Question: Whenever I sneeze in a public place, someone almost always says, “Bless you.” I’ve ...

Question: Whenever I sneeze in a public place, someone almost always says, “Bless you.” I’ve heard Christians say this, too. Is that okay?

Response: This is an old pagan superstition going back to the time when it was commonly thought that the soul and/or spirit left the body when someone sneezed. The “Bless you” would supposedly keep that from happening, or at least immediately bring the spirit back into the body. Everyone knows that is not true, yet even Christians habitually go along with this tradition, smiling and thanking some unsaved person for bestowing a “blessing.” Instead, take the opportunity if possible to ask how a sneeze qualifies anyone for a blessing and explain that blessing comes only from God and the greatest blessing is salvation through Jesus Christ.