Why Do People Read Their Horoscopes Are Theyscientifically Accurate What Do The Scriptures Say Christians Should Believeabout Astrology
Introduction:
Astrology is becoming increasingly popular.
In my youth, people almost never took the Occult, witchcraft, or astrology seriously. People consideredthem a joke or at most an oddity. Today all aspects of the occult are increasingly taken seriously. Evidence of this increasing popularity include:
* In the 1950’s only 100-200 newspapers carried horoscope columns. Today, thousands of full-time professional astrologers cast horoscopes, most newspapers carry horoscopes, and millions of people read them with varying degrees of seriousness.
* In the 1970’s the rock musical “Hair” popularized the hit song announcing “the dawning of the Age of Aquarius,” one of the signs of the Zodiac.
* The popular New Age Movement promotes and justifies astrology along with many other aspects of the Occult.
* TV ads promote astrology, psychics, and the Occult generally. Movies and TV programs discuss it, promote it, and present it as a serious phenomenon.
* Many recent book fads, such as the Harry Potter books, deeply involve many aspects of the Occult. A search of occult books on Amazon.com yields a list of nearly 800 titles in the children’s section alone! The point is not that all of these are harmful – many actually oppose the Occult. But the sheer number shows the popularity of the subject.
The purpose of this study is to examine what the Bible says about astrology.
Note: Some of the information in this outline is based on “Astrology, Witchcraft, and Satanism,” by John Clark.
God Doesnt Want You To Believe In Zodiac Signs
Maybe you dont feel like you are a full-on astrologist yourself, and have always thought believing in Zodiac signs seemed harmless.
Why would God not want you to believe in your sign?
God is clear in Scripture how he feels about us seeking guidance, direction, or clarity from anything that is not Biblical. When we believe in Zodiac signs we are believing in the Astrologists interpretation of how the alignment of the stars affects our personality or future.
This can create opportunities for the evil spiritual forces to come in.
I listened to a few interviews by those who were previously astrologists themselves. They now have turned Christian and talk about the importance of staying away from any form of evil.
What may seem harmless, can actually cause more harm than good.
God is clear that we should not seek out these things, but seek Him for the understanding of humanity, and Gods will for us.
Aquarius The Water Bearer
Aquarius is a symbol of a man pouring water out of an urn. In John, Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will have spiritual water flowing out of their body.
In astrology, he represents friendships, partnerships and even innovation. He’s a bit radical and ruled by Uranus, breaks people from old ways of doing things.
Bible references:
Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dram dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
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Is It A Sin To Believe In Zodiac Signs
The Bible tells us it is wrong to participate in astrology. This would include zodiac signs and horoscopes. Deuteronomy 18:10-14 says,
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 be blameless before the Lord your God.
The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
Astrology is a false belief system that is rooted in divination. God does not want His children to participate in witchcraft or the occult.
The belief of astrological signs teaches that we are born into a zodiac sign and our personality stems from being born on that day. The Bible is clear that God is the One who created us, and He is the One who gives us our personality . God has made each person uniquely them. There is nobody else like you on earth.
As believers, we are not defined by an astrological sign. Our identity is found in Christ alone. It is not healthy or beneficial for a believer to live or identify themselves by their zodiac sign. This would be partaking in divination and in the occult, which is sinful.
B The History Of Astrology
Astrology began in ancient Babylon.
Ancient people realized that the sun was essential to man’s needs, so they concluded that other heavenly bodies must be too. They thought that the largest heavenly bodies must be the most important, so they named the sun, moon, and largest planets after their main gods and the stars after lesser deities.
The movements of heavenly bodies were thought to represent activities of the gods. By studying these movements, men hoped to determine the will of the gods and so predict the future. If the heavenly bodies moved a certain way and certain events followed, then the next time they moved that way, similar things should happen.
The principles of astrology were formalized by the Greeks.
Some 2000 years ago the Greeks studied the heavenly bodies mathematically and “scientifically” and defined the signs of the Zodiac. The names of Greek and Roman gods were then assigned to the planets.
So historically astrology is rooted in pagan idolatry. The basic concept of astrology – that the movements of heavenly bodies control our lives – is heathen idolatry from the foundation up.
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What Does The Bible Say About Psychics And Fortune Tellers
A psychic is someone that attempts to explain things without obvious answers via metaphysical methods. You may have heard of telekinesis, ESP, or clairvoyance in different places and they are categorized as psychic practices. Related to this, a fortune teller is someone that practices divination, or the ability to see spiritual significance in mundane things such as reading tea leaves, reading the lines in a persons palm, reading the cracks in bones, and seeing patterns in the surface ripples of certain liquids. A spiritual guide or connection is often related to the ability to do this.
In the Biblical languages, aw-nan , keh-sem , python , and manteuomai would be related to our terms of psychic, witchcraft, and/or fortune-teller. In the Bible, these practices are always condemned without exception. One thing that is interesting in studying the languages, there is always an understanding that an exchange of money or a payment is happening for the services of the practitioner.
People make money off of these practices and often, as in the case of the young woman in Acts 16:16-19, the diviner is being exploited in some manner. Perhaps this is an indicator of the internal, spiritual reality of the people who practice fortune-telling or psychic readings. Leviticus 20:6 refers to this state of affairs as spiritual prostitution.
Is Knowing My Zodiac Sign A Sin
The belief of astrological signs teaches that we are born into a zodiac sign and our personality stems from being born on that day. The Bible is clear that God is the One who created us, and He is the One who gives us our personality.
- Vivian BrickerContributing Writer
- 20219 Jul
The belief in astrological signs is that there are 12 signs, commonly referred to as zodiac signs. The 12 zodiac signs are based on the individuals birthday and each sign has different personality traits associated with it. Many Christians wonder if it’s a sin to believe in zodiac signs. What does the Bible say about horoscopes and different astrology beliefs? Let’s first take a look at what the zodiac signs are and their meaning then dive into what God would want us to know.
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What The Bible Tells Us
The practice of astrology and fortune-telling implies that our future is predetermined. But is it? The Bible tells us that we have the ability to choose what we believe or want to do and that our choices affect our future.Joshua 24:15.
Worshippers of God have an added reason to reject astrology and fortune-tellingGod condemns all forms of divination. In the Bible we find these words: There should not be found in you anyone . . . who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah. *Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
^ par. 17 The name of the Most High over all the earth.Psalm 83:18.
Do Stars Offer Advice
The Bible states that the stars, along with the sun and moon, were created to give light to the Earth. God is the one who gives Christians advice. However, the stars can be quite useful, as in the case of the wise men needing to find the baby Jesus, in providing the location. In this case, God used the star to light the way.
The Bible is actually quite critical of astrologers, asserting that they cannot save people as God can. In Isaiah, the Bible points to this issue when God proclaims that Doom will come to Babylon and there is nothing the astrologists can do to save the people from it. However, in todays era of generalized horoscopes, most Christians do not use astrology as a way to predict major events.
Genesis 1:16-17 God made two great lights, the sun and the moon, to shine down upon the earth. He also made the stars. God sent these lights in the heavens to light the earth.
Isaiah 47:13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone here is no fire to sit by.
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Bible Verses Warning About Divination Sorcery And Magic Charms
Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.
The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, says the LORD Almighty.
Is Participating In Zodiac Signs A Sin
In Scripture, God commanded the Israelites to reject all the Canaanite practices of divination , fortune-telling, and sorcery. These practices were considered an abomination to the Lord .
In Jeremiah it talks of a false prophet who practiced divination .
And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them.They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
Jeremiah 14:14
In the book of Daniel we see that the astrologists and sorceries were put to shame and failed to interpret the Kings dream.
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
Daniel 4:7
In Acts, we see a servant girl who was possessed by the Spirit of divination . Paul cast this demonic spirit out of her. She was practicing fortune-telling and had brought her owners much money through that. Demons were giving her insight to supernatural insight into the lives of others.
The Israelites and believers in the New Testament church struggled with some of these things as well. Paul told the church to get rid of anything that had to do with these divulging practices.
They confessed their sins and burned all of their those items. And God was able to continue his work through them.
Believing in zodiac signs is not wise.
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How Should Christians Address These Topics Today
This cannot be stressed enough God has made plain statements not only in the Law, but he has related to us throughout the Bible how these practices are detestable in the eyes of God. They are an affront because they show a willingness to disregard the loving teachings of God for our own convenience or power.
People look at their horoscopes every single day. As Christians, we should not be practicing any activity that supplants the trust relationship that God has created for us to enjoy with him. Why would we throw away something so valuable as a loving relationship with the Creator of the Universe? Because we want the power to control our destiny, and these activities give us a sense of control, thats why. In essence, we are at the foot of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil waiting for Eve to pass us a bite of forbidden fruit. We want the wisdom for ourselves so that we can be God. The only way out is to recognize the absolute dependence that we have on God.
Pixabay/Mira Cosic
Bible Verses Warning About Astrology
And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the starsall the heavenly arraydo not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky.
All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone here is no fire to sit by. That is all they can do for youthese you have labored with and trafficked with since childhood. Each of them goes on in his error there is not one that can save you.
Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. This is what the LORD says: Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
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A Astrology Is False Prophecy
Astrology is unreliable.
Daniel 4:7 – On three occasions astrologers and other occult experts were asked to predict the future. Each time they failed, but Daniel succeeded by God’s power.
God forbids His people to place serious confidence in astrology.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14,18-22 – Occult practices, including divination, are an abomination to God. V14 specifically forbids listening to diviners. “Divining” is attempting to predict the future by occult or mystical methods. But astrology is part of the occult and attempts to predict the future. So by definition, astrology constitutes occult divination, which God forbids .
Vv 21,22 – If one claims to know the future, but his predictions do not come true, do not fear him! The Bible shows that astrologers cannot predict the future with certainty, and most astrologers will admit their predictions are often incorrect.
2 Kings 17:16-18 – God destroyed Israel for practicing idolatry, worshiping “the host of heaven” , using “divination” , and other occult practices.
Jeremiah 10:2 – God’s people were expressly forbidden to be concerned about the “signs of heaven,” that heathen people trusted in. This clearly includes astrology. God’s people were not to learn their ways!
The Old Testament clearly says that the future cannot be predicted accurately by the stars. If it could not be done then, it cannot be done now. To place trust in such methods is to learn the ways of the heathen, which is just as wrong now as it was then.
Is It Okay For Christians To Read Horoscopes
Is following astrology a sin?
Why do people read horoscopes? The fascination with astrology really points to peoples desire for wisdom about their future. Astrology is the ancient belief that a persons destiny can be determined by patterns of stars and planets at the time of ones birth. A horoscope then tries to interpret this destiny. It has been incorporated into mainstream culture, and many newspapers have horoscope columns updated daily. While these can be fun, is it OK for Christians to read them?
The Bible actually mentions astrology, specifically astrologers in the royal court at Babylon and their inability to interpret royal dreams . Isaiah the prophet spoke of astrologers with disdain: Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you .
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