Recognising superstitions, both secular and Christian
Superstitions are so prevalent that we often don’t give them a second thought. In some buildings in Asia, for example, you won’t find the fourth or thirteenth floors. People will avoid certain numbers, names, calendar dates, colours, animals, and pieces of furniture as they are supposed to bring bad luck. It is also not uncommon to trust in the healing or protective powers of certain objects. If we trace these superstitions back to their roots, we will find that most originate from animism, myths, idol worship, or witchcraft. Sadly, Christianity also has its own set of myths and superstitions too.
(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 承认世俗甚至基督教的迷信 | 繁體中文 > 承認世俗甚至基督教的迷信)
As believers, we are called to have “nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths,” but first, we need to recognise them for what they are.
1 Timothy 4:7 ESV Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
What are superstitions
Superstitions lead people to believe that certain objects, circumstances, and rituals have the power to give them what they want or to prevent misfortune – outside of God.
Such superstitious beliefs tend to be:
- Driven by fear or greed
- Irrational
- Passed down the generations
- Culture-specific; every culture has its own set of superstitions
- Widely adopted as “traditions” or “customs”; we often don’t even know where they originated from
Take the custom of knocking on wood or saying “touch wood” for example. This is a practice that originated from pagan apotropaic tradition, where people used magic to ward off evil influences. They consulted spirits or “fairies” in trees by knocking on their tree trunks and asking for protection or personal wishes. Today, we simply repeat this pagan practice without realising what we are actually calling up spiritually.
Some superstitions even sound Christian in nature but are actually mystic in origin. Take the custom of saying, “God bless you,” when someone sneezes. This is said to be based on a superstition that a sneeze will separate one’s body from one’s soul, which can then be stolen by Satan. One says “God bless you” in order to prevent the devil from doing so.
Many pagan superstitions are so embedded that in our daily lives that we don’t even think twice about using them because we now see them as the norm. This is particularly true for major events, such as births, weddings, and funerals.
1. Birth superstitions
- Don’t tell anyone your birthday wish, or else it won’t come true.
- Make sure to blow out all the candles on a birthday cake* as you make a wish, so that it will come true.
- The date of your birth and horoscope will determine your personality and life events.
- Mothers ought to go through certain rituals for good luck before and after giving birth.
- What the mother eats can determine the baby’s skin tone and even its gender.
* Birthday cakes originated with the Greeks, who worshipped and celebrated Artemis, goddess of the moon, with round honey cakes topped with candles representing the glowing moon.
2. Wedding superstitions
- Certain foods will bring good luck to the marriage.
- Avoid wearing black, blue or grey as these colours bring bad luck.
- Give money to the wedding couple in even numbers for good luck. Avoid any number with the numeral, four, in it.
- Do not attend the wedding reception if you are pregnant or attended a funeral in the last 100 days.
- Carry the bride across the threshold to protect her from evil spirits below.
3. Funeral superstitions
- Pick an auspicious date based on the Chinese Almanac.
- Guests should give money in white-coloured envelopes, the amount should be in odd numbers.
- Guests should walk over a fire pot after the funeral to “cleanse” themselves before going home.
- Everyone should go home by a different route after a funeral to avoid spirits of the dead following you home.
- The dead will return to their residence within a week for a visit.
- Tie a red thread to the doorknobs of your front door at home to keep evil spirits away.
- Give out a piece of candy to cover guests’ sorrow with sweetness as well as one-dollar coin to ensure they arrive home safely.
- Play loud music in order to keep spirits away.
Also, see:
What is your horoscope?
Why feng shui is unprofitable
Witchcraft is mainstream and dangerous
A biblical understanding of death and funeral rites
Practising wisdom
We may be tempted to dismiss God’s Word and tell ourselves that superstitions are nothing more than harmless traditions and fun customs. Yet we also need to understand the implications on our standing with God when we follow the superstitious patterns of this world. (For a longer list of common superstitions, please refer to the table at the bottom of this post.)
Romans 12:1-2 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.
In general, superstitions:
- Have pagan origins and involve a belief in spiritual powers
- Feed on people’s insecurities
- Give people a false sense of hope, devoid of God
- Create anxiety amongst the superstitious when they don’t “obey”
By mimicking the myths and superstitions of this world, we demonstrate that we choose to:
- Place our faith in good luck charms and rituals, rather than place our faith in God | 2 Peter 1:16 ESV For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
- Give the credit for our God-given blessings and protection to pagan beliefs, rituals and spirits, instead of to God Himself | Colossians 3:17 ESV And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Follow the patterns and cravings of this world | 1 John 2:15-16 NLT Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
- Fear evil spirits, rather than exercise our God-given authority over them in Jesus’ name | Luke 10:19-20 ESV Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Use the money that God has given us on man-made dolatrous things | Proverbs 3:9 ESV Honor the Lord with your wealth..
As followers of Jesus, we are to live in this world but not be a partaker of its worldly customs.
This is not always going to be easy. Those who are firm believers in superstitions will typically strongly advocate that we follow their customs too, mostly out of genuine concern or goodwill.
It takes great humility and wisdom to make a stand against the temptation to just go along. And we need to do so in a way that is gentle and respectful.
1 Peter 3:15 NIV But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
God’s Word promises that God will provide a way of escape from the temptations in this world to submit to idolatrous superstitions. We simply need to ask Him for wisdom.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
James 1:5 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
For example, we shouldn’t be missing a friend’s birthday party just because there will be a birthday cake there, but we can consider not having a cake for our own birthday and using it as an opportunity to explain our faith in the One True God. Instead of giving a red packet of auspicious dollar notes at a wedding, we may choose to buy a gift or sponsor a special dinner date for the newlyweds.
Christian myths and superstitions
It also takes wisdom to identify and stay away from Christian myths and superstitions within the church.
Christian myths and superstitions have been with us since the early church, as seen from the apostle Paul’s letters to church leaders, Titus and Timothy. Paul warned them that such falsehoods would appeal to “people’s own passions,” “promote speculations,” and cause people to “turn away from the truth.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
1 Timothy 1:3-5 ESV … charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Titus 1:10,13-14,2:1 ESV For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. … Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Even the 12 apostles were not immune. When they saw Jesus walking on water, they thought they had seen a “ghost”, even though the Bible makes it clear that the dead cannot return to the land of the living.
Matthew 14:26 ESV But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 NLT … the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.
Another example is the serpent that God instructed Moses to make and set on a pole, so that whoever looked at it would be healed of their snake bites. God had initially sent deadly snakes amongst the people to teach them a lesson for complaining and being ungrateful for the victories He had just given them over their enemy. The bronze serpent on the pole was meant to be a reminder to be humble and honour God. A few generations later, however, people began to superstitiously worship the serpent for its healing powers instead. The object that God had instructed Moses to make to point people to Him had become their idol.
Numbers 21:7-9 ESV And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
2 Kings 18:3-4 ESV And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).
This isn’t too far removed from the idol that we have made of the cross or the crucifix today, which some Christians believe has the power to keep Satan away.
Deuteronomy 29:17 ESV And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them.
Here are some other examples of Christian superstitions and myths:
- Setting up a shrine or displaying the Bible at home will keep evil spirits away. | Truth: Evil spirits only flee when we submit ourselves to God. Objects have no power over them. James 4:7 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Praying long and repetitive prayers on end will bring blessings because these please God. | Truth: God is not interested in how we pray, He sees why we pray; whether we truly desire to obey His will or just want our own will. Matthew 6:7-8 ESV “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
- Before we pray, we need to first make certain outward gestures or actions so that God will listen to us. | Truth: Outward gestures are meaningless, it is the attitude of our hearts that count. 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV …. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
- Doing good works will put us in God’s good books. | Truth: We can’t bribe God with good works. It is when we love Him and love others that He calls us His children. 1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
- If we pray hard enough, God will answer our prayers. | Truth: God only listens to those who truly worship Him and will obey His will. Persistence without true obedience is meaningless. John 9:31 ESV We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
- Once you confess Jesus to be Lord of your life, you have your entry into heaven secured. | Truth: Anyone who does not obey God’s commandments and will not enter heaven. Matthew 7:21 ESV “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
How God must grieve when we follow such myths and superstitions, rather than His Word. Let us, therefore, be more aware of the customs we follow and seek to honour God in all that we say and do.
Appendix: The origins of some pagan superstitions
1. Avoiding evil spirits
Knock on the door before entering a new place. | To warn any spirit living inside that you are entering. |
Display an “evil eye” | To ward off evil spirits and magical curses. |
Avoid sleeping in the rooms at the end of the corridor in hotels. | To avoid the rooms that spirits prefer to linger. |
Don’t hang wind chimes | To avoid attracting evil spirits to enter your home. |
Shower with pomelo leaves | To get rid of evil spirits. |
Burn the herb, sage. | To clear out evil spirits and balance energy. |
Do not purchase or live in apartments located on 4/F, 14/F etc. | To avoid places that sound like death that spirits may be attracted to. The number, four, in Chinese sounds similar to the word for “die” or “death”. |
2. Inviting good luck
Wearables | |
Wear red | To bring good luck. This belief is related to an ancient Chinese myth about a ferocious monster named “nian” that is chased away during Chinese New Year with the use of red firecrackers, red clothes and red papers pasted around their doors and windows. |
Wear energy, chakra, or crystal bracelets. | To attract and absorb “good” energy. |
Use animal totems for jewelry, tattoos etc. | To benefit from the animals’ spiritual powers. |
Animal totems | |
Lucky money cat (maneki neko) | To beckon and welcome good fortune. A popular Japan lucky charm, this cat idol is featured prominently at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. |
Golden money toad | To attract and protect wealth, and guard against bad luck. A popular Feng Shui charm for prosperity, the money toad is said to be the animal companion of a Taoist immortal being. |
Koi fish | To bring in good fortune. This belief is related to a legend about one koi fish that overcame local demons’ attempts to prevent it from reaching the top of a waterfall, and was rewarded by the gods for its determination and perseverance. The koi fish is turned into a golden dragon. |
Dragon | To bring good luck and power. Associated with Satan, often used in sorcery. |
Phoenix | To welcome longevity. The mythical phoenix is seen as an immortal creature continually rising from the ashes. |
Turtle | To welcome longevity. Tortoise shells are used in divination. |
Lucky charms | |
Hold on to some lucky coins | To bring good luck. |
Throw a coin into a fountain set up as a “wishing well.” | To make your wishes come true. This is based on a myth that spirits and gods lived in water, and offerings had to made to thank them for answering your prayers. |
Four leaf clover | To bring good luck. Originally used to ward off evil spirits and later to detect the presence of “fairies”. |
Rituals | |
Say good wishes to people during cny | To wish others good luck. Originally, these greetings were meant to congratulate anyone who survived the attack of the monster named “nian.” In other words, they have “guo nian.” |
Pick the “number 8” for your address, telephone number, important dates etc. | To prosper. The number 8 in Chinese is considered auspicious because it sounds like the Chinese word “to prosper.” |
3. Avoid bad luck
Don’t break a mirror | To avoid fracturing one’s soul, based on an ancient superstition that a mirror is a projection of one’s soul. |
Avoid facing a mirror towards your bed | To avoid the wrong type of energy into your room that will adversely affect your sleep and romantic relationship. |
Avoid black cats | To avoid bad luck. The colour, black, is associated with death. |
Cross your fingers. | To prevent bad luck. It is based on the belief that spirits could be found at crossings. By crossing your fingers, you could invoke the spirits for help. |
Avoid the “number four” in telephone numbers, amounts of money. | To avoid bad luck. The number, four, in Chinese sounds like the word “death.” |
Do not talk about one’s blessings or good fortune. | To avoid “jinxing” it. To talk about something good prematurely may bring a curse instead. |
Don’t sweep the floor / wash your hair / cut your hair during Chinese New Year | To avoid sweeping or cutting away your good luck and attracting evil spirits instead. |
Do not cut your nails at night. | To avoid an early death. This will lead to you dying before your parents and you not being able to be there for their deaths. |
Also, see testimony Jesus brings lawyer new life and confidence
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