Spiritual Adoption

Chapter 6

PSYCHOSPIRITUAL HEALING

Spiritual maturity is affected by both the physical and emotional. Psychospiritual healing is healing of both emotional issues as well as spiritual issues. Psychological trauma causes physical changes to the brain. The genetic memory code of a traumatized parent may be transmitted to children through some electrochemical processes in the brain. Since psychological trauma is assumed to have long-term effects on the neurochemical responses to stress in traumatized parents, it may also lead to the same enduring characterlogical deficiencies and to a kind of biological vulnerability in their children.

Generational experiences and behavior affect physical, emotional, and spiritual development. Low cortisol is a vulnerability marker for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By looking at Nazi Holocaust survivors, their offspring, and the presence of PTSD, researchers in New York City have found biological evidence of the intergenerational transmission of stress vulnerability. There is evidence of transmission of depression, guilt, and shame being passed down through three generations of Holocaust survivors. This means that the experience of parents or grandparents affects the physical development of the children and grandchildren. The young ones can have biomarkers such as low cortisol, which in turn affects the children emotionally because they are more vulnerable to stress; this vulnerability to stress may lead to depression, guilt, and shame, which will make it difficult to be obedient to the Lord or attain spiritual maturity. It is not only psychological and emotional experiences that can affect future generations but physical experiences as well. Exposure to chemicals such as the pesticide DDT may be a contributing factor to obesity problems three generations later. Passing genetic information, DNA, from one generation to the next may be how the issues of Exodus 20 generational sins, such as having a short fuse, or generational blessings, such as being calm, are transferred from one generation to another. Note that generational sin is listed in Scripture as lasting three generations, just as the studies with psychological, emotional, and physical experiences demonstrated it effecting three generations.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5–6 NIV)

Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7 AMP)

Genes in each cell’s nucleus store a vast amount of information, including instructions concerning how to function in certain situations and when to stop functioning (e.g., growth of breasts or facial hair during puberty). The wealth of information that genes contain is encoded on DNA within the cells. Telomeres are special DNA sequences. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter and shorter until they are unable to divide anymore—and then they die. Stress, as well as other factors, such as smoking, early abuse as a child, being bullied, and exposure to violence, shortens telomeres.

Only 5 to 10 percent of the human genes are known to be active every minute; if they stop working, death occurs instantly. What the rest of the genes are actually doing remains unknown. The fact that psychological states can change the way genes function may actually be possible because so many genes are dormant. A change of environment can trigger changes in your genes. The “joy of the Lord” can change your genes. Laughter has a beneficial effect on blood-glucose levels. Twenty-three genes are activated from laughing. Everyone carries the spiritual DNA of generational behavioral patterns. In clinical psychology, this is referred to as “family pathology.” Through the process of “contemplative prayer,” “scriptural meditation,” and “practicing His presence,” the Holy Spirit will give insight to the parent as to how their own generational pathology is a hindrance to a loving relationship with the Father. This process will also allow insight into the generational sins of the adopted children, enabling the parent to meet the children’s needs. Consciously entering the presence of God transforms and renews man. In doing so, John 3:30 (NASB) is accomplished: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” With the eradication of the generational pathology, the following can be accomplished:

And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). (Matthew 22:37 AMP)

This is not limited to spiritual development but also to the very fabric of one’s physical being: genetics. Research reflects that a “supportive environment” (loving, nurturing relationship) reverses the effect of a genetic risk factor. This can be seen in Elijah’s experience in running from Jezebel. Elijah (1 Kings 19) was afraid of Jezebel. She had threatened to kill him before the next day was over. So he ran to hide. While he was hiding, an angel came and fed him; then he had strength for his journey and was able to interact with God. First his physical needs of food and rest were met, then his spiritual needs were met.

The nurturing interaction between Elijah and the angel healed his clinical syndrome of Acute Distress Disorder, which is a psychoneurobiological (mental states affecting the physical brain) condition. In light of the encounter with Jezebel and the prophets of Baal, Elijah suffered acute psychophysiological (mental states affecting the physical body) burnout, which was due to the stress hormone negatively affecting his physical, psychological, and spiritual functioning.

It is well known that a mother’s health directly affects her unborn children. Mothers have long carried the responsibility of their unborn children’s health. For example, don’t drink or your child might have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Don’t smoke because nicotine exposure in utero enhances the risk of ADHD. More recent studies demonstrate that fathers exposed to drugs, alcohol, radiation, solvent, and other toxins can also lead to medical/behavioral pathologies (e.g., low birth weight). Low birth weight infants have a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease in later life. Up to half of adult diseases may be linked to developmental causes. Studies with rats indicate that frequent maternal licking and grooming of the young increases cognitive and social skills as well as lowers stress. This holds true even if a young rat from a less-affectionate mother is placed with an affectionate “adoptive” mother. The implications of this are that the adoptive parents can have an effect on children’s development.