Epigenetics: Can sin effect multiple generations?

[Aquila]

Scientists believe that life experiences, especially those that are traumatic or powerfully emotional, can leave impressions on DNA and be passed down to subsequent generations providing genetic memory that influences behavior.

If this is true, can an egregious sin leave an impression on one's DNA that can be passed down to their descendants?

If so, might this be the basis of God's OT judgments that extend to the third and fourth generation???

Thoughts?

[derAlte]

This is an interesting subject to ponder. I have wondered how much of a person's personality is influenced by DNA. If it is, perhaps some of the same problems that get passed down though the generations are because of this. I have also wondered if some "generational" curses aren't just some old devils who hung around the younger generation after the death of the older folks.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by derAlte

This is an interesting subject to ponder. I have wondered how much of a person's personality is influenced by DNA. If it is, perhaps some of the same problems that get passed down though the generations are because of this. I have also wondered if some "generational" curses aren't just some old devils who hung around the younger generation after the death of the older folks.

It is interesting.

I heard someone once accuse God of being a monster for visiting the inequities of the fathers unto the third and fourth generations and for commanding the absolute destruction of various peoples as a whole.

If there is any truth to this, the actual sins of the fathers might have very well been a part of the very being and nature of subsequent generations, justifying God's judgement. And those nations slotted for annihilation by God, might they have been so marked by sin as a whole, that their utter destruction was an act of God's grace and mercy for the rest of us?

It also might play a part in how Adam's fall left an indelible mark upon the entire human race, predisposing his children to sin, fear, and shame.

It also could highlight the depth of man's growing depravity based on the compounding sinful nature that exists our flesh, explaining why each generation appears to fall further and further into sin.

Also, might this be an aspect of the "mystery of iniquity" that is at work in fallen mankind, compounding our sinfulness, until it has mankind ripe for the final Antichrist?

And if this mystery is revealed in this... might that time be more near than we think?

I'm just pondering.

Thoughts?

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I heard someone once accuse God of being a monster for visiting the inequities of the fathers unto the third and fourth generations and for commanding the absolute destruction of various peoples as a whole.

I do believe in generational curses as described in Exodus:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"

The key part of this is the last five words of that verse: "of them that hate me."

I believe those who reject Christ will experience the generational curse.

Originally Posted by Aquila

This might also help explain how some struggle with various sinful proclivities after being born again, in spite of their absolute determination to break free?

Once a person has been born again, they are a "new creature." Any bondage of the past or generational curse is broken.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Paul wrote of the war raging between the spirit and the flesh:

"Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

I do believe in generational curses as described in Exodus:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"

The key part of this is the last five words of that verse: "of them that hate me."

I believe those who reject Christ will experience the generational curse.

Now, I don't disagree with you here. But, I would only add to the thought. Let's consider those who "hate" God. Hate has an effect on the body. According to medical science, those who are full of animosity, bitterness, and hatred tend to have heart problems, high blood pressure, and these deeply held negative emotions can even impact the chemical processes of the brain.

Based on this research... could it also effect the epigenetic tags of our DNA? Could a predisposition of hatred towards God be passed down in our flesh? According to this... if they are right... it is possible.

Now consider the progeny of those who hate God... with the effects of their ancestor's hatred having marked their very DNA. Now we actually can see the "sin" passed down. When these are confronted with the truth of God, their first reaction is an irrational rejection of that truth. This doesn't mean that it can't be overcome. But it might explain the irrational hatred in some upon initially hearing about Christ.

Such science would show that when God judges subsequent generations for the sin of their ancestors... He is actually judging that very sin, in the next generations. It isn't an arbitrary, "Hey, I'm going to curse you, and now punish you, for your ancestor's sin." It's actually IN them.

Once a person has been born again, they are a "new creature." Any bondage of the past or generational curse is broken.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Paul wrote of the war raging between the spirit and the flesh:

"Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

Notice how this "law of sin" is in the "flesh". It isn't in the spirit. There is a law that predisposes us to sin at work... in our flesh. And that would include... or DNA... would it not?

Now, when one is born again, the spirit experiences regeneration through the Holy Spirit. But the flesh has yet to be glorified. There is no change in the flesh, that is, in our members (or body). That means that those genetic tags could still exist. This could explain why some born again Christians seem to wrestle with some sinful proclivity all their lives. It's like no amount of prayer, will power, dedication, rededication, etc. gets them free. And as a result, they live defeated Christian lives, or worse, they fall away disenchanted.

What if we're approaching such saints in the wrong way? What if they need "divine healing" from such an infirmity of the flesh? What if we stopped just telling those who struggle to pray more or try harder... and prayed for their healing (body, soul, and spirit)? And what if such healing permeated their entire being, down to their very DNA, setting them free from the genetic tags that predispose them to certain behaviors, phobias, and emotional predispositions?

I'm not being dogmatic here. I'm just pondering the implications of such findings.

What if Paul was right, there is a "law of sin" in our "members"? What if in our "flesh" there truly is no good thing? What if our very flesh has predispositions to sin that extend down to the genetic level?

Please notice, I'm not contradicting your post. I'm just building upon it.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Thank God I'm not enslaved to my great great great great great great great great granpap's DNA.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Thank God I'm not enslaved to my great great great great great great great great granpap's DNA.

Amen.

I don't think it enslaves. I think it's more like inclinations.

For some reason, gambling on horse races is like crack for me. I don't know why. Now, I have victory in Jesus. Praise the Lord! But it was weird to me that it drew me more strongly than it seemed like it drew others.

I'd not be surprised if an ancestor of mine had a gambling problem.

I'm not enslaved. But this gives a possible explanation for that strange proclivity that I encountered and defeated in my twenties.

[Aquila]

This might also help explain how some struggle with various sinful proclivities after being born again, in spite of their absolute determination to break free?

Is this a part of what is sometimes called an infirmity of the flesh?

What if on top of spiritual regeneration and desire to live free, they need a physical healing?

What if we can't just always "will power" it, or "lay it down", and a deeper healing touch is necessary?

And in light of the possibility of such a really, this would mean that perhaps sin isn't always a matter of it only effecting us? On top of the social impact of our sin effecting others, wouldn't something like this also mean that our sin might also be passed on to the next generations, impacting their lives and the lives around them, in an endless cycle?

I'm just rambling now. Lol

It's just an interesting concept with deep spiritual implications.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

This might also help explain

Not at all.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

This be the basis of God's OT judgments that extend to the third and fourth generation???

No.