In the Bible, an altar is a sacred place of worship, sacrifice, and consecration. Altars were often used in biblical times to make offerings to God, seek His favor, and perform acts of devotion. However, not all altars mentioned in the Bible are good. In many cases, people set up altars to false gods, idols, and even spirits. These “family altars” represent the influence of sin, idolatry, and generational curses passed down through families.
Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that His people must tear down these altars of false worship and consecrate themselves to Him alone. In this article, we will explore 20 Bible verses that speak about the importance of breaking family altars. These verses emphasize the need for spiritual cleansing, the destruction of idol worship, and the establishment of God as the central focus in our families and lives.
What Are Family Altars?
Before diving into the verses, let’s first define what we mean by “family altars.” A family altar refers to a place or practice within a family where worship, devotion, or sacrifices to idols or false gods are made. In many cultures, family altars were a part of household traditions, where offerings were made to spirits, ancestors, or deities to seek favor or protection. In a biblical sense, such altars represent spiritual strongholds that need to be torn down to restore true worship of the one true God.
The idea of “breaking family altars” involves spiritually cleansing a family from generational curses or strongholds of idolatry. It’s about breaking the ties with the past, rejecting false worship, and dedicating the family to the worship of God alone. Many of us may not have literal idols in our homes, but we can have spiritual altars built around materialism, false beliefs, or unhealthy practices passed down through generations.
1. Exodus 34:13
“But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images.”
This verse speaks directly about destroying the altars of the Canaanite nations. God commanded Israel to break down the altars dedicated to false gods, as they represented disobedience and a breach of God’s law. Likewise, we are called to tear down the altars of sin and idolatry in our own lives and families.
2. Deuteronomy 7:5
“But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.”
This command is a continuation of the need for Israel to remove all forms of idolatry from their midst. The breaking of family altars often involves cleansing our lives from everything that takes the place of God, whether it’s material possessions, wrong relationships, or hidden sins.
3. 1 Kings 18:30-32
“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”
Elijah’s actions in this verse symbolize the importance of restoring the altar of God. The altars of false worship had been set up by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, but Elijah came to restore the worship of the true God. This is a picture of how we must repair the altars of worship in our own families, removing anything that distracts from our devotion to God.
4. 2 Kings 18:4
“He removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, and cut down the wooden images.”
King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord by removing idolatrous practices in Judah. Breaking family altars often involves confronting generational sin, rejecting idols, and restoring the right worship of God in the family.
5. Jeremiah 44:3-4
“Because of the wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they did not know—nor they, you nor your fathers.”
The Lord’s anger was stirred because of idolatry in the land. The Israelites had set up altars and burned incense to gods that were not theirs. This is a stark reminder that worshiping anything other than God is a form of disobedience and will lead to judgment.
6. Hosea 10:2
“Their heart is divided; now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars.”
Hosea speaks about the consequences of divided hearts. Idolatry leads to a divided heart, where loyalty is split between God and other things. God promises to break down these altars, bringing judgment on those who have strayed from Him.
7. 2 Chronicles 34:3
“For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.”
King Josiah, at a young age, sought to restore true worship in Judah. He broke down the altars of false gods and purified the land. This is a powerful example of how families can break altars of sin and idolatry through dedication and seeking God.
8. Isaiah 30:22
“You will defile also the covering of your images of silver, and the ornament of your molded images of gold; you will throw them away as an unclean thing; you will say to them, ‘Get away!’”
Isaiah describes the action of removing idols and rejecting them as unclean. This act of rejection is part of breaking family altars. When we choose to reject anything that stands between us and God, we are cleansing our lives and homes of idolatry.
9. Leviticus 26:30
“I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols, and My soul shall abhor you.”
God warns that He will destroy the high places where idols are worshiped. This is a call to purify our homes and families from any form of idol worship that has taken root.
10. Ezekiel 6:6
“In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate.”
God’s judgment upon Israel for their worship of idols involved the destruction of their altars. It is a reminder that any altar that is not dedicated to God will eventually face judgment.
11. Judges 6:25
“Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, ‘Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it.’”
God told Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal, which his father had set up. This is an important reminder that family altars of idolatry may be passed down through generations, and it’s our responsibility to break those altars and turn our families to God.
12. 2 Samuel 7:11-13
“Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.”
Though not directly about breaking altars, this passage speaks about the promises of God for a righteous family line. By breaking altars to idols, we make way for the blessings of God to flow freely in our families.
13. Psalm 31:6
“I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the Lord.”
The psalmist expresses hatred for idols, a necessary attitude for anyone seeking to break family altars. Our hearts must reject anything that seeks to replace God in our lives.
14. Micah 5:13
“I will destroy your carved images and your sacred pillars from among you; you shall no longer worship the work of your hands.”
This verse is a call to destroy idols. Just as Israel was called to remove false gods, we too must rid ourselves of anything that takes the place of God in our homes.
15. Zechariah 13:2
“It shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered.”
God promises to remove the idols that defile His people. The removal of idols is part of breaking family altars and restoring proper worship.
16. Romans 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
While not directly about breaking altars, this verse emphasizes dedicating ourselves fully to God. When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we are breaking any altar of idolatry in our hearts and homes.
17. Matthew 12:29
“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?”
Jesus teaches that before we can plunder the strongholds of sin, we must first bind the enemy. Breaking family altars often involves spiritual warfare and dismantling the strongholds of the enemy that have taken root in our homes.
18. 1 John 5:21
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
This simple but powerful command highlights the need to guard ourselves against idolatry. By breaking family altars, we protect our families from the snares of false worship.
19. Colossians 3:5
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Idolatry isn’t just about physical idols but also involves sinful desires. Breaking family altars involves purging our lives and hearts from such desires.
20. Joshua 24:15
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua declares his commitment to the Lord and calls the people to choose whom they will serve. This is a bold declaration to break any family altars that do not honor God.
Conclusion
Breaking family altars is an essential step in restoring right worship and breaking generational curses. These 20 Bible verses show the seriousness of rejecting idolatry and the need for cleansing within our families. Whether literal or spiritual, family altars of false worship must be torn down, and families must turn to God for restoration, healing, and blessing. Through prayer, repentance, and a commitment to worship the one true God, we can break free from the past and build a strong foundation of faith for future generations.
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