Several years ago (when I was much younger), I joined a secular writers club at a senior center. In preparation for each weekly meeting, the president would assign five members to choose a subject and write a short story, memoir, poem or prose about it and verbally present their assignment to the group the following week. Surprisingly, most of them were very good. Of course, I contributed to this exercise quite often because I already had written something that could fit in every genre. (Confidently, I love to scribe.)

As I contemplated and prayed about what subject to present for this week’s blog, I stumbled on an old paper I wrote on superstitions that I had many years ago presented to the writer’s group. That’s it! I shouted out loud. I will check to see what the Bible has to say about superstitions. Now, although I don’t honestly believe in superstitions, I must admit that when I was ignorant on the subject, I did “participate” in acknowledging in a few of them. Such As:

What is God’s divine order for living under superstitions such as witch craft, sorcery, divination, etc….

God’s edit is don’t do it!!! Don’t live under ole wives’ tales and superstitions. God wants all of us to live by FAITH! So, what is the difference between the two? In order to become a child of the King and have our sins forgiven is for mankind to live by faith and not by fables. Superstitions, whether good or bad, is the belief that something you do (one’s actions) will somehow affect a person’s future state in life. The Scripture to hold on to in this matter is found in Hebrews 11:1…“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (or evidence) of things not seen.”

It’s amazing how many of our superstitious ways revolve around death, hell and the grave. Take for example the following two exercises:

“The Yawn Reflex” (*)

In today’s world, we believe that it shows good manners to cover your mouth and to say excuse me after a broad and noisy yawn. Well, originally, good manners had nothing to do with it. In the ancient days, it was believed that the Devil made a person yawn so that he could gain access into the body and cause that person grave danger. If that person is observed yawning he would say excuse me because he knew that yawning was contagious and would cause the second person to yawn, too. Thus putting that person in grave danger. So the first yawner would say ‘excuse me’ for putting you in danger. The Hindu people would snap their fingers three times to counter the Devil antics.

“Now Take Sneezing” (**)

How many “Gesundheits” does a person get after sneezing? And do you know what that word means? Well it means “God bless you”. The custom of asking God’s blessing initiated with early man who believed that the spirit resided in the air and since we breathe air in to our heads, it stands to reason that the spirit resided in the head. A sneeze would accidentally expel the spirit. So a person would ask God to put it back. The act of bowing towards the sneezer was also counter-magic. For it meant, “May your soul not escape.”

Now imagine being in a room filled with sneezers and yawners. This combination of guests could be fatal. Don’t forget, a yawn gave the Devil access into the body and a sneeze could expel your good spirit. Thus leaving your body defenseless. The spirit of the Devil would be exposed out in the room trying to gain entrance into someone else; Gesundheits being shouted aloud from across the room; some guests bobbing up and down towards the sneezer; and the yawners approaching others and saying I’m sorry, I’m sorry for infecting you. What a hilarious scene from an Austin Powers movie.

Listed below are a few Bible Scriptures you may want to remember whenever you are tempted to cite a superstition:

“See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah, because all the essence of deity inhabits him in bodily form. And you have been filled by him, who is he head of every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10

“If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 1 Timothy 4:6-7

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Footnotes (*) (**): Information on these two examples were gleaned from a book entitled: “Superstitious ? Here’s Why!, by Julie Forsyth Batchelor and Claudia de Lys.

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