Superstition

We need to utilize the powerful, spiritual tools that God has made available to us in Christ.  1st
Timothy 4 states:
7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

There are many practices that people undertake that might make them feel better temporarily, but because they are not rooted in Scripture and predicated on a relationship with Christ, what people do will not bring them the true, lasting peace that is possible through Christ.  And, we have to make sure that we are not falling into the trap of superstition, legalism, or formulaic practices, thinking those will meet our needs.  We are called to obey Christ and live in the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

+++++

Paul encouraged the church at Colosse to depart from the traditions of the world, which do not promote godliness. In Colossians 2, we can read:
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--
21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

It's been a tough time for the nation of Greece.  According to a piece on the Religion News Service website:

Since 2009, the Greek financial crisis has decimated the country’s economy. More than a quarter of its citizens are now unemployed, and half of Greek youth lack jobs.

In such times, people often turn to familiar traditions, such as the evil eye, for comfort.

The writer is referring to something called the "mati," which is "a distinctive talisman with concentric blue and white circles."  The article states:

For years, tourists to Greece have snapped up the charms, these “all-seeing eyeballs,” which are supposed to help ward off the “evil eye.” The term refers to negative energy caused by another’s jealousy, which Greeks believe can cause minor troubles and even physical symptoms for the victim.

A souvenir shop owner got it right, I think, stating that she tells customers: "'It’s superstitious, it’s supposed to bring luck.’" She adds, "So they get excited about it.”

One of the people interviewed for the article says that the "eye" is "the new trendy cross."

The article says, "It is based on the notion of a limited amount of good in the world, and the idea that one person’s envy can deduct from another’s fortune."  There are prayers associated with it, and certain rules of engagement to "use" it.

The piece does state:

Though the Greek Orthodox Church considers the mati at odds with Christianity, many within the church accept the idea of an evil energy circulating among people, which may help explain the talisman’s enduring popularity in this highly religious country.

According to the story, a Greek Orthodox high priest says that "only the Christian cross can provide true protection." He says, "Religion-wise, the blue eye does not mean anything. This is a cultural symbol."

This is a religious tradition that apparently dates back thousands of years.  And, while it allegedly brings comfort to people who engage with the "eye," we can be drawn to think about the real spiritual tools that we have available to us as believers in Christ.

People have different ways to cope with trouble in the world.  And, certainly, these are troubled times.  But, we have to make sure that we are not relying on superstitions or formulas to gain peace for our souls.  God promises us a perfect peace, a peace that passes all understanding, and true, lasting peace is found through our relationship with Christ.

We also have to make sure that we are not wishing evil to come to other people.  I do believe that, through prayer, we can affect changes in the hearts and lives of people.  But we should always pray and seek God for His will to be done, recognizing that He is the ultimate power source who can transform a life.  And, we also have to make sure that we are not praying with improper motives, harboring a desire to see someone hurt or damaged.  We are called to come into His presence with pure motives.

Finally, it was pointed out that one person believed this "eye," or "mati" symbol was the new "trendy" cross.  We should never use the cross as a crutch - in other words, just because we wear the cross doesn't bring us any special righteousness or favor with God.  Our relationship with Christ through the cross is what truly sets us free and testifies that we know him.  And, if you want to wear a cross or Christian symbol or t-shirt, that can certainly challenge us to make sure our lives are lining up.