Astrology

Does Astrology Give us the Answers we Need?

Down through the years there have always been people firmly convinced that our lives on earth are mysteriously influenced by the celestial bodies – the moon, the planets and the stars. It has been estimated that up to 1 billion people on earth today “believe in or follow astrology to some extent”. Many of the rich and famous of this world consult astrologers, convinced that the knowledge they gain will help them be successful in life. It is claimed that many major Fortune 500 companies consult astrological advice for major decision making. According to the fornmer Chief of Staff of the White House, Donald Regan’s text For the Record, the influence of astrology at the White House during the Reagan administration extended to “every major move and decision”.

This article is written with the purpose of examining this popular belief and asking whether it is (a) true and (b) helpful. It should be stated that while the church, especially the evangelical church, has traditionally frowned upon astrology there are now even many Christians who believe to some extent in astrology.

What is Astrology?

Astrology is a belief system based upon the assumption that the lives of men are mysteriously influenced by the heavenly bodies – the moon, planets and stars. This influence is supposed to begin at birth. Astrologers consider that a person’s date of birth has a powerful influence on their character type. Astrologers generally divide the year into 12 date ranges, each one corresponding to one of the 12 signs of the zodiac. Many believe that by finding out someone’s star sign they will then be able to gain knowledge which will be useful for them in their dealings with that person.

Astrologers draw up charts interpreting the movement of these heavenly bodies and then interpret these charts in such a way as to assign meaning to their various constructions.

Although it may be dressed up with pseudo-scientific language, ultimately there is little correspondence between the constructions of astrology and the observations of scientific astronomers. The formations and concepts of astrology predate scientific knowledge concerning our Universe. They put the earth at the centre of the Universe, and all stars and planets are imagined to be moving around on the inside of the surface of a something like a spherical ball through various portions of the sphere known as “houses”. The technical details vary fromone tradition to another. But as we will see, once you believe in astrology, the technical details don’t matter at all – the results are basically the same.

Astrology has been an important part of many a non-Christian religion. Certainly the Egyptians and Babylonians practised it. Today witches of all forms believe in it and guide their activities according to its principles.

Astrology is an occult system because it claims to reveal a secret and mysterious esoteric knowledge to those who have been initiated in its systems and teachings.

Horoscopes

Horoscopes are published in many newspapers and magazines. They give the same message to everyone in the world born in the same time of the year – twelve different messages in all. These messages contains general predictions and pieces of advice – typically concerning the personal affairs of people. The underlying message, however, is that the stars somehow have an influence on your destiny. Nowadays many people willingly part with their hard-earned cash to buy a horoscope from their local newsstand – hoping to gain some kind of helpful insight for these troubled times.

It seems ridiculous to me that people can believe in this at all. For one thing, horoscopes published in the same day by different publishers are highly inconsistent and often contradictory. They can’t all be right. But even if only one horoscope was right, how can one message be simultaneously true for an estimated 500 million people on this earth who all happen to have a birthday which falls into a particular date range?

Sure, there will be times when the predictions of the horoscopes seem to come true. But this is guaranteed anyway by the law of averages. It may be that regular readers of horoscopes tend to remember the times when the predictions came strikingly true and tend to forget the times they didn’t. The other possibility is that by believing in the horoscope, people give place to the power of suggestion and possibly other kinds of powers which can work towards its fulfilment.

Perhaps newpaper and magazine editors see all this as harmless fun, or a way to help sell their product on the open market. However, if it can be shown that belief in astrology can open a person up to harmful influences, then these justifications for horoscopes fall to the ground and we must view these publications as socially irresponsible.

The Real Power of Astrology

The real power of astrology is not merely in the horoscopes which are published in so many modern newspapers and magazines. Every day these horoscopes contradict each other in so many ways – and indeed, most professional astrologers complain that these columns are vastly oversimplified at best and “utter nonsense” at worst. No, the real power of astrology comes into play when someone goes to a professional astrologer for advice concerning their life and the decisions they must make. The astrologer may be able to come up with many amazing insights concerning the person’s character and things that have happened to them in the past. This is attributed to knowledge gained through the charts. When many things are revealed about an otherwise unknown person, amazement and credulity are often the results. People drop their defenses and begin to believe very much in what the astrologer says. If he explains this power in terms of the stars then this may be believed without question. Before long a person can become dependant on the advice and counsel of professional astrologers for every major decision. The power of suggestion and possibly other powers may then become involved in powerfully influencing that person’s life. Pretty soon all the events in a person’s life – good and bad, may be interpreted in the light of the astrologer’s pronouncements.

But is it really the knowledge of astrology that revealed personal knowledge to the astrologer? Is there another possibility?

To the Christian who takes the Bible seriously, there certainly is. Astrology is just one of the many forms of occultism that the Bible condemns. It is condemned because it causes much more harm than good. This is a consequence of the source of the power of astrology.

Hear the words of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah against the wickedness of Babylon:

“Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth – perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. ” (Isaiah 47:12-14)

Here the following is asserted concerning astrologers.

  1. Not only can astrologers not save you by their advice – they cannot even save themselves.
  2. The fire shall burn them – in other words they are headed for judgement.
  3. The counsel of astrologers has a wearying effect on those who trust them – it wears them out.

It is interesting to note that astrology is linked here to sorcery and enchantment. According to the plain teaching of the Bible, these things are in the devil’s domain and ultimately you will receive nothing but a curse when you go to the devil for help and advice.

Astrology teaches a worldview which is basically pagan in orientation. It is basically a form of divination – an attempt by occult means of gaining special knowledge, especially concerning the future. Belief in astrology is promoted wherever the occult arts are promoted. God condemns divination and the reason is simple. The power of the occult is not from the stars, the tea leaves, the candles, the material elements used. The source of occult knowledge and power is personal and it is spiritual. The spirits involved in it are those that lead a person away from loving trust and dependence upon God our Creator. God therefore views these spirits as evil. They mix a little truth with their lies. Another name for these evil spirits is “demons”. As unacceptable as it sounds to many ears – those who get involved in any of the occultic arts, including astrology, are opening themselves to become channels for demons.

The data and charts produced by astrology are very complex and can be interpreted in many ways. A truly proficient astrologer is led to interpret his data and charts in a certain way. Finally it is the intuition of the astrologer which enables him to interpret the “real” meaning of the charts. It is a psychic ability, combined with the power of suggestion which gives astrologers their power. Since Satan does have much influence and power still on this earth, especially where Christians fail to pray effectively, those who submit to demonic leadings through astrologers may find that many events do strangely line up with the words of the astrologers. Astrology is just one of the ways in which witches are taught that they can influence and come to control others.

Astrology is a bit like fortune telling. Astrology is just another method through which psychics work. Other methods include reading palms, tea leaves, coffee cups – it really doesn’t matter. These things are just distractions designed to mask the real source of the power and information – which is demonic.

People who become obsessed with astrology end up being controlled by a strange evil power, and ultimately tend to become fatalistic and passive towards the prospects of their own demise.

To me it seems like a bad deal to pay good money to get information from the very spirits who are plotting your destruction.

Aren’t you being a narrow-minded, fundamentalist bigot?

Of course this is one possible interpretation. Another is that I am simply sharing a conviction concerning something that I believe will end up cheating many people out of the true unity with God that they could otherwise know through Jesus Christ.

I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful Jesus Christ is to me. I do believe he calls every person at least once in their lives. He can and does do this independently of the efforts of Christians by revealing Himself directly to people in all kinds of cultures and religions where darkness dominates.

People go to astrologers because of an deep insecurity concerning the future. People want something they can hold onto to give them more control over their lives and destinies. People would like to know the future, avoid tragedy if possible and find any comfort to ease the pain which comes with the harsh blows of life. Astrology promises to aid people in every domain of life – but it is ultimately a false promise.

Jesus Christ said, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. (Matthew 11:28,29).

All delvings into the occult give a person the much sought after peace and security. Instead they enhance their restlessness, and produce a continual spiritual thirst for more of the same deadly poison. Jesus Christ however, gives peace and security – even in the midst of the adventures He leads us into. God through his Word and through the genuine gifts of His Spirit gives us all the knowledge of the present and the future which is relevant for us to know. A true Christian has no need and no use for anything which the occult offers – since Christ meets all our spiritual, emotional and physical needs if we put Him first.

Please take the time to look more on this site so you can find out more about what it means to know Jesus Christ personally. Read the testimonies of those who have had lives changed by Christ. Pick up a Bible yourself and ask God to reveal Himself to you or have a look through some of my free teaching messages. You will find that God is much better than you ever thought He was.

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

Michael Fackerell

I invite you to build a faith community together with me. Join my social media channels and let’s connect, especially if you want freedom or fullness in Christ.

My Telegram has a ministry channel. On Tiktok I have many videos and new ones regularly.

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