When Remembering Becomes Rebellion: The Spiritual Trap of Ancestor Worship

In recent years, a growing number of people—especially within the Black community—have turned to spiritual practices that attempt to “honor” ancestors in deeply emotional and personal ways. These practices may seem harmless or even meaningful, especially to those seeking to reclaim a lost cultural identity. But beloved, we must be discerning. What may feel right to our hearts can still be wrong in the eyes of a holy God.

Yes, it’s natural to honor and remember those who came before us. But we must also understand the difference between cultural remembrance and spiritual worship. The Lord, who sees all things clearly, draws a firm line in His Word. He alone is worthy of our worship. When we seek guidance, protection, or blessings from the dead, we are stepping into dangerous territory—territory that the Bible calls abominable and spiritually destructive.

When the Heart Craves Anything But the Truth

It’s important to pause and ask: Why are so many drawn to ancestor worship and similar spiritual trends? The answer often lies in a quiet ache—one the enemy knows how to exploit. There is a deep human longing to feel seen, connected, and rooted. Especially for those whose stories have been erased or distorted by history, the pull to reclaim identity through any spiritual means can be overwhelming.

But here’s the sobering truth: When we seek connection apart from the Truth, we are walking in self-delusion.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9

The heart will justify what feels good. It will reach for what seems healing. But when it rejects the Word of God in favor of spiritual alternatives, it’s not healing—it’s deception wrapped in sentiment.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…”
— John 3:19

We tell ourselves it’s culture. We say it’s pride. We frame it as healing. But if we’re honest, what many are really reaching for is anything—anything—but the discomfort of Truth. Because Truth demands surrender. It calls for holiness. It asks us to forsake what feels familiar in order to follow Christ.

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God... but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
— Romans 1:21

Spiritual delusion begins with imagination—imagining our ancestors watching over us, guiding us, intervening for us—things the Bible never teaches. And when we trade the voice of God for our own invented voices, we lose the very freedom we were hoping to find.

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie…”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:11

That’s the danger. When we consistently reject God’s truth, He may allow us to believe the lies we’ve chosen. Not out of cruelty—but because love never forces. And that’s why ancestor worship isn’t just a “different belief”—it’s a spiritual trap.

But praise God, there’s a way out!

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
— John 8:32

Notice it says make you free—not just set you free. There's a difference. To be set free is to be released from bondage, but still at risk of returning to it. To be made free is to be transformed—changed by Truth itself into someone who no longer belongs to the prison mindset at all. Jesus doesn’t just open the door—He changes the heart. That’s real freedom. That’s the power of the Gospel.

The answer isn’t found in the past—it’s found in the Word made flesh. The only One who can satisfy the longing for connection is the One who created us. And when we surrender to Him, we don’t lose our heritage—we gain a kingdom.

What Is Ancestor Worship?

At its core, ancestor worship is not just about remembering Grandma’s wisdom or passing down family recipes. It involves prayers, rituals, or offerings directed to the dead in hopes of receiving protection, blessings, or guidance. It often asks the deceased to intervene in the affairs of the living.

The danger? These practices, even when wrapped in cultural pride or poetic language, are not harmless. They shift our hearts away from God as our sole source and instead look to created beings—people who, like us, were in need of a Savior.

Why Does Ancestor Worship Anger God?

1. God Alone Is the Source of Life and Power

Deuteronomy 32:39 — "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."

Jeremiah 10:10 — "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."

Only God governs life and death. Turning to the dead for help is turning away from the One who holds all power.

2. God Forbids Consulting the Dead

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 — "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,"

"Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." -v. 11

"For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." -v. 12

These terms may sound distant or ancient, but they are still active today—just often repackaged. Divination is the attempt to gain hidden knowledge through spiritual means—like tarot cards, horoscopes, or “ancestor readings.” Enchanters and charmers use spells, rituals, or objects to manipulate outcomes or protect from harm. And necromancy is any attempt to communicate with the dead. God calls these practices abominations not because He is harsh, but because they open the door to deception and demonic influence. They replace trust in Him with trust in spiritual counterfeits.

God doesn’t make room for compromise on this. Spiritual contact with the dead is strictly forbidden—and deeply offensive to Him.

3. Ancestor Worship Is Idolatry

Exodus 20:3-5 — "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" -v. 4

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" -v. 5

Psalm 115:4-8 — "Their idols are silver and gold... They have mouths, but they speak not...They have ears, but they hear not..."

When we assign spiritual power or divine influence to our ancestors, we’re not honoring them—we’re replacing God.

What Happens After Death?

Ecclesiastes 12:7 — "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

Luke 16:22-26 — Jesus tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man, showing a clear separation between the living and the dead.

Nowhere in Scripture are we taught that the dead linger or intervene. They cannot hear us. They cannot guide us. That job belongs to the Holy Spirit alone.

The Enemy’s Favorite Mask: Familiar Spirits

1 Timothy 4:1 — "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

Leviticus 19:31 — "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."

For those still unsure or holding on to the idea that ancestor veneration is "different", God’s Word is clear. Familiar spirits are not our loved ones. They are deceptive spirits that imitate the dead to lure hearts away from the truth. Seeking them out—even in the name of healing, closure, or tradition—defiles us spiritually. God doesn’t warn us to restrict us; He warns us to protect us. He is not trying to take away our heritage—He is trying to preserve our souls.

Demonic spirits often disguise themselves as ancestors to draw people into spiritual bondage. What feels comforting may be a snare.

Honoring Ancestors Biblically

God doesn’t call us to erase our heritage—He calls us to honor it righteously.

Remember Their Legacy

Deuteronomy 32:7 — "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."

Psalm 78:4 — "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."

Notice it says elders—not ancestors, not spirits of the dead. God has placed wisdom in the mouths of the living. We were never meant to speak to the grave when wisdom still walks among us. There is so much to learn from the older generation, but sadly, this generation often mocks or ignores them. It’s a shame how quickly we’ll turn to crystals, cards, or candles before we sit down and listen to Grandma’s prayers or Granddad’s lessons. God has always worked through elders—living vessels who can still teach, still guide, and still glorify Him with their testimony. Let’s not bypass the living for the illusion of the dead.

Pass down their faith, their strength, their stories. But always give glory to the God who kept them.

Thank God for Their Lives

1 Timothy 2:1 — “Giving of thanks be made for all men…”

Honor your ancestors by thanking God for them, not praying to them.

Trust God for Protection and Guidance

Psalm 91:1-2 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

You don’t need to seek help from the dead. You have a living God who walks with you daily.

A Word to Leaders

Whether you’re a mother, auntie, teacher, or simply someone others watch—you carry spiritual influence. As culture leans deeper into ancestor veneration and spiritual confusion, your clarity matters.

Galatians 5:1 — "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

That “yoke” can come in many forms—ancestor worship among them. But the Gospel makes us free.

How to Break Free from Ancestor Worship

1. Repent and Confess

1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive..."

2. Claim Victory in Christ

Colossians 2:15 — "He made a shew of [the enemy] openly, triumphing over them…"

3. Stay Rooted in the Word

Psalm 119:105 — "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet…"

4. Pray for Spiritual Protection

Ephesians 6:11 — "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

5. Lead Others in Truth
   Your obedience could set someone else free.

Reclaiming Identity Without Losing Truth

Many who turn to ancestor worship are simply searching—for history, identity, belonging. That’s understandable. But beloved, God offers us a better inheritance.

1 John 3:1 — Identity: We are children of God.
Ephesians 2:19 — Belonging: We are part of God's household.
Ephesians 2:10 — Purpose: We were created for good works.

You don’t have to compromise truth to honor your heritage. God can restore what history tried to erase.

Conclusion: Worship God Alone

Let’s be clear: God doesn’t share His glory. Not with ancestors. Not with tradition. Not with any spirit or symbol.

Matthew 4:10 — “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Walk in the freedom of truth. Honor your past without exalting it. And lead others to the only One who can redeem every part of our story—Jesus Christ, the Living Truth.

• Team Wild