David Miller wrote: >> My viewpoint is that the flesh is flesh and >> the spirit is spirit. The genes code only >> for the physical and we inherit nothing >> spiritual from our parents.
Judy wrote: > Your viewpoint is unscriptural DavidM because > the results of the curse can be detected > genetically and they are passed down generationally. > Certain illnesses run in families and this can be > and is documented by the medical community; > they may not see the same cause but they have > documented it's effect. Ugh... Judy... you just said my viewpoint was "UNSCRIPUTRAL" but then you did not mention one Scripture to establish what you just said. Instead you said that the curse can be detected GENETICALLY. Well, genetically means physical and not spiritual. Genes are physical chemicals of the body. So you start out by claiming that my viewpoint is unscriptural and then establish my viewpoint by scientific terminology! Perhaps instead of saying it is "unscriptural" you could ask how I think my viewpoint coincides with certain passages, or at least quote a passage that you think makes my viewpoint difficult for you to accept. Let me address what I think is at the root of much of our difficulty in communicating, not only in this post, but in many of our past exchanges. Paul's treatise in Romans 6, 7, and 8 establishes a principle which is succinctly described by that infamous verse quoted by John Smithson, Romans 7:25, "with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." So where does Paul place the root problem of sin? Not in the SPIRIT but in the FLESH. Many religious people read over this and simply look at the word "flesh" as a euphemism for that evil spiritual side of man. I see much more here. Paul is saying that the root problem of sin is PHYSICAL. This is an important dualism to grasp for understanding the problem of sin, as well as the incarnation and various other theological questions. Now the Bible does speak about the problem of sin being visited upon future generations. But is this sin problem that is passed on SPIRITUAL or PHYSICAL? I maintain that it is PHYSICAL. It is purely genetic, meaning that there are chemicals, physical molecules in our bodies, that are responsible for the kind of motivations, attitudes, emotions, and thought processes that result in sin. Sin emanates from the FLESH (the physical side of man) while righteousness emanates from the SPIRIT (the non-physical side of man). Now please understand that none of this means that the spirit is always pure and undefiled. On the contrary, there are many passages that speak of the spirit being corrupted, as well as the soul. My perspective is that the spirit and soul is corrupted by the flesh, which is why it is the CARNAL MIND (the physical mind, the mind that is entrenched in the physical) that is enmity against God. We certainly need to cleanse both our spirit and flesh, but it is the flesh that is the root problem of sin and it is the flesh that continues to be that which would continue to defile the spirit if we walked in the flesh instead of walking in that new man which we have received through trusting in Jesus Christ. So, anyways, generational curses are inherited physically, not spiritually. There might be also spiritual problems connected to the physical, but they are not inherited. Example: schizophrenia. There is a genetic component to schizophrenia, but that genetic component does not seem to explain all of it. We know this from identical twin studies involving schizophrenia. So there is a spiritual component that may help explain the phenomena, but it seems to me that the physical is the inherited side while the spiritual is not. Yet again, we should notice that the physical inheritance might make people more susceptible to certain spirits. For example, a spirit of drunkenness might plague certain generations because of a genetic component that makes a certain lineage have a heightened sense of insecurity and emotions that crave dependence upon someone or something. Or, it could be something as simple as taste buds that like the taste of alcoholic beverages, or a physical condition that becomes more rapidly addicted to its effects or finds physical pleasure in it. Demons can use such physical frailties to their advantage, but such does not mean that the demons were inherited in generational fashion from our ancestors. Let me know what you think. I don't expect you to see what I am saying the first time around on this, but with a little discussion, maybe we can reach a meeting of our minds and come to some mutual form of agreement. :-) Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
