The Bible does not directly mention “breaking family altars” in those exact terms, but the concept of breaking down ungodly or idolatrous altars is a recurring theme in Scripture. It often symbolizes turning away from ancestral or cultural practices that contradict faith in God and returning to true worship. Here are some relevant Bible verses:
Breaking Down Idolatrous Altars
Judges 6:25-27 (Gideon destroys his father’s altar to Baal)
*”That same night the Lord said to him, ‘Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.'”
This passage shows Gideon’s obedience in breaking a family altar dedicated to Baal and replacing it with an altar dedicated to God.
2 Kings 18:4 (Hezekiah’s reforms)
“He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.”
Hezekiah purged idolatry from Israel, symbolizing breaking generational ties to false worship.
Deuteronomy 12:2-3
“Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places.”
God commands Israel to destroy idolatrous altars to ensure pure worship.
Turning to the Lord
Joshua 24:14-15
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Joshua challenges the Israelites to break ties with ancestral idolatry and fully commit to God.
Exodus 20:3-5
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.”
A foundational commandment that warns against idolatry and false altars.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
A New Testament perspective on breaking spiritual strongholds, which can include generational patterns or beliefs contrary to God.
Breaking Family Altars and Generational Patterns
These verses highlight God’s desire for His people to reject idolatry, break ungodly spiritual ties, and dedicate themselves to Him fully. In a personal context, “breaking family altars” may refer to renouncing generational sins, unhealthy spiritual practices, or anything contrary to God’s will in one’s family history.
Amen
