Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales. (1 Tim. 4:7)
Growing up, everyone receives an informal education in the school of “old wives’ tales.” We inherit these nuggets of wisdom from our parents or grandparents, like: Feed a cold, starve a fever; Toads cause warts; Eating carrots can improve your vision; or Cracking your knuckles can lead to arthritis. It turns out that many of these age-old proverbs are not true. When I was a kid and my mom wanted to get me to eat a certain healthy food, she would tell me that “it puts hair on your chest.” First of all, as an elementary-age boy, that was not something I wanted. And second of all, it never came true. I still have no hair on my chest!
It is very difficult for us to “unlearn” the beliefs we inherited, even if we come to realize that they contradict the teachings of Christ. We are more likely to add new Christian beliefs into our salad of convictions than we are to allow the truth of the Bible to overrule a previous belief. So how can we change the ungodly beliefs and habits we picked up as kids? One by one. Each time God shows us a part of our life that conflicts with his truth, we can respond by admitting it, giving it over, and adopting God’s way.
Exchange an ungodly belief you’ve learned for the truth of God.
Jarod Osborne is lead pastor of Pathway Church, in Warsaw, Indiana. He is the author of Jaded Faith (WPH).
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
