Generational Sin

I have a friend in Memphis, Tennessee who is one of the dearest men I’ve ever known - a Christian man with a fine wife and family.  Unfortunately, life hasn’t always been “easy” for him.. For the purpose of the story - and to protect his confidentiality, I’ll call him “Steve”.  Steve’s father was a professing believer with an addiction problem.  

As you probably know, this is not altogether uncommon. 
Christians are subject to the same temptations as non-believers and Satan loves nothing more than ruining the life and testimony of God’s children.  

We would be shocked to know how many of our Christian brothers and sisters are in bondage to one type of sin pattern or another - whether chemical addiction, pornography or some other type of sexual sin, or something altogether different like fits of anger or something else. 
 
For Steve’s father, the problem was alcohol.  He was deeply trapped in the grip of alcohol.  His life was tragically cut short in a bar room argument that turned violent.  He got into an argument with another man and was the victim of homicide right there in that bar.  Steve, a teenager who had given his heart to Jesus, made a decision that the sin of alcohol would die with his beloved father. 
 
The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 5:8-10:
 
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
 
Here are the key words:  “visiting the iniquity (or sin) of the fathers on the children, and on the third and fourth generations”..
 
Many people wrongly believe that their sin is just their sin..  It won’t affect anybody else.  Wrong.  Wrong.  A thousand times wrong.  What we often fail to think about is that others are watching us.  Friend, there are people who admire you and watch how you live and you don’t even know about it.  This is especially true of your children.  They observe you every single day and listen to what comes out of your mouth.  They see and imitate your actions.  We wonder why children can use the most obscene, horrific language..  Do you think for a minute that they learn that foulness out of thin air?  Of course not.  They repeat it from what comes out of our mouths, or what we allow them to hear through the media they watch, listen to and read. 
 
And many children have parents who use drugs or alcohol.  And perhaps most dangerous of all is the situation created by parents who are so-called “social drinkers”.  These are people who have one or two alcoholic beverages with dinner and control this with ease.  How many children have been led down the path of abuse because their parents introduced them to this powerful drug? 
 
The Apostle Paul warns us in Romans 14 vv 13-20:
 
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.  19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
 
God tells us it is wrong for a believer to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  Sure, you can have a drink and control it.  But what about your friends and acquaintances?  And what about your children? 
 
Do you think Steve’s dad ever considered the dangers he was imposing upon his children?
 
Thankfully, God was good to Steve.  God, through His Holy Spirit, impressed upon Steve this truth:  GET IT STOPPED.  So Steve made this commitment to God:  The sin of alcohol will stop with my dad’s generation.  And my friend has never consumed alcohol.  God is good, my friends. 
 
Examine yourself.  If your parents lived in a way that didn’t always honor God, I implore you to forgive them as God would.  Be that as it may, realize that you and I will be accountable to the Living God for being a stumbling block to anyone.  Get the cycle stopped so that the previous generation would be the last and that God would be honored by it.
 
God Bless You, my friend.