Sins of the Fathers-Sins of the Children
Collective Trauma.
Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, allowing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate (reject) me. Exodus 20:5
Introduction
The above mentioned, scripture is a powerful example of how parents for one reason or another, do not come to the Lord Jesus Christ and their mindsets and lifestyles fall upon their children and grandchildren onto the third and fourth generation. This is a perfect example of Lifespan development. Lifespan development basically means that the life course for a person is developed and solidified through different life experiences.
We can see that Father God identifies that idolatry is a powerful tool of the enemy to distract us from giving of ourselves to the living God. Idolatry can be anything or anyone we place before our obedience to Father God. Parents who neglect their spiritual covering of their children leave the door open for their children to make the same mistakes in their lives. Godless parents mean chaos for themselves and their families. Satan wreaks havoc in the lives of everyone through generational rebellion. And the dysfunctional and sinful lifestyle carry over from one generation to another. We must understand that the cycle can be broken through the Lord Jesus Christ as it states in Colossians, 1:13-14. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” There’s nothing impossible for God. As we surrender to him, we can be healed of anything that we have gone through and generational chains can be broken. My wife and I have an on-going counseling ministry of working with people who have suffered trauma.
What is Collective Trauma
Trauma does not take place just with one individual, but there are many who are involved in this interaction of pain and injury. It can be physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual. Trauma is that event either one time or ongoing experience with a significant impact on one’s survival.
Idolatry is a powerful tool of the enemy to distract us from giving of ourselves to the living God. Idolatry can be anything or anyone we place before our obedience to Father God. As a psychologist, I have seen many people who have gone through many terrible different situations in their lives, and as we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, we can overcome them. God has promised us victory. But the victory comes through the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ. This redemptive work only becomes a reality when we believe it, accept it, and apply it to our lives.
There is a Type 1. Trauma which states that the person experienced a traumatic event in their lives only once. The second is Type 2 Trauma whereby the individual has experienced time and again trauma. Many people have experienced trauma for many years from both primary (parents) and secondary agents (extended family, school, etc.) of socialization. I try to help victims of generational trauma that their parents or other caretakers experienced their own trauma and just carried out the pain and suffering they experienced growing up on others. There is an underlying sense of FEAR if they speak of their trauma whatever it may be what consequences they or their families might suffer. How will others look at them if they share their deep secrets. Will they take away my children? Will I be labeled a as bad person, mother, father, etc.
Failure to Recognize Trauma
When trauma is not recognized, or validated by the family or community, to which one is part of, there is a response that there might be something wrong with him, and everybody else is sane. When trauma is experienced on an ongoing basis, this can’t convert into PTSD, and there are many symptoms of PTSD, which range from hyper villages or arousal, severe anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression, hostility, distrust, fear, poor impulse control, self-destructive behaviors, self-medication, nightmares, etc.
Discuss on my PhD dissertation of the ‘Association of PTSD and Child Abuse in the El Salvadorean Population”.
Victim Blaming
Victim Blaming- Lays the responsibility for the offense committed against them on the victim, instead of the offender.
• Need to assure victims that they are not alone.
• Guard against “blaming the victim.”
Response to Traumatic Events
Our mind is very powerful, and when trauma occurs, automatic signs begin to arise within us, and it may cause fear or aggression, resorting to flight or fight. Murder, rape, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, psychological and emotional abuse.
Some people when they are experiencing trauma, and their instinct is to freeze. They freeze because they’re unable to gauge or measure or understand how to defend themselves against violence, and or evil.
• Acute stress experienced in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event.
• Anxiety, dissociate symptoms, and other manifestations that occur within one month after exposure to trauma.
• Symptoms include victim’s re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, numbing of general responsiveness, and
increased agitation.
• Victims may suffer wide variety of mental disorders.
• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• No clear bright line as to the types of mental disorders a victim may suffer.
• Certain events may re-trigger the recollection of the trauma
• Intensity and frequency generally diminish over time.
• Victim must learn to continue to function despite reactions.
• Victims frequently encounter social isolation and invalidation of their efforts to come to terms with their experiences.
Chronic Developmental Exposure to Trauma
• Attachment- intimate relationships suffer.
• Biology-trauma affects emotional regulation, cognitive functioning, ability to learn from past experiences.
• Affect-can’t tolerate stress, hyperactivity, communication skills suffer.
• Dissociation- those who suffer on-going trauma can suffer from amnesia.
• Behavioral-hinders appropriate impulse control, aggression, disrupted sleep.
• Cognitive difficulty in concentration.
• Self-concept-fragmented though patterns, struggle with self-esteem.
Trauma Impacts on Relationships
• Trust- relationships suffer from lack of trust. In this of itself means that there is a lack of attachment and bonding for people with other people. Attachment is the emotional connection between people. Usually, it begins with the primary caregiver and bonding describes the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of one person to another. If the perpetrator that initiated the trauma with the victim, then this process is hinder or even severed.
Coming Out of Darkness
There is always deliverance from the bondages of darkness that has surrounded our lives. Confession and surrender to Father God delivers us from darkness in our lives. It is through the redemptive act of Jesus Christ that the process of deliverance from these chains can be healed over time.
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14