Do Not Be Deceived by Silly Superstitions and Unfounded Rumors
Are you superstitious? If so, just a friendly reminder that today is Friday the 13th. The origin of this superstition actually has some roots in our faith, dating back to the Last Supper in which there were 13 individuals present in the Upper Room on the night before the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday.
Some people grow more superstitious as they age, but most of us tend to pay less attention to such things that have little or no basis in fact. Still, humans have a reputation for being inherently superstitious, especially when informed by a previous experience. For example, it someone wears purple socks on the day of an exam and that person aces the test, he or she is likely to wear those same purple socks on the date of the next exam.
But what about us in the context of our faith? We are advised to fear the Lord, but there is no indication that we should be illogical in our thinking. I Timothy 4:7 provides some guidance with this passage: “have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.” In other words, don’t fall victim to unfounded beliefs or practices. Instead, we are to focus on our faith and the truths of God’s Word.
Colossians 2:8 provides further insight with this passage: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Unfortunately, we see this playing out in our world today, to the point that we appear to be more vulnerable than ever to unfounded myths and rumors, due in large part to the unregulated messaging on the Internet. This has led to an erosion of empathy for one another and a general degradation in the way we treat others.
If we’re not careful, we might lose our grip on our very soul. That’s not a superstition but a potential reality that none of us wants to experience.
Until we meet again, be blessed!