Sue, I have a Christian friend who is highly superstitious. This is very surprising to me. I would like to be able to give him scriptural references which apply to this. I cannot understand how he reconciles the sovereignty of God with superstition. He actually thinks that things like “knocking on wood” have affect on the outcome of situations. He is also highly intelligent. If you know if any articles which address this, I would appreciate that information as well.
I share your incredulity at your friend’s belief in both superstition and a sovereign God!
Here are two powerful scriptures that I think are eye-opening concerning superstitious Christians:
Exodus 20:2-5 — The first commandment:
“I am the LORD your God . . . You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol 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; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God . . . “
Being superstitious is to trust in an act, like knocking on wood or not stepping on a crack, instead of in God. It is nothing less than idolatry! (This is why astrology is also wrong, also idolatrous—it is trusting in the stars instead of the Star-Creator!) When we trust in a superstition instead of in God, we are making it into an idol.
The other scripture is in 2 Kings 1:3:
“But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, `Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’”
I think this verse makes it clear that consulting (and of course, trusting) anything other than the one true God is an insult and affront to God.
I’ll be interested in hearing his response to this information . . .
Sue Bohlin
Probe Ministries