Spirits, Witchcraft, Mediums, Ancestors & Generational Curses

Ancestry and Mediation

Confessional Text

While we are grateful to God for giving us our earthly tribes, tongues and ancestors¹⁶³, our most important ancestry is our spiritual ancestry. This ancestry is composed of all believers from all tongues, tribes and nations who came before us¹⁶⁴. Our earthly or spiritual ancestors are not mediators between us and God, as there is only One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus¹⁶⁵.

Scriptural References

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Revelation 7:9-19

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Matthew 28:18-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

[164]

Romans 11:17-18

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them

[165]

1 Timothy 2:5-6a

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus

All scripture quotations are from the ESV (English Standard Version).

Historical & Theological Background

Christians honor the legacy of believers who came before—the church fathers, Reformers, and faithful Christians throughout history. We are part of the communion of saints spanning all ages. However, we do not pray to or through saints or ancestors. Christ alone mediates between God and humanity. Rome's veneration of saints and intercession through Mary contradict this biblical truth.

African Contextual Commentary

Ancestor veneration is deeply embedded in many African cultures. While we should respect our ancestors and honor their positive contributions, we must not venerate, consult, or seek intercession through them. Dead ancestors cannot hear our prayers, mediate for us, or affect our lives. Only Christ is our mediator. Our primary spiritual family is the universal church—believers from all times and places. While we can appreciate our ethnic heritage, our identity is in Christ, not in tribal ancestry. African Christians must completely reject ancestor worship, offerings to the dead, and the belief that ancestors influence our lives. We honor Christ alone.