reciting Exodus 20:7 and Exodus 34:7 are trying to justify themselves by using the teaching of the law to put other believers under it. They make a whole doctrine out of a couple of scriptures quoted out of context and try to break the curses themselves when Christ already did this at the Cross by God’s power. They do not realize that unbelievers are already cursed because they have no law and the Jews are cursed because of the Law, the curses belong to God, and God dealt with all curses when Christ died on that Cross as Romans 8 teaches, Jesus has liberated us because we cannot please God in the flesh.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Jesus shows us that no amount of law we try to keep can ever regenerate the human heart as The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

This is the reason why those who teach generational/ancestral curses are to be refuted because they undermine the person of Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross and make themselves enemies of the Cross!

As for the Ten Commandments were given to reveal to us that we are sinners because we broke God’s law resulting in the impact of God’s judgment on man, which is the curse of death.

Galatians 3:11 – 13 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

If we are under curses Christ is not in us and we are not in Him. If we are in Christ through faith then all curses are no more, Jesus took God’s curse upon himself on that cross. If you don't have faith in this you should take the warning in John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The Passages quoted in Exodus 34:7 and Numbers 14:17 – 18 are two different groups of people, those who reject Christ and His Gospel to whom God will show no mercy (even though God’s desire is to see them saved), and the other appears to be the ones who have been reconciled to God through His forgiveness removing any curse from them and giving them great mercy.

As for Women, any woman who has Christ (and has been redeemed by his Blood) such curses cannot be passed onto her children, those curses have been finished on the cross 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

All Curses, whether believed to be Generational or Ancestral, are already broken automatically when a person comes to be a believer. All curses are done away with, as it says in Isaiah 53:11 – 12 (Jesus Christ) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The belief in Generational Curses has placed many under bondage. These teachings are contrary to scripture.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Jesus liberated us from such things. Do you now see how these teachings have led so many astray and will you now put your faith and trust in Jesus? That's all it takes.

With Love in Christ
Miguel Hayworth
Director/First Plumbline Apologetics – 24/01/11

Refs:

[1] http://pullingdownstrongholds.com/deliverance/
six_entries_of_evil.htm [pro-ancestral curses]

[2] http://www.way-of-the-wild-rose.com/ancestors_72.html
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_African_Vodun
[4] http://www.kch42.dial.pipex.com/ancestral.htm
[5] http://ezinearticles.com/?Curses-of-Forefathers-%28Pitra-Dosha%29---Astrological-Implications&id=4585532

[6] http://www.prayway.com/unreached/peoplegroups2/181.html
[7] http://shawnacohen.tripod.com/thetribaltraditions/id9.html