SUPERSTITION *or* GOD? by Ernst Kotz

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 11, 1928

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 55, No. 49.

SUPERSTITION or GOD?

By Ernst Kotz

WE MUST ALL MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THEM.

Ernst Kotz

Men have always looked upon superstition as being somewhat more fashionable and smarter than faith in God and His word. When a highly educated man of science “knocks on wood,” this genuine superstition and mark of savagery does not arouse any comment. But think of the sensation he would create among his college students if he declared that he still believed in the Bible record of creation! It would be disquieting to say the least.

The old faith in God has been ridiculed and finally abandoned. People have been asked what they wished to do with it, and the crowd has shouted, “We do not want it to rule over us. Away with it! Let it be crucified!” So it has been put away out of sight,—laid in the new tomb, and sealed with all kinds of very scientific-looking seals. Better to be sure. And they are sure. Just as sure as Voltaire, the French philosopher, was when he boasted of undoing in a few years what Jesus and His word had accomplished up to that time.

WHERE VOLTAIRE LIVED

Some years ago the writer visited the house in Paris in which Voltaire wrote those proud and bitter words against Christ and the Bible. There is a little stone tablet in the wall, and the inscription tells the passer-by that Voltaire once lived here. But you would hardly notice the tablet in the wall, your eye being attracted by a display of books in all languages, in the large show windows; not Voltaire’s philosophic treatises, but—Bibles. The first floor of the house is occupied by the British and Foreign Bible Society! Here the words of Caiaphas, the high priest, would fit in perfectly: “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?” Matthew 26:65.

No, it was not possible to keep the Master in the tomb, nor to keep His word there. True, the word had to prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3.) Yea, for a time it seemed as though the beast from out of the bottomless pit had killed the two witnesses, the Old and the New Testament. (Verse 7.) All those from Sodom and Egypt were rejoicing over their dead bodies, “because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.” Verse 10. But “the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.” Verse 11. Indeed, Revelation 11 tells us a wonderful story of man’s vain endeavors against the word of God.

CIVILIZED SAVAGERY

But in spite of these historic facts, doubt nowadays is considered smarter than faith, nota bene, faith in God! If you are only smart enough to eliminate this faith in God, then you are at liberty to believe almost everything else; and you will hardly be ridiculed for it, either.

Civilized savagery is worse than African savagery. Thousands of the heathen are willing, longing, yearning, to put their faith in a God of love, whom they do not know. We know Him; but many of us are too civilized to believe in Him. We are eager to believe many foolish things instead.

When the Zeppelin that was finally delivered to America by Germany made its trial flights, an observer could always see the head engineer with a long Prince Albert coat over his mechanic’s suit. He had worn the coat during some forty flights, and he believed it brought him luck. He did not dare to take to the air without it. He knew the wonderful machinery of his craft better than anyone else did, but he also knew of moments when man feels the working of certain powers in nature, powers that can not be overcome by the most wonderful machinery. In order to win the coöperation of these powers, or to keep them at least from doing him harm, he believed in wearing that coat as a charm.

Some persons carry a coin for luck. But usually the charm is worn on the watch chain, just as the wild men in Africa wear the amulet on a chain. Have you an amulet on your watch chain, brother?

THE JINXES

The savages are afraid of the unseen powers, and of the jinxes that are supposed to surround them in great numbers. These malevolent spirits are always ready to blink them or play some trick on them. The jinxes are jealous when one is well. A statement to that effect will set them busy stirring up trouble for the unlucky man who thus calls their attention to the fact of his well-being. The wild men in Africa break a piece of wood, endeavoring to overcome the influence of such unwise boasting by this magic action. In civilized countries—in spite of all the theories of evolution—most highly educated men still knock on wood for the same purpose,—civilized savagery!

Hunters among us seem to be just as much afraid of an old woman or a cat crossing their path in the early morning, as are the uncivilized tribes. When suddenly the hooting of the owl breaks the stillness of night, people here and in the jungles believe that some one is going to die.

Since the savage has his lucky and unlucky numbers, we civilized people do not want to do without such a genuine superstition. Hence we avoid, if possible, using the number thirteen on houses and hotel rooms. “Safety first,” is our slogan. Consequently the room next to Number 12 is 103, or 12-c.

Men are not willing to accept God as their Lord and tender Shepherd, but they will allow the moon, salt, spiders, mirrors, trees, and even little insects and pins to tyrannize over them.

THE ONE SOURCE OF FREEDOM

I once heard one woman suggest to another that she tie a red string around her little daughter’s arm, then the jinxes could not blink her. In Czecho-Slovakia I saw such a red string tied even around the branch of a Christmas tree, to keep it from drying out too quickly. Oh, these jinxes and their mischievous tricks! Indeed, it seems as though civilized man must be just as much on guard against them as is the savage. That is why you will find a horseshoe above the door in many homes. It brings good luck, and keeps the jinxes away.

These are—just a few—facts, disillusioning facts, indeed, for those who believe in the theory that science will make man free by freeing him from the “yoke” of faith in God. That is what the great deceiver promised our first parents in Paradise,—development into higher, freer beings. With the same promise he stuns those who listen to him to-day. They usually awaken only to find themselves bound, not by “cords of love” and faith in God, but by the iron chains of some form of fear and superstition.

Truly, as the great Liberator has said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36), free also from all kinds of savagery, wild or civilized.