Expert: Phillip Senn - 5/13/2007

Question
Is it right for a Christian to believe in superstition? I AM a Christian and I DO NOT believe in superstitions. But recently someone i know (who is Christian also) shouted at me and argued when i opened an umbrella inside. Are they contradicting their beliefs?

Answer
Laurence,

This is indeed an interesting item to answer today, as we just finished looking at Romans 14 tonight at church. Romans 14 deals with eating meat or not eating meat, and also deals with how we should respond to one that has a problem with eating that meat. I realize that is not the issue here, but we can substitute the concept of opening an umbrella vs. not opening it inside. To one, it is taboo. To the other it is not. How should we respond?

Our response, according to the Apostle Paul, is that we should always respond in love for the other individual. It might be that they are the "weak in the faith". Whatever it might be that we do, that could cause a brother or a sister to stumble, we should avoid. If we consider that they might not understand that there is no harm in opening the umbrella inside, and that they might consider it to be "bad luck" to do so, we should refrain from opening the umbrella inside. We should practice this in their presence, until such time that they become aware that superstitions are not of faith. When we trust in the Lord, we do not worry about such, but to those that may be weak in the faith, it could cause them much anguish.

We should make sure that our faith is established upon the principles of God's Word, and in doing so, we have complete confidence in those convictions. Then, as we minister to that "weak" brother, we work toward edification (the building up) of him in the faith. Our influence in edifying him could be hindered if we engage in "doubtful disputations". Instead we should take every opportunity to share about those things which edify and encourage others to trust in the Lord, rather than to be bothered by those superstitions.

I hope this has helped to encourage you to minister to that weaker brother/sister, and not to be too harsh with him/her.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn