Friday The 13th. Do You Believe? Part II

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev%204:11&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Neh%209:6&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov%2016:9&version=NIV1984

Yesterday we looked at superstition.  As exhibited by fear of Friday the 13th.  And other such superstitions.  We also saw that superstition is belief in the supernatural.  That unseen forces are at work in our lives.  That our lives are affected by doing or not doing certain things.  Or wearing or not wearing certain objects.  So, is Christianity nothing more than superstition?  Is it OK for Christians to observe certain superstitions?  Or should we avoid them altogether?

I suppose that some people would say that all religions (including Christianity) falls under the category of superstition.  Since they basically believe in the supernatural and that supernatural forces are at work in the world and in our lives.  Unfortunately, since Christianity is now about 2000 years old, a great deal of superstition has crept into it over the centuries.  Beads.  Candles.  Statutes.  Holy Water.  Wearing a cross.  Repeating the Lord’s Prayer.  So to the uninitiated observer, Christianity does seem to contain a lot of superstition.  But in the classic sense, we find that there is a great deal of difference between Christianity and superstition.

I have created the following comparison so that you can see the differences, side-by-side:

                   Superstition                                  Christianity
                   - promotes fear                            - promotes confidence
                   - rooted in ignorance                     - rooted in knowledge
                   - happenstance/random                 - divinely-inspired
                   - random routines/rituals                - specific disciplines

As Christians, while we believe in the supernatural, we believe that God rules our lives.  Not fate.  Or chance.  Or some nebulous, supernatural force.  We also believe that the way in which God acts is measured.  Thought out.  Planned.  There is nothing even remotely random about what He does.  And He has full control over our lives.  As Jesus said, even the very hairs of our heads are numbered.  So we don’t need to rely upon some sort of superstition to either assist or defend us.  God does this for us.  And He does it in response, not to rituals, but to spiritual disciplines - prayer, Scripture, fasting, etc.  The end result is that we don’t have to live in fear of the supernatural.  Our God has everything in control and this gives us confidence.  The fact is that Friday the 13th is no different than any other day.  Every day is an opportunity to worship, trust and serve God.

So don’t let superstitions run your life.  Every time you observe one, you diminish not only your own faith in God but the faith of others around you.  God has something far better than that for us.  Faith in Him, the Faithful God.  The knowable God.  The all-powerful God.  The loving God.

Lord, I thank you that I don’t have to worry about protecting myself from curses.  Or accidents.  Or bad luck.  That I don’t have to rely on any superstitions for assistance.  Or good luck.  All I need is faith.  Faith in the Faithful One.  Who saved me.  Protects me.  Guides me.  Loves me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.