Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Many non-Christians accuse Christians of being superstitious (and therefore foolish) people. Some of these accusations are correct. Let me show you why. First, some definitions:
Faith is trust in God. Superstition is trust in man.
Faith is reliance upon God’s Word. Superstition is reliance upon man’s word.
Faith has what is unseen as its object. Superstition’s focus is upon man’s visible, tangible actions.
Faith is reliance upon God’s actions. Superstition is reliance upon man’s actions.
We could continue making these contrasts, but this should be sufficient.
Now, why do I maintain that the “faith” of many professing Christians is actually superstition? Let me give you some examples.
- I have been very good today. God will give me that new job.
- If I just keep working harder and harder on submitting to my abuser husband, God will work a miracle and change him.
- If I don’t go to church this Sunday, God will not bless me this week.
- I am going to gather as many people together to pray and God will heal my friend. The more people we get to pray, the more likely God will hear us.
- I faithfully tithe to my church. God will give me back more than I give.
Understand? Do you see that these common notions are all examples, not of real faith, but of superstition? It is pure myth that by my doings I can manipulate God. That is not Christianity. It is pagan magic. You see it in Rome. Say this many hail whatevers, crawl up so many stone steps, etc, etc, and God will act. But evangelicals have their own brand of chants, charms, and mantras.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse and if you are a Christian, there is a very high probability that you have been told/taught/indoctrinated with superstitions of this sort. And perhaps you are even still clinging to them. They need to go. To the dump. Right away.
Superstition has as its agenda man’s agenda. Faith trusts in God’s agenda. So to remain in an abusive marriage under the guise of “faith and obedience” as the path to the salvation of your abuser and the healing of your marriage is superstition. It is seeking your own agenda. Most often, God’s agenda is radically different than ours – and radically better. The one is fiction, the other is reality given and scripted by God alone.
Take a close look at yourself. How much of your “faith” could actually be superstition? And in what ways is that superstition working to keep you in bondage?