APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: DO YOU HAVE A GENERATIONAL CURSE?

The scriptures are so simple that you would need help to misunderstand them. Surely that is the case when we hear strange doctrines concerning "Generational Curses" being advocated by various preachers. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:14 clearly warns the brethren what would happen to them when they do not submit to true biblical Apostolic teaching, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." The enemy has introduced the strange doctrine concerning generational curses into the body of Christ because many Christians are still spiritual children who do not take the time to study the Bible for themselves. Those who promote the doctrine of generational curses claim that because your father, grandfather or great-grandfather was involved in a certain sin, then the curse resulting from that sin or the very sin itself will follow you and hold you in captivity. They then propose that they have to break that demonic curse over your life or else you will remain a slave to that sin of your forefathers.

Biblical Reasons Nullifying the Doctrine of Generational Curses

"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” (Galatians 3:13).

Those who spread the doctrine of generational curses base their claims from verses in the Law of Moses such as Deuteronomy 5:9, Exodus 20:5 &34:7 which have a recurring theme that about God's vengeance upon sin, "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7). The generational curse preachers forget that in the New Testament the vengeance of God was once and for all satisfied when it was poured out upon His Son Jesus Christ (Isa 53:11). Jesus hung on the cross so that he may take away every single curse under the law including generational curses for Galatians 3:13 clearly states that "Christ hath REDEEMED US from the curse of the law". If we suggest that all curses of the law were taken away from us as believers by Jesus Christ apart from the generational curse then we make God a liar. "Blotting out the HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; And having spoiled (disarmed) principalities and powers (demons), he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14-15), in these verses Apostle Paul points out that the handwriting of ordinances written by God in the Old Testament has been blotted out or erased and taken out of the way. Generational curses are part of the ordinances that were contrary to us and blocking our progress. For anyone to put back these generational curse ordinances would be like a man who puts back burning tyres and tree trunks put by rioters in the middle of the road when the riot police have just taken them out of the way. Even in the natural we know that such a person would be arrested. These curses have been nailed to the cross and their backing force, the demonic forces have been spoiled or disarmed by Jesus hence losing their ability to enforce these curses.

“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a BETTER COVENANT, which was established upon BETTER PROMISES” (Hebrews 8:6)

Jesus is the mediator of the New and not of the old covenant. The Old Testament which was based upon the blood of animals can never compare with the New which is established upon the blood of Jesus, God's only begotten Son. The Old Testament from which this doctrine is drawn (Exodus 20:5) is called the ministry of death by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:7. We are called "able ministers of the NEW TESTAMENT; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for THE LETTER KILLETH, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6), showing us that the Old Testament was meant to kill and not to give life. You would not trust a lawyer who gives you advice based upon laws passed in the 1920s rather than using the updated ones passed in the 1990s, neither should you trust preachers peddling a covenant that was meant to kill its hearers.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12)

Assuming we are to follow the generational line as suggested by the preachers of the generational curse doctrine then we have to find out who our true father is. Much as we have a natural lineage, when we are born again we become new creatures (2Cor5:17) and we join God's family where Jesus is our brother and God is our father. Under the New Testament we are called sons of God and not mere servants as the case was in the Old Testament. "Beloved, now are we the SONS OF GOD" (1 John 3:2). Your generational lineage stops at God the Father and since He has no curse following Him then you should not be persuaded that you have any. The generational doctrine makes us do useless and time wasting research into our natural genealogies (defined as an account or history of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor) which the Bible condemns, "But avoid foolish questions, and GENEALOGIES, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are UNPROFITABLE AND VAIN” (Titus 3:9).

“Be not deceived: evil communications (companionships) corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Those who preach the doctrine of generational curses usually pick out some examples from the Old Testament where fathers and children shared the same sins. Cases such as the womanizing tendencies of King David and his son king Solomon and the lies of Abraham and Isaac about their wives are used to prove this doctrine. This is not a convincing reason since they forget that since Solomon was always around David and learnt by example then his womanizing tendencies were merely picked up because he saw a bad example from his father. You can not claim that a son whom his father always takes to the bar with him has a generational curse of alcoholism because he would simply be picking up the sin through bad companionship. Take heed to King Solomon’s own assessment, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20)

“In those days they shall say no more, THE FATHERS have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: EVERY MAN THAT EATETH THE SOUR GRAPE, HIS TEETH SHALL BE SET ON EDGE” (Jeremiah 31:29-30).

Shifting blame for sin has been a common occurrence ever since Adam sinned and blamed Eve for giving him the fruit. Likewise Eve blamed the serpent when she was put to task by God. Every believer who sins does so using their own free will and based on a personal choice. The doctrine of generational curses shifts blame for sin to the forefathers but it is about time believers owned up to their own sin and repented before God as individuals instead of saying that their fathers ate the sour grape and they are the ones tasting the bitterness. Own up and repent of that sin! "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess OUR SINS, he is faithful and just to forgive us OUR SINS, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

Believers should stop submitting to strange doctrines which the Bible warns against and instead take time to study and dig into the Word for themselves. "Be not carried about with divers and STRANGE DOCTRINES. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, WHICH HAVE NOT PROFITED them that have been occupied therein” (Hebrews 13:9). Those who have been led away by this strange doctrine have not profited but have instead been led down the road of division and undue pointing of fingers. Establish your heart upon the grace of God in the New Testament which provides for your freedom by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Every generational curse over your life was broken on the day you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior. Christ has redeemed us from the generational curse (Gal 3:13), walk in your freedom!