Generational sin is the ongoing effect of hurtful behavior that passes on from parents to their children. Not only do the children have to deal with this sin, but God too works with us to overcome these effects of past wrong-doings on our lives.
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Poverty and Generational Sin
• Greg Boyd
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Generational sin is the ongoing effect of hurtful behavior that passes on from parents to their children. Not only do the children have to deal with this sin, but God too works with us to overcome these effects of past wrong-doings on our lives.
Early on in the sermon, Greg stated an important assumption: “Everyone is morally responsible for their own behavior, yet what we and God have to deal with may have its origin in sins committed many generations ago.” He went on to catalog some of the very serious generational sin that we have inherited here in America.
Greg focused on the statistical disadvantages of being black or of American Indian primarily because the facts are so clear in these two cases. Statistics show that poverty, violence, rates of imprisonment, substance abuse and suicide rates are much higher than they are for whites. To explain this, you really have only two choices. Either these groups of people (African Americans and American Indians) are simply regularly making much worse individual choices or their histories have something to teach us.
Obviously, it is the history that explains the current situation. American Indians have been systematically oppressed ever since white people came to America. Greg went into some depth explaining this and what the effects are. Likewise, African Americans were captured and brought to America against their will and used as slaves for generations. This takes an immeasurable toll on any group of people that are abused in this way.
Any choices we make in our lives are made within the context described above. This makes a huge difference in terms of what the statistical outcomes will be. What we all CAN do is wake up to the situation, proclaim the truth, expose the lies and live in the freedom Christ died to give us. This is why we ended the sermon with a proclamation of truth and freedom.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Free Will, Poverty, Sin
Sermon Series: Compassion by Command
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Focus Scripture:
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Exodus 20:5
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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
4 thoughts on “Poverty and Generational Sin”
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I typed into the search bar “Suicide”
Because I need to hear what doctor Boyd has to say about the price of followers who contemplate suicide. Perhaps in your bubble this is not a sermon topic, but I submit to you. It should be. Moreover, I submit to you that Todd Richers in Christ followers need to be spoken to And not spoken at. Maybe I’m reading things incorrectly, but it’s always topical when I go to church for something this article about African-Americans that visited our generation. Well, I’m white and I have generations and mental health issues for my family. But so far cannot find help on the website
I have read and benefited from many of Greg’s books and understand that we live in the “already not yet” time and I do not worship at the “idol of certainty”. So I don’t look for certainty and I do not treat God as a cosmic genie. However, even some of the Saints of old experienced depression to the point of wanting to jump off a bridge and die. Brennan Manning for one. As a pod Riner with no community my wife and I rely on your website. My request is that Greg would speak / do a message or two on Christians with depression. Christian who believe, practice and yet have mental illness.
Thank You!
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your comment. A possible sermon to check out on would be this one on depression from our Overwhelmed series. You can also find resources on Greg’s personal website Reknew.org This one is on faith and suicide and this one is on suicidal Christian leaders. Here is one on Christians and mental illness and one on depression. I hope that helps!
—Emily from the Communications Team
Emily, thank You!
I am deeply grateful for your rapid response and the resources you gave.
I was crying at the time and had been through an emotionally charged day when I wrote my comment. I hope I did not offend anyone or come across ugly.
My best to you,
Shawn
You are welcome, Shawn, and no offense taken! Feel free to email info@whchurch.org if we can help with anything else!
—Emily from Communications