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What is the position of the church on Ancestral sin. I understand we are not guilty of it but we can we be affected by its consequence (curse on the bloodline??) and if so how can we be rid of it. Lets say there was an ancestor who was a murderer, or into witchcraft, freemasonry, etc
Answer to Question 558 We do not inherit the sins of our fathers, but every sin has a consequence on all humanity. Adam for example sinned and as a consequence we lost immortality and we entered a state of death in which we are subject to cold, hunger, illness, diseases, pain, suffering and ageing bodies, which eventually brings about our death. Only Adam is guilty of his sin, but we all suffer the consequences of his sin. I would say that this continues throughout the human race. We are only guilty of our own sins, but every sin has a consequence which affects humanity at some degree. We are all sons of Adam and so we are all connected to each other.
Same member So where we can come to confession for our own sins, what are we able to do about something that has been rooted in history. Also what about this......I the Lord...visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5; cf. Numbers 14:18)
Reply When we quote from a Bible verse, we must not take the quote out of context. God was giving a commandment on idolatry "Thou shalt have no other gods beside Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee an idol, or likeness of any thing, whatsoever things are in the heaven above, and whatsoever is in the earth beneath, and whatsoever is in the waters under the earth." The same commandment continues: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor art thou to serve them: for I am Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon children unto the third and fourth generation unto them that hate Me; and doing mercy unto thousands, unto them that love Me and keep My commandments." Here it is clear that the prohibited images refer only to idols which are not to be worshipped or served as gods. God then says of himself that he is a jealous God and that he punishes the children for the sins of their fathers that hate him up to the third and fourth generation. The word jealous should not be interpreted negatively as it would be with human emotions. Here jealousy is used to show God's compassion upon those that love him. God is speaking of people making idols and bowing down to them and worshipping them instead of giving him the worship that belongs to him alone. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to Him. As God points out in this commandment, it is a sin to worship or serve anything other than God. Where God says that he will punish the children for the sins of the fathers that hate him up to the third and fourth generation, we must be careful to read exactly what it says. He does not say that he will punish the children for their father's sins up to the third and fourth generation, but only of those fathers that hate him. The key words for the proper understanding of this verse are "them that hate me". Thus he will be longsuffering and compassionate upon the fathers that sin and their children, but if their descendants turn from him and hate him as did some of their ancestors then he will bring upon them punishment up to the third and fourth generation. The punishment is only temporary up to the third or fourth generation, but he is far more lavish with his rewards to those that love him and keep his commandments with love and mercy unto thousands of generations.
Same member thanks for clarifying that Fr...……..although would you say that as well as other Gods......idols can be things like football, facebook, alcohol etc...….do these not also become idols replacing God and hence bringing forth his wrath/punishment. As mentioned above we can confess our sins....what about the sins of our ancestors who may have worshipped other Gods/idols
Reply Yes there are many forms of idols and all of us fall into the same trap of worshipping them. Many of us do so in our normal daily lives without even realizing, because it takes on another form such as money, a prized possession we cannot bear to part with, a pop idol, a football team, a favourite television programme, etc. As for God's wrath and punishment these are teaches given to Israel before man was enlightened with the grace of God. They were living in darkness and were not capable of understanding things like love your enemy. They were like little children who were kept in their place with the fear of God. With the coming of Christ we have been given the grace to understand that God is love and does not punish, at least not in the same sense that we read in the Old Testament. The Old Testament was a period of preparation for the New Testament. We now have the fulfillment of the Old Testament teaching so come out of it. Read the New Testament and this will enlighten you to understand the Old.
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