Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 2/18/2009

Question
Hello again Reverend Abrams III,

I have heard or read recently that our children, grandchildren, and maybe posterity even longer down the line are going to be helping pay for the billions of taxpayer dollars,(879 billion?), preparing to be pumped into our economy.

In the Bible, I have read in the past something to the effect that the children, grandchildren, and possibly several,(maybe 7th?),generation down the line can or would be responsible for the sins of a preceeding generation. I never could understand why God would want to punish people who haven't been born yet, but if one looks at the present economic crises, it appears that even our posterity are going to be saddled with this burden for these billions of dollars to be paid out. Could this be an example of God punishing succesive generations for the sins of their fathers or ancestors?

Thank you for any clarification.

Best regards,

Mike Eidson

Answer
Hi Mike,
  I am not sure of what will be the out come of all the debt President Obama and our legislators have just caused us.   It doesn't make sense to me to be borrowing money that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for to make things better for us.  In our past history our people worked hard and sacrificed so that future generations could do better that we have.  Seems like that is a lost principle today.
  The sins of the fathers are visited on their children not because God would punish one's children for what their parents have done.  When parents make mistakes the true is it hurts their children and even their grandchildren.   In the 60's parents did not stand up and fight those make abortion legal.   Millions of unborn children have died as the result....thus the sins of the fathers have brought death to their children.
  God is not the cause, nor is it His desire.  He wishes all me to repent and turn from their sins and promises to bless those that do.  However, children brought up in the homes of sinful parents will learn the habits and life styles of their home.   Thus instead of being brought up in the nature and admonition of the Lord...they are taught to be sinners and ignore God our Creator.
  The natural wages of sin brings death and destruction and sadly the sins of others influence and cause suffering and pain for the innocence.
  If you have further questions please write.
Cooper Abrams
Psalm 8.