Have you at some points in life felt you needed a personal or family DELIVERANCE because you observed some regular patterns of evil or unpleasant events in your life or family? This reality is common among many African families and has necessitated several calls and requests for family Liberation or DELIVERANCE. Before you conclude do you know what is ANCESTRAL CURSE and what is ANCESTRAL COVENANTS; they are not the same. Knowing the roots of a problem is the best way of finding solutions.
If you are confused, be calm and read slowly: John 9:1-5.
As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “NEITHER THIS MAN nor HIS PARENTS SINNED,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is the day, we must do the works of him who sent me. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Ancestral curse is the belief that “a specific curse” in form of some evil omen that plagues an individual or family is “punishment” for some particular iniquity or sin committed by their ancestors in the past and that they have no power over the evils plaguing them except they are delivered or liberated.
2. The Israelites also held this view as we see it reflected in the question asked by the disciples to Jesus. This view had been prevalent in Israel despite the several corrections by God through his prophets like Ezekiel who tells the people of his time about their “individual and personal responsibility for sin” when He says: “Why are you applying this proverb to the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As long as I live…, this proverb will no longer be quoted in Israel…the person that sins is the one that will die”. (Ezek.18:1-3;20).
3. Many of us today still carry on this belief carried from our traditional religions or customs which stressed ANCESTRAL and FAMILIAL bondedness in guilt into Christianity, and it is wrong. “CURSES” ARE NOT PASSED DOWN, BUT “CONSEQUENCES” ARE PASSED DOWN. Consequences are the results of sinful acts. (If you wish to know how “consequences of sins” are passed down read my entry on Consequences of Sin are passed down not Curses in
CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA AND THE PERCULIARITY OF ANCESTRAL CURSE: REAL OR HOAX?
4. This brings us to ANCESTRAL COVENANTS which is usually confused with ANCESTRAL CURSE. Ancestral covenants are agreements or alliances made by a person, family, or community with a deity. Covenants by their nature are binding consequences on those who enter it or are represented based on the rules of engagement. This is the aspect many African families have issues with because many of their ancestors entered covenants as part of their religious beliefs and practices which (most of the time) was not intended for evil omens or curses to their descendants but perpetuity of such worship and favor from the deity.
5. Many families face the effects of ANCESTRAL COVENANTS but erroneously call it a “CURSE”. Even though it appears to be a curse, it is not. In this case, it is not the ancestor’s sin or curse that is manifesting as omens but the deity’s wrath because those bound by the covenant have abandoned it or are not faithful to the covenant. This phenomenon is explainable because it is usually caused by loss of “traditional values” by descendants, the difference in religious beliefs and worldview between the ancestors and their posterity through westernization, urbanization, and conversion to Christianity other faiths.
TASK: Before you consider your problem “Spiritually caused” pray Psalm 68 now making meaning of every Word of that Psalm coming from your heart or text me to schedule for a prayer of DELIVERANCE over you on WhatsApp. If you wish to know how to break away from ANCESTRAL COVENANTS then click: HOW TO BREAK AWAY FROM ANCESTRAL COVENANTS
© Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ
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Interesting. May God Grant us our heart desires.
Amen