Superstition’s Subtlety0

We live in a culture that demands personalization and autonomy.  Think about it.  We can customize almost anything.  You can craft your own playlist, establish your own web identity, and even customize your car or home.  Burger King’s slogan is still “Have it your way”…

After relishing in the autonomy of Western culture, have you ever noticed how easy it is to put God in a personalized little box?  If you’re like me, you’ve probably overhead (or—gasp!—even thought) statements like…

I just wasn’t getting fed at that church.
I can’t focus on God unless I have silence.
I can’t concentrate long enough to pray.
I’m not much of a reader, so daily devotions just aren’t realistic for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m guilty of thoughts like this… But, such statements focus on our abilities and preferences instead of the providence of God.  Customization is another form of idol worship, whether we acknowledge it or not.  In The Sinfulness of Sin, Puritan Ralph Venning explains “Sin has made men worship either (1) a false god, which is idolatry; or (2) God falsely, which is superstition.”

Superstition.  That’s not a word that we drop in everyday conversation.  Idolatry seems to be a hot topic for Christians right now (and rightly so), but I think some of us need a wake-up call about the prevalence of superstition in our lives.  We acknowledge with our lips that we’re Christians serving the living God, but God calls us to come to Him on His term… not our own.  After all, who are we to dictate our relationship with the God of the universe?

Genesis shows us that God takes initiative with His creation.  God makes everything out of nothing and provides the proper parameters for His relationship with humankind (Gen. 1-2).  Customization was the issue in Genesis 3—Adam and Eve elevated their own desires above God’s.  Or, look at the Saul’s disobedience in 1 Samuel 15.  Samuel reminds Saul with the proper perspective in verse 22: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.”

Take some time today to reflect.  Maybe you are worshipping the true God right now, but make sure you avoid the subtle snares of superstition… and worship God on His terms.