Ancestor Worship Revived – Looking for Better Genes?
A Secular Pursuit
Q. Several of my closest relatives have become very involved in tracing genealogies. One parent says her children are genetic misfits because of the number of mentally ill persons within the family. So she is looking for the better genes further back. (Never mind that she might be the problem – she is the common denominator)! We are not Mormons. So how should I respond to this?
A Weak Substitute for Eternal Life
A few years ago I might have had a problem believing this was occuring in our country. But, we’ve seen it in our families, too. I think it may be a fad and a poor substitute for eternal life.
This is because people who don’t believe in God or a continued existence after death tend to find lots of substitutes. This can be done through a focus on genealogies and ancestor worship or a determination to have the body frozen (cryogenics) or cloned (such as parents who attempted to have their dying child cloned).
Satanic Aryan Supremacy
At its worse, some people begin to believe and practice the idea of “Aryan supremacy” and believe their genes are superior to others. Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” has led to anti Semitism, prejudice against other races, and a belief that one’s intelligence or physical properties are superior to others.
Nazis and Margaret Sanger
This is why Nazis put to death their mentally ill, sick, weak and old people as well as Christians and Jews. In addition, Margaret Sanger founded birth control practices and family “planning” to cut down on the black population in Africa and throughout the world. It is not just a belief in evolution. It can become a satanic belief system!
Christians should have no part in ancestor worship or obsessing over genealogies!
A New Life
Thank goodness Christians are told we have a “new life” in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come” (NASB).
Upgraded Software & Hardware
In equating our soul and spirit to “software,” Dr. Missler says that we Christians are all due for an upgrade! This will include a new “box” ( a new body) as well as a renewed mind.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 proclaims this fantastic message to us:
“Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye…the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die” (NLT).
Forget Myths & Endless Genealogies
Finally, because of our real hope in new transformed life: body, spirit and soul – Paul warns us not to get caught up in “myths and endless genealogies…” (1 Timothy 1:4).
You may wish to share this good news with your genealogy-obsessed relatives if the opportunity presents itself.