We were discussing the doctrine of sin, and one of my students asked me: “What do you think of generational curses?”
This depends on what you mean by a generational curse. If a person means (as this page describes it) that a person can be socialized to learn sinful habits from parental influence, then the idea makes good sense. At the same time, such an idea doesn’t require the label of “generational curse.”
Generational Curses as Spiritual Bondage
When people use the phrase “generational curse,” however, they generally have in mind the idea that a person is experiencing “spiritual bondage” that involves demonic influence as a result of sin in previous generations (for example, see the ‘in a nutshell’ section on this page).
Where does this idea come from? The main biblical text is:
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for 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 of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6. There are verses others like this that are very close in wording.)
Generational Love?
There are many problems with trying to get the “generational curse” theory out of this biblical text. First, while it affirms punishment for numerous generations, it also affirms God’s love for the generations following those who obey him.
So what happens if the second generation obeys God? Are they still cursed? To follow the logic behind the “generational curse” theory, then the second generation, and thousands more, would be loved by God regardless of their response to him.
Rather than teaching a logic of generational cursing, this text seems to be contrasting the expansive love of God (to a thousand generations!) versus the punishment of God (to just a few). Consider also Exodus 34:6-7.
The One Thing Missing
The even bigger problem with concluding that this text teaches “generational curses” is that the word “curse” doesn’t occur in the text! Rather, it speaks of punishment, and the punishment doesn’t involve demonic influence, which, the generational curse proponents teach, could hypothetically be denounced. Instead, the punishment comes from God.
A Curse for No Generations
Of course, there are other biblical texts that might point to the idea of generational curses. Consider, for example,
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse; the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28. Again, there are other biblical texts like this.)
Unlike the text from Exodus above, there is here no sense of generational continuation from the curse.
Furthermore, numerous biblical texts (even in the Old Testament!) make it clear that “the child will not share the guilt of the parent” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Deliverance
Just to be clear, I am not denying that demons have real influences in this world. I am, however, denying that the Bible teaches that generational curses exist.
More importantly, and here I agree with those who talk about generational curses, I would certainly affirm that God can (and does!) set people free from all kinds of nasty habits or oppressive thinking.
One thing we can proclaim with certainty, is that whatever curse there was for not obeying the law in the Old Testament (see above), “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
So, how do you break a generational curse? Based on all I’ve said above, there is nothing you can do, and there is nothing you need to do, to break so-called generational curses.
If you are interested in reading further about this idea, this is a good article.
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You might also be interested in these posts:
- Shouldn’t Faith Always Result in Healing?
- What it Really Means to be BAPTIZED IN FIRE
- Demons Have no “Legal Rights”
Andrew K. Gabriel, Ph.D., is the author of Simply Spirit-Filled: Experiencing God in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit (forthcoming) as well as three academic books, including The Lord is the Spirit. He is a theology professor at Horizon College and Seminary and serves on the Theological Study Commission for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter.
Thank you for this Andrew. I first heard this stuff from an Ancient Paths seminar we had at Westside. Neither Elaine or I were at all comfortable with this teaching but had no idea how to defend our discomfort. Well written my friend.
Thanks!
It would pay to carefully study African culture. In Africa we enter blood covenants with our ancestors, and continue year after year to offer animal sacrifices. In these cultures, one will observe particular patterns, be it premature deaths, unmarried families, vagabond males or females etc. When one gets born-again, these patterns still occur. Thus deliverance and the like are famous in those communities. Therefore, generational curses are not necessarily from God, but from those community or family covenants.
Thanks for the input, Florence.
As a pastor I’ve had to deal with many who had been harmed by this teaching…thank you for your cogent treatment of the subject…Frank Patrick
If there is any Generational Curses where demons are supposedly involved the fix is, GET SAVED the BLOOD of Jesus Christ cleanses ALL filthiness and unrighteousness. (1John 1:7) If there are General Curses the cure is GET SAVED the BLOOD of Jesus Christ takes care of that, then RENEW YOUR MIND! (Romans 12:2
Maybe a better terminology would be “parental behavioural influences” that can help mold their children for godly or evil purposes. Families seem to have generational perclivities or trademarks that act like a type of curse that as you have pointed out have no biblical support. I am always blessed when I hear of Pastoral occupations that have been generationally shaped for 4 or more cycles.
Good point, Ron. Though, as you say, that isn’t the same thing as what most people have in mind when they speak of generational curses.
Thanks very much for this as I could never understand this teaching that I had never even heard of until about 15 years ago. Ez.18:20 states than no man suffers for his Fathers’ sins nor a father for his sons’ sins.
Hi Andrew. I would love to understand a little more about your thinking on when is someone demon possessed and when demonized?
Chantel- while not by me, you might find this helpful: https://reknew.org/2007/12/can-a-christian-be-demonized/
Deuteronomy 28 has a list of blessings and curses of obeying or disobeying God. Curses travel, pursue, target, overwhelm and destroy..
Daniel and Nehemiah confessed and repented their own sins and iniquities of the father.
Whatever name we give to the punishment Godoy
Yes, indeed. I discuss texts like this one in the section above called “A Curse for No Generations.”