A Superstitious Easter

For many people, superstition is associated with black cats, broken mirrors, or lucky pennies. Even in an age of so-called scientific advancement, many still knock on wood, avoid walking under ladders, or believe certain numbers bring fortune or doom. Superstition has a place in many cultures around the world, often blending folklore, religion, and personal habits. Some view it as harmless fun; others see it as a genuine force that influences lives.

Biblically, superstition is more than quirky behavior—it’s a spiritual distortion. It is the belief that specific actions, objects, or traditions are embedded with spiritual meaning and significance when God Himself has not made that connection. In the Areopagus, the Apostle Paul criticized the Athenians for being “very religious” or “superstitious” because their worship was directed toward the unknown—their worship was shaped by ignorance rather than the revelation of God.

Our hearts harbor that kind of superstition whenever we teach as doctrine the commandments of men (Matt. 15:9), attribute godliness to man-made regulations (Col. 2:21–22), or try to please God by ways other than what He has revealed in Scripture. That can be hard to acknowledge. Why? Because it means admitting that we all believe and practice certain things that have the appearance of being “very religious” but actually lack spiritual truth and power. When that’s done in the context of worship, superstition becomes a form of idolatry. A biblical view calls us to renounce it—not merely as irrational, but as spiritually dangerous.

Now, to apply this where it might hurt. In a few days, myriads of people will flow into churches for the celebration of “Easter Sunday”—an annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Some who cross the threshold will not have been in church since last Easter, and I suspect there will be a few who won’t return until next Easter. In our broader culture, this day is esteemed as “very religious”—even by the very irreligious!

Easter superstition is a very real thing. Growing up in an evangelical context, I was told by some that Easter was the most important day of the year. Of the 52 Sundays on the calendar, it was the only one when church should not (could not!) be missed. I was encouraged by a mentor to make it my “favorite day” because it was the day Jesus rose from the dead—and that of all days, this one in particular deserved that I dress my best. In fact, it was the one time I thought wearing a suit and tie to church was non-negotiable. As a young man, I believed God required more of me on Easter than on any other day of the year. I did my best not to sin and dishonor Him—especially by not being more excited about Easter eggs and chocolate than singing with gusto, “Up from the grave He arose!”

I even remember feeling offended the first time I learned that some pastors don’t preach an Easter sermon on the resurrection of Christ. It was unthinkable to me that anything else could—or should—be preached. That wasn’t simply because everyone was thinking and talking about it and a pastor might be wise to accommodate his cultural context. It was more than that. To me, it was as unthinkable as not wishing my best friend a happy birthday on his birthday. To not preach the resurrection, I thought, was ungrateful and unholy—as if God Himself were displeased with any other biblical truth being preached on that day. To be honest, even though I don’t often preach specifically on the resurrection on Easter, to this day I feel a bit of that discomfort when I don’t.

But the truth is, it’s superstitious to treat Easter Sunday as the day-of-days. As significant as the resurrection of Jesus Christ is (and it is!), there’s not an iota of biblical evidence that God expects an annual celebration of it on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. There’s no biblical basis to think this one Lord’s Day is more important or special than the other fifty-one. There’s no biblical reason to believe we need to please God—or that He is more pleased—with a new outfit, man-made rules, or a tailored message on the empty tomb. It’s superstitious to believe there is unique spiritual significance attached to Easter Sunday, because, however “very religious” it may appear to be, it’s a tradition not shaped by the revelation of God.

In my own experience, it took a long time to unwind my attitude and heart from the superstitions that almost universally accompany Easter Sunday. It's not that I'm ungrateful for the resurrection of Christ, there's no hope without it! But our worship is to be directed by the revelation of God – by what God Himself has said.
We don't get to assign spiritual significance to traditions, practices, or expectations where God hasn't. As the Westminster Confession of Faith rightly says: "God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship" (20.2).

We may not like asking ourselves the question, but we need to: "Is God pleased with the unique religious significance given to Easter Sunday?" The only right way to answer that question – to discern what is and is not pleasing to God – is to answer it by the Bible. And the Bible doesn't say God treats Easter Sunday with singular importance. Therefore, to do so is to assign spiritual significance to what God has not, and that's superstitious.

So come to church this Sunday not because it's Easter, but because Christ is risen, and that's a gospel truth needing commemoration every Lord's Day.