Forgiving Through the Generations: How to Break the Chains of the Past

Posted by in Nan's Blog on Sep 9, 2018

Part Three of Destroying Bitterroot Judgments and Breaking the Chains of the Past
In relation to forgiving others, two of the most important people whom you can forgive are your mother and father. A bitter-root judgment is a judgment that a person makes at some time during their childhood against his or her father, mother, or caregiver. Many times it is a subconscious judgment rather than a conscious one. It goes down deep into his or her heart, mind, and spirit.

A root of bitterness comes from unforgiveness and can lead to resentment that defiles others. It comes from failing to secure God’s grace to forgive, as Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled….” (NASB)

These judgments are rooted in the past and can influence your present and your future. Then, because of the law of sowing and reaping and the law of judgment, the one who judges at some point in his life sentences himself to do the very thing that he judged in his parents. If the bitterroot judgment is not broken by the confession of the person who made it, then the one who made the judgment will reap the bitter roots of their judgment in one or more relationships with people who are important to them. Romans 2:1-2 says, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.” (NKJV)

There are many laws that God has given us throughout the Bible that influence our lives profoundly. There are three laws that deeply affect all of us. The first law is one of the Ten Commandments which says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16 AMPC). God wants us to honor our parents, not judge them. If we honor our parents, our lives will be long, and life will go well with us. This is a command with a promise.

The second law of judgment states that we will receive judgment or experience difficulty in the same areas of life in which we have judged others. Here is what Matthew 7:1-2 says,” Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you use to deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.” (AMPC)

The third law is that we will surely reap what we sow. Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (NASB)

To honor our parents is to esteem, respect, and value them as precious. God wants us to honor our parents but not to judge them. If we judge them, we condemn them. The command to honor your mother and father is a command that is written throughout the Bible. It is not an option. Judging your mother or your father blames them for being human and less that perfect. To honor them, on the other hand, accepts their humanity. It treats them with respect while obeying them. Part Four that follows will give you some tools to identify bitter-root judgments that you might have against your parents and how to cancel those bitter-roots.