Why do Christians say “Good luck!”?

Don’t they know they are denying the sovereign God who loves them every time they tell someone, “Good luck!”?

I understand the worldly habits each of us are enslaved to. May the Lord set us free! I had been a Christian quite awhile before I finally realized that wishing luck for someone was incompatible with trusting in the Lord Jesus.

At best, luck is about “chance”. At worst, luck is about the occult concept of karma.

When some people think of luck, they are meaning something to do with randomness… probabilities… accidents… chance. But to say that the universe is operated based on chance is to say there is no God.

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.

Psalm 14:1-3

But when we promote the concept of luck we really are yoking ourselves with the pagan occult concept of Karma: “What goes around, comes around!”… “Good luck!”…”I wish you good karma not bad karma.”… “I wish you good luck not bad luck”.

But if it is the cultural norm, why shouldn’t a Christian say, “good luck”? I agree that we should be willing to become all things to all people so that some may be saved (1Corinthians 9:22). However, in the context of scripture that means to “become all things” without compromising the truth of God’s Word.

Why can’t we say something encouraging that does not compromise the truth? Check out some examples from scripture:

“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ‘

Numbers 6:23-26

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Romans 16:24

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Corinthians 16:23-24

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:14

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Galatians 6:18

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Ephesians 6:23-24

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Hebrews 13:25

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 5:14

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

I John 5:21

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Revelation 22:21

There may be some who do not want to be saying something “religious” because they are ashamed of the Gospel. But we should have the conviction that Paul speaks to:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Others may recognize there is a time for speaking up about the Gospel and there is a time for simply being a friend. And here, I agree, that there are times that I don’t want to impose what may sound like religious language upon a non-Christian friend. In this case I may not want to say, “The Lord bless you!”

But whether we replace “good luck” with the “Lord bless your life” or with something else… I think it is crucial that we not compromise the truth of who God is.

I recommend that we always communicate love and encouragement with a heart to be true to the God of Romans 8:28.