Will ancestral sins be abolished? Does the Church have any new thoughts on this today?
Ancestral sin, or generational sin, is the idea that individuals inherit the judgement for the sin of their ancestors. It is based on a passage from Exodus 20:5, which states that “the iniquities of the fathers are visited upon the sons and daughters — unto the third and fourth generation.” 1 This concept implies that “unresolved issues get handed down from generation to generation”, but that “Jesus is the bondage breaker … [and] He is able to break the cycle of this curse, but only if we want Him to.”
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus died on the cross to redeem humanity from original sin, which is the sin of Adam and Eve that affects all their descendants. By baptism, people are freed from original sin and receive God’s grace. However, they still have to face its consequences, such as death, suffering and concupiscence. They also have to avoid personal sins, which are the result of their free will. The Church does not teach that people are guilty of the sins of their ancestors, but that they may suffer from their effects, such as physical or psychological disorders, social problems, or spiritual weaknesses. The Church also teaches that people can be healed from these effects by God’s mercy and grace, through prayer, sacraments, and works of charity.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has a different understanding of ancestral sin. It does not see it as a guilt inherited from Adam and Eve, but as a corruption of human nature that makes people prone to sin. It also does not see baptism as a removal of original sin, but as a restoration of human nature to its original state of communion with God. The Orthodox Church believes that people can be healed from the effects of ancestral sin by participating in the life of the Church, especially through the sacraments of baptism, chrismation, and eucharist.
As for whether ancestral sins will be abolished or not, that depends on how one understands them. If they are seen as a curse or a punishment from God, then they can be abolished by God’s forgiveness and grace.
If they are seen as a consequence or an influence of human actions, then they can be abolished by human repentance and conversion. In any case, Christians believe that God is always willing to heal and restore his children who turn to him with faith and love.
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