Wednesday, 27 August 2008

• Generational Sin

  Since getting counseling at my church, I've been examining my relationship with my dad and his own childhood as well.  Through this process, I've become even more thankful to God that despite circumstances, he has helped me find my way to him.  My ancestry really was not conducive at all to becoming a Christian.  It is riddled with alcoholism, cheating, concubines (when it was legal), divorce, neglect, greed, and not to mention, Buddhism (common in most Asian backgrounds).

  I'm thankful that God reached out to me despite the deep-rooted sin running in my family lines, however I'm starting to realize that although God rescued me from these things, my family (present and future) is not completely free of them.  I am not married and do not have any children, but one day I will.  I've become more aware of the power of sin and that it really can seep through generations unless a conscious effort is made to give them to God and have them eradicated completely.

  My dad was not the best dad, and I am learning to forgive him for this.  But how do I prevent myself from making the same mistakes that he made?  I am a social drinker, but am very cautious with alcohol.  However, that doesn't make me immune to alcoholism.  And how will I treat my future marriage to keep it healthy and safe from cheating, divorce, etc.?  On top of all this, what will my future spouse bring to our relationship in terms of sin from his family?

  All these questions make me afraid to get married and have kids, but I am taking hope in the fact that God is my Redeemer.  I believe that if I surrender these things to him now, and recognize that I am susceptible to repeat the sins of my fathers, he will start the process of healing and restoration and eventually free me from the chains of generational sin.  My hope and dream is that my future family and the generations to come will be God-fearing people who don't have to carry the burden of my or my ancestors' mistakes.  I believe blessings can last for generations too, and that's what I want for my future lineage.

  Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself as I'm not even dating anyone at the moment , but I think it's worth giving some thought at any stage in life.

  So what are your thoughts on generational sin? How has it affected your own life?
  Or conversely, have you experienced an echo of the blessing God gave one of your ancestors?

   

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