Are we to repent for our ancestors past sins?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

Im not sure you will find a people outside of Gods covenant praying for their nation or ancestors I have not looked so you may be able to identify people within covenant asking forgiveness for non covenant nations. Isn't sin on an individual level? I dont see forgiveness/remission of sin outside of covenant.
If we were to confess the sin of our nation does God forgive our nation? Is God in covenant with the USA? Can I also ask God to Forgive my state, or county, or city, or neighborhood, or those that live on the same block or street as me, or even in my own family? Does God forgive sin when the individuals that make up the family, block etc. dont repent for their own sin?

Please read my second post in this thread up above. It specifically addresses your questions.

People outside God's Covenant? They are lost and heathen, so what they do is irrelevant. What's God's people do is what's being discussed.

Part of our problem today is our manufactured and contrived individualism. We don't see our connections to others, to those who came before us, our fellows, or those coming after us. We're all islands in the stream, etc. It's part of how our enemies have essentially destroyed our culture. Divorce people from their past and the larger community to which they belong, convince them they are rugged individuals and that personal issues are of prime importance... and you have an easily manipulated populace with no bearings and no compass and no map, riddled with an inexplicable angst that bubbles up in nihilistic outbursts, suicides, depression, and other self destructive things.

You also get a church preoccupied with getting itself to heaven and becoming of no practical, relevant, use. Salt that loses its savour, etc.

[Aquila]

If memory serves me correctly, most (if not all) of the prophets in OT Scripture interceded for the nation, and a regular part of this intercession was confessing the known sins of the people, and the sins of previous generations, in the hopes of securing God's mercy and grace. Am I wrong?

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Please read my second post in this thread up above. It specifically addresses your questions.

People outside God's Covenant? They are lost and heathen, so what they do is irrelevant. What's God's people do is what's being discussed.

Part of our problem today is our manufactured and contrived individualism. We don't see our connections to others, to those who came before us, our fellows, or those coming after us. We're all islands in the stream, etc. It's part of how our enemies have essentially destroyed our culture. Divorce people from their past and the larger community to which they belong, convince them they are rugged individuals and that personal issues are of prime importance... and you have an easily manipulated populace with no bearings and no compass and no map, riddled with an inexplicable angst that bubbles up in nihilistic outbursts, suicides, depression, and other self destructive things.

You also get a church preoccupied with getting itself to heaven and becoming of no practical, relevant, use. Salt that loses its savour, etc.

OK i did not read your previous post, I surely agree.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Aquila

If memory serves me correctly, most (if not all) of the prophets in OT Scripture interceded for the nation, and a regular part of this intercession was confessing the known sins of the people, and the sins of previous generations, in the hopes of securing God's mercy and grace. Am I wrong?

Israel was in covenant with God.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by berkeley

Israel was in covenant with God.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Your new favorite meme. Lol. Doubt that is what she’s saying. Looks like a clip from a court tv show on a spanish network.

[berkeley]

Ayyyyy... Caso Cerrado

[derAlte]

This is an interesting topic for discussion. As I live in the Great American West, I have constant interaction with Native Americans who possess varying amounts of bitterness over how their ancestors were treated by European Americans over the last four centuries. I have been told "you stole our land." I have no recollection of stealing anyone's land and find it hard to assume responsibility for the actions of past generations over which I have no control. In truth, I am VERY sorry their families had to endure the very real genocide to which their ancestors were subjected. But to assign responsibility to me seems a bit much. These Native folks don't know my family history. They don't know if my family were the ones responsible for the crimes committed against their families. To assume my white skin makes me responsible is racism plain and simple.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by derAlte

This is an interesting topic for discussion. As I live in the Great American West, I have constant interaction with Native Americans who possess varying amounts of bitterness over how their ancestors were treated by European Americans over the last four centuries. I have been told "you stole our land." I have no recollection of stealing anyone's land and find it hard to assume responsibility for the actions of past generations over which I have no control. In truth, I am VERY sorry their families had to endure the very real genocide to which their ancestors were subjected. But to assign responsibility to me seems a bit much. These Native folks don't know my family history. They don't know if my family were the ones responsible for the crimes committed against their families. To assume my white skin makes me responsible is racism plain and simple.

So very true.

But there is a flip side to this topic to ponder. While none of us are personally to blame for our ancestor's sins against the Native American peoples (assuming one's ancestors were involved) we did, and still do, greatly benefit from their sin against their people. Nearly all we have today is predicated upon what was taken yesterday.

But we are not personally to "blame". But this begs the question - What have we done to right the wrong, provide restitution, or try to heal the wound?

The Catholic Church issued an apology for its bloody wars and the Inquisitions. While this wasn't restitution for the great wealth stolen and lives lost... it was an official confession and acknowledgement of a grave sin.

You know, I don't even know if our government has issued any official statement of apology to the Native American peoples. Perhaps a national holiday, an official federal memorial, and college grant package could be provided... if it hasn't already. Beyond things like these, I have no idea how to offer anything other than an official acknowledgement of a crime against them and an apology.

Tough issues. No easy answers.

[berkeley]

But we are not personally to "blame". But this begs the question - What have we done to right the wrong, provide restitution, or try to heal the wound?

Casinos.