I am reading through John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, and I ran across what I thought was an odd usage of the word superstition. I looked it up in the 1828 edition of Webster’s dictionary, and I was very fascinated by the primary definition listed there:

SUPERSTI’TION, n. [L. superstitio, supersto; super and sto, to stand.]

1. Excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing of things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence.

In other words, what we would today term legalism.

John MacArthur answers Common Questions about Lordship, including this one about witnessing to and evangelizing “professed” Christians:

QUESTION: How should we act toward those who profess to be Christians but seem indifferent to spiritual things?

This is a common question posed by those who realize how truly narrow the way is (Matt. 7:13–14). It can be frightening to think that many people in the church (including many whom we love) may not be true Christians. I often wonder if those who espouse easy-believism have simply adapted their theology in order to try to get a sinning loved one into the kingdom.

There are two extremes to be avoided in assessing the spiritual status of others. On the one hand, we must realize that we are not ultimately the judge of anyone’s salvation, because we cannot see anyone’s heart. Only God can do that (1 Sam. 16:7). And people express their love for God and faith in Christ in different ways.

But on the other hand, we must hold firmly to the truth of God’s Word concerning salvation and not offer false assurance to people who may not be truly saved.

If you have a friend or loved one whose lifestyle seriously discredits his or her profession of faith, I suggest you speak frankly to that person about your concerns. Certainly we have the Lord’s own warrant for that in Matthew 18:15–20. If you carefully and lovingly follow the steps Jesus outlined in that passage you will soon know whether to treat the person as a brother or sister in Christ, or as “a Gentile and a tax-gatherer” (v. 17). Either way, your attitude toward the person is not to be judgmental, but loving and compassionate.