Their Deeds are not to Our Credit

So many people are getting caught up in this "ancestry" search hype.

Who I am is not based on who my ancestors were. Each of us is who God made us, we are unique from everyone else.

We have a job to do separate from those we were born to. They may be involved or we may be involved in the ministry of one another, but no one derives their ministry or purpose in life from their families of origin.

Understanding that this idea might make some people angry, I am convinced that the only reason to discover our genetic roots is to be able to brag about who we might be related to that might be famous. The people I have met have more to say about their exciting discoveries about ancestors than they ever speak of Christ.

Also, it is my considered opinion that ancestry discovery is a fun hobby, but has little if any value pertaining to our individual character or purpose in our lives.

All those I have met into the ancestry are gathering information about the people, where they lived, the jobs they did and their accomplishments in life, but they have nothing that relates to their character. Of course there will be some who have that information because of writings passed down from family members, but very few have much related to the character, beliefs or desires of those who are listed.

Even if we were delighted at the spiritual or character quality of our ancestor, that has nothing to do with our character or spirituality.

Everyone is responsible to trust Christ to be born again, no one will inherit from their ancestors any level of spirituality or character quality, each person must become born again personally.

If someone never knew anything about their past they could still trust Christ, still build character, still walk with Christ and possibly more effectively, because they have no one else to lean on or seek except Christ.

There is an element of "ancestor worship" involved in becoming obsessed with knowing our dead relatives. They can do nothing for us now, they have no input into our lives in the present, nor do they determine our eternal destination.

So many things that Christians do today has it's origins in paganism. Perhaps this is one of those things.

Just something to think about. How much time we spend on something is an indication of what we value the most. I am not saying it is sinful or evil to research ancestry, I am just challenging those who do it to check their heart for the reason for that research.

Ezekiel 18:19-21 "19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"

Not only will we not be responsible for the sins of our fathers we will not gain rewards from their deeds either.