Amulets, Talismans, & Lucky Charms. Every culture has them. But do these things really bring people luck? And does luck really exist?
Bonnie: Hi, this is Bonnie. Do you believe in luck?
[Source: Does Luck Exist? YouTube]
Actor: There’s always after me lucky charms.
[Source: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Capella International]
Voiceover: Do you get the feeling that luck is not on your side?
[Source: How to Decorate Your Home with Good Luck Symbols howcast.com]
Host: You will find charms for xx purposes. charms for luck, charms for money—good luck.
[Source: Charms: Love Charms, Money Charms, Good Luck Charms, Talismans YouTube]
Girl in video: He killed a rabbit to give me this foot, this furry colored foot. I mean, rabbits aren’t even blue. And I was just like so upset by it.
[Source: My Lucky Bamboo & Lucky Rabbit’s Foot YouTube]
[Show Open]
Brother Barry: Hello and welcome to Face the Truth, a program brought to you by the Church of Christ. I am Brother Barry Thompson.
Luck: everyone wants things to tip in their favor. Now some wear a lucky sweater to every sporting event or an article of jewelry that seems to be on them whenever good things happen. Now others buy good luck charms or hold on to an amulet, which they believe will keep them safe. Now some avoid stepping on cracks, breaking mirrors, and all other kinds of superstitions to avoid catching a trail of bad luck.
Now however trivial or serious these things are, is this is what people should put their trust in?
Actor 1: Please good Lord, protect and watch over, the Shepard watches over his flock *holds cross necklace*… *speaks Chinese, holds Buddha necklace*… *holds star of David*…
[Source: The Mummy, Universal Pictures]
Now, emulates, as described by dictionary.com is defined as small objects that have mystical powers worn to ward off evil, harm, or illness or to bring good fortune. And archaeological discoveries have demonstrated that the use of amulets and magic charms was common among ancient pagan cultures. Today, the use of such objects as a form of jewelry worn as pendant on a necklace or bracelet, are becoming more and more popular. But the question is does God approve of the use of such objects? We’ll find out when we return on Face the Truth.
A talisman is ideally charmed by a witch to provide power, energy, and specific benefits to its owner.
[Source: Lucky Charm Talisman: How to Change Your Luck for Good YouTube]
I remembered I mentioned the rabbit’s foot that my mother had given to me when I was younger and how that was supposedly a lucky charm…Someone killed a rabbit to give me this foot? This furry colored foot? I mean, rabbits aren’t even blue. And she was like xx it was dead when they took its foot and decided to go and sell it and I was like, “Oh, ok, well I guess I’ll put it on my keychain” and so yeah, I did that. And actually it did bring some good luck.
[Source: My Lucky Bamboo & Lucky Rabbit’s Foot YouTube]
Matt Emmons: The main lucky charm that I have, I don’t have too many, but it’s a four-leaf clover key ring that my wife and father-in-law gave to me at the Athens Olympics.
Christian Taylor: Pink. Neon Pink. To add to it, laces for breast cancer awareness. Then one day I was just like, “You know what, let me just take a part of this.” I mean, I haven’t lost since.
Arielle Martin- Verhaaren: I do have a lucky charm. This is a tungsten band that my husband gave me to race in. Before I hop in the gate, I just give it a little kiss.
Sanya Richards-Ross: I was in the 7th grade. My mom gave me this bullet necklace that she told me I was faster than a speeding bullet. I remember the one time I didn’t race with it, I finished 3rd at the finals and then I never ran without it again.
[Source: Olympic Superstitions NBC]
Welcome back to Face the Truth. Today we’re talking about amulets, lucky charms, and other objects people hold on to because they believe it’ll bring them positive results. Does God approve of the use of these kinds of objects? Let us read what is written in the book of Ezekiel, the chapter is 13 and the verse is 18:
‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own?
[Ezekiel 13:18 New International Version]
Amulets and magic charms are associated with idolatry and sorcery, which are clearly an abomination to God. Now jewelry themselves are not against the will of God but if it is associated with known pagan practices and if it involves divination, spells, sorcery, witchcraft, and others which is what amulets are, then such piece of jewelry becomes detestable before God and God’s people must not have anything to do with it.
Now what did God instruct His people as they enter the land God was giving them? Here in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 and the verses are 9 through 13, this is what we can read:
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must blame before the Lord your God.
[Deuteronomy 18:9-13 New International Version]
Now notice that God gave the strict instruction to His people not to imitate the detestable ways of pagan nations. Now what are some of these detestable practices in the eyes of God? Just like what we’ve read, divination, sorcery, witchcraft, spells. These things clearly should not be done by God’s people. And God’s people should not wear amulets of such kind. They do not bring peace and protection, but rather the anger of God. However, is there something that God does instruct us to wear for peace and prosperity? Well let’s read now what’s written in the book of Proverbs. The chapter is 3 and the verses are 1 through 4.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
[Proverbs 3:1-4 New International Edition]
And so notice that God instructs us to bind around our neck His teachings and commands. How? By not forgetting and keeping His commandments. And if we do this, we will have a long prosperous life. And we will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
But instead of turning to God and His words, where do many people look to for blessings? Let’s take a look at this:
Athlete 1: I have a lucky pair of socks I where cause I usually double up on socks I wear on my shoes.
Athlete 2: I got a lucky pair of socks pads. And I make sure that I wear them before every race. Make sure they’re on nice and snug.
Athlete 3: One thing I always do is I always put my stuff on my left foot first. Like I put on my left cleat before I put on my right cleat. And I put my left shin guard on before my right shin guard on.
[Source: Temple Athletes’ Lucky Charms YouTube]
Girl on YouTube: You know, if you believe something’s lucky, and anything you truly believe can be magical. It works if you really believe it.
[Source: My Lucky Bamboo & Lucky Rabbit’s Foot YouTube]
Brother Barry: Now, do you believe in luck? There are people who have lucky pennies, rabbit’s foot, a lucky sweater, and others. Now it may sound innocent enough, but is lucky consistent with the word of God? We’ll find out when we return on Face the Truth.
[Video from BuzzFeed.com – on screen word graphics]
Shaking with wrong hand, total bad luck: 8.664 years.
*Breaks several mirrors* Breaking a mirror, total bad luck: 57.66 years.
[Souce: 99 Years of Bad Luck in 61 Seconds YouTube]
Speaker: Is considered unlucky because in North America and Europe a significant proportion of the population behaves very strangely on Friday the 13th. Some people won’t fly airplanes, host parties, apply for jobs, get married, or even start new projects. In fact, in the United States, roughly 8% of the population is afraid of Friday the 13th.
[On screen graphic: Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky?]
[Source: “Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky?”, Stuff Mom Never Told You howstuffworks.com]
Show Host: We all have superstitions or some of us at least have superstitions. They come in to play in the world of NBA basketball.
*Several famous NBA basketball players performing superstitious rituals: handful of dust, wiping face three times*
[Source: Superstitions of Players NBA open Court]
Number 1: John Terry—He’s the most superstitious sportsman on the planet. The Chelsea defender has made a habit of always going to the same urinal when playing at home. Before each game, he listens to Usher, he always keeps the same place on the team bus, and he puts his shin guard on the same way every time. Johnny the Superstitious.
[Source: John Terry, The Most Superstitious Athlete in the World Trace Sports]
Brother Barry: Welcome back to Face the Truth. Today we’re talking about amulets and lucky charms. That’s not surprising that people desire luck especially during these dangerous times filled with violence, calamities, and not to mention the struggling economy. People want luck nowadays. Well what is luck? Webster’s dictionary defines luck as a force that brings good fortune or adversity. Well, is this true? What does the Bible teach? From who does good fortune come from? Let’s read what’s written in the book of James, the chapter is 1; the verses are 16 and 17.
Do not be deceived, my dear friends! Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.
[James 1:16-17 Good News Translation]
So the Bible mentions and teaches that every perfect present and every good gift comes from God. And so, God, and not luck, is therefore the one who can bring us good fortune.
Now have you ever stepped on a crack of walked under a ladder? Broken a mirror? Or failed to send out a chain letter? Many believe these things can affect your life in a negative way. They call it bad luck, but should we be worried about superstitions like these and others? Find out on our next episode of Face the Truth.
And so the truth may be painful at first, but whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, the truth is something we all must face.
Thanks for joining us. Until next time, take care and God bless.
