It’s Difficult to Remain Non-Superstitious: A Christian Perspective
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.
I have heard people fear the number 13, which is weird. Fearing something that exists only in our minds, something virtual.
When I heard of a Ganpati luck charm on one of the U.S. president’s hands, I found it difficult to reconcile that with someone professing complete trust in Christ.
When I find people relying on stars, palmistry, and astrology, I wonder who their God is. Man relies on things God created so that humans can enjoy them, and yet we are bowing to those very things.
Isaiah 8:19-20
19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
We live in a world where there is a superstition associated with everything. This is not an exaggeration—literally every single thing. You can hardly find a person who isn’t influenced by it.
1. Even Christian Worship Places Are Not Different
Churches are not different either. Superstitions have crept into every minute detail, though unknowingly. This gradual encroachment is irreversible for many. The very first and most important of the Ten Commandments is violated here. Many church leaders hesitate to address these practices directly, allowing them to continue unchallenged. If you abstain from it, you are viewed as oversmart.
When it was time to decide the date for my delivery, I asked the doctors to choose a day solely based on their convenience, and they chose a day purely based on their busy schedule. They were pretty sure that I don’t believe in special days or auspicious times. By the grace of God, the baby was fine.
2. Surrounded by Superstitious People
I came back from the hospital super excited after a big seven-day ordeal, with my cute little baby in hand. What I expected was some good rest at my “home sweet home.”
The housemaid, who knew all the complications in my pre and post-pregnancy journey, was all ready to give me all her expert advice. One weird piece of advice was to put a knife under my infant’s mat for her safety. Imagine how furious I would be, for a person so against it.
3. They Won’t Change
I tried my best to let the housemaid, who was from another faith, know that Christianity doesn’t allow this. But she was not willing to stop her weird advice. She kept treating me with little doses of annoying surprises every now and then. Good that she is no longer there.
What I have understood is that many are unlikely to change because these beliefs have been part of their upbringing for decades. They grew up like that, and now it’s difficult to change.
4. Why Are They Like This?
Firstly, for people of other religions, they don’t consider it wrong to fear other forces.
Now for Christians, it’s the influence of growing up in a culture where you are surrounded by it. Slowly, it becomes a part of your life.
5. It’s All in the Upbringing
It all depends on how you are brought up. If your parents close their eyes to it, children will absorb every bit of it.
If children grow up seeing their parents follow superstitions, then there is nothing left to discuss.
On the other hand, if parents bring up their kids by helping them differentiate between superstition and non-superstition, they grow up to be very clear in their perspective.
6. A True Christian
A true Christian is one who trusts solely in the power of God. Every other thing is on the opposite side—the evil one. There is no partaking in both meals.
Exodus 20:3
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
To be a true Christian, there is only one meal—that which God serves us. The uncorrupted meal is to be consumed, completely trusting Him. No other serving from anyone should satisfy your hunger.
Trust in God and the Holy Bible. Nothing else.
Now you might ask me about evil powers. Well, rely on the true God to protect you from all the powers of evil.
7. To Be Non-Superstitious Is Almost Impossible, So Be Strong
It’s that difficult these days to remain non-superstitious. You need to be super strong, like Samson—mentally strong—to combat superstitions firing from all sides.
Well, the most difficult are the weak-hearted, who pass it on to their kids. They are too weak to correct them, yet they justify everything they do. Sadly, many profess faith in Christ while continuing to rely on practices that contradict complete trust in God.
Conclusion
From flowers to eggs to numbers, everything seems to be feared, no matter which part of the world—Western, Asian, or African. It’s a superstition-ridden world.
Rather than imitating these practices, let us focus on seeing creation as the beautiful work of the Creator and place our trust in Him alone. Let us see creation as the beautiful creation of the Creator and not rely on fictitious strengths for success.
We have to raise a generation that is strong enough to completely trust in God and not numbers, stars, weird traditions, other cultures, luck charms, or any sort of scaffolding or cushioning. Teach them to have confidence in the gifts God has given them while relying on Him alone for their security and guidance.
Trusting in God’s living Word will make anyone simply trust in God.