Your Life in the Stars?
"It has been claimed that Adolph Hitler never entered a country without first consulting with his astrologers. There also seems to be evidence that, during the war, England hired astrologers to predict what Hitler’s astrologers would be telling him! (Sounds a bit like Nebuchadnezzar or Pharaoh in the Bible doesn’t it?)"
Introduction
An ancient religion, condemned by God, but hailed by its devotees has experienced a great revival in our day. Its devotional books are on virtually every newsstand and in nearly every bookstore in America. It is so popular that you need only to open your newspaper to find its latest devotional articles, designed supposedly to help you get through your day. Housewives, businessmen, politicians, and individuals from nearly every other walk of life count on it daily and wouldn’t dream of venturing forth without careful consultation of its guidance.
Yes, there is great interest today in astrology. Substantial sales are posted in publishing houses that print books containing horoscopes or supposed astrological forecasts of the future. "What sign were you born under?" is a question that probably few of us has escaped in our sojourn on this earth.
I put on my largest overcoat, darkest glasses, along with my biggest floppy hat yesterday and went into our local Safeway to purchase a book on astrology... Just kidding about that, but not about this... At the checkstand I made sure to tell the lady that I didn't believe in that stuff and that I was just doing some research (lest this local preacher be misunderstood as one who consulted the stars for guidance). She took the magazine from my hand and suddenly her face lit up. "Where did you find this? I've been looking for it! Was this the only copy?" Here I felt a bit like Achan hiding contraband in his tent and she suddenly viewed me as some kind of hero for calling the book to her attention! I thought I was going to have to give it to her before I got out of the store.
Anyway, let me read some sample horoscopes for you.
(Read examples from DELL HOROSCOPE, "The World’s Leading Astrology Magazine" March 2000 and IN THE STARS, by Joyce Jillson in February 12, 2000 issue of The Statesman Journal, 6D)
What is astrology? Is there any truth to its claims? Is it science? Is it religion? Is it occult? What, if anything, does the Bible say about it? These are questions I want to consider with you in this message.
We’ll look first at astrology’s identity and origins – what is it and where did it come from? Then we’ll consider its intent – what does it seek to do? Finally, we’ll survey relevant Scripture – what does the Bible say about it?
Let’s look first then, at:
1. Identity and Origins – What is it and where did it come from?
Astrology is an ancient superstition that originated over 5000 years ago. It began through Chaldean and Babylonian efforts to understand the movements of the stars. Clay tablets have been found in the ruins of ancient Babylon bearing astrological inscriptions.
As man in that day observed the effects of the heavenly bodies he began to see that they had some influence upon things here on earth. We can observe some of the same things today.
The moon, for instance, has a well-known effect on ocean tides and the growth of plants. You can take a garden hose and lay it on your lawn for a few days. When you pick it up, it will be yellow underneath. During certain phases of the moon, however, this doesn’t happen.
It didn’t take long in ancient times to reach the conclusion that the planets, and maybe also the stars, must also have an effect upon man himself.
Ancient Babylonian astrologers observed that the stars appeared to be fixed in the sky while the planets, it seemed, moved through the stars.
With a little imagination (a lot I think!) the ancients could see 12 groups of stars. Around these groups (with a little more imagination) they arranged outlines that they said resembled animals. These animals were named according to their fanciful shapes and came to be viewed as signs of the "zodiac" (a word meaning "circle of animals"). There was Taurus (the bull), Cancer (the crab), Leo (the lion), Aries (the ram), Pices (the fish), and Scorpius (the scorpion), to name only half of them.
From there the plot thickens.
The part of the heavens dominated by each constellation is called a "house." In each of these "houses" (supposedly) lived a god. The twelve constellations of the zodiac are along the path in the sky which the sun, to watchers on earth, appears to follow. The sun seems to stay in each "house" for about a month.
For example, in July the sun is in the constellation of Leo. If we could see the stars in the daytime we would see Leo rise, move across the sky, and set with the sun.
While the sun and planets (our English word "planet" derives from a Greek word that means "wanderer") moved through a "house," as they seemed to do, the power of that sign or, more specifically, the god who lived in that "house" was said to dominate events on earth and determine the destinies of children born during that time.
At any time of year, on a clear night (and by the way, that’s why astrology didn’t originate in Oregon!) if the astrologer were to face southward, he could see from left to right, six (or portions of six) constellations or houses. To these ancient astrologers the house that contained the stars about to rise was considered to be the most powerful influence.
The houses were also considered to differ in their subject matter. The 12 houses stood for life, riches, brethren, parents, children, health, marriage, death, religion, dignitaries, friends, and enemies.
Also, certain houses belonged to certain planets (gods) which, when in them, had particular powers. Each planet had its own character and influence, good or bad.
This is all basic astrology and can be learned from any major encyclopedia available in a library or on CD-ROM.
In order to cast your horoscope, the astrologer goes to a reference book in which positions of the planets in relation to the earth and the constellations are given for each day of the past and future. Quickly he or she can know which "house" was occupied by the sun and planets at the time of your birth. With a little more calculation and a jog here and there, the astrologer can supposedly foretell your future based on your birth date.
(Of course there is a built in "out" for mistakes because it would take your knowledge of the precise instant of your birth to determine your prediction accurately.)
Not only did the Babylonians believe that a deity lived in each house and that the planets and the sun were gods – they also believed these gods were preceded by an absolute being, and each one was in turn ruled by one of four elements – earth, air, fire, or water. So to the astrologer, the signs of the zodiac and the people born under them were ruled by one of these elements. Thus, "earth" people tend to be down to earth, "water" people are changeable and sometimes weak willed, "air" people are hot tempered and communicative, and "fire" people are ardent and jovial.
As you can see, it becomes increasingly complicated so that it really takes an "expert" to cast your horoscope accurately. Of course there are seldom two astrologers who agree on any one interpretation, but if you have the money, you can be informed.
Astrology has had its ups and downs throughout history. It was at a high point during the days of the Babylonian Empire. Interesting also to note is that the worst period for the popularity of astrology was the first three centuries after Christ. That was the period of time when New Testament Christianity was not yet corrupt and was growing at a very fast rate. It seems wherever Christianity spread, astrology died. Early Christian writers exposed it as a false religion.
As Islam arose in the 7th through the 13th centuries however, it revived once again. During this period, known as the "dark ages" the Bible was a rare book and hard to find.
For many years astrology and astronomy were synonymous. In the 16th century however, discoveries made by Kepler, Copernicus, and Galileo led to making a distinction between the two. Christians continued to study the stars but as astronomers, not astrologers. When it was certain that the earth was not the center of the universe, astrology passed into the realm of quackery and the superstition. Why? Because its fundamental assumption was proven to be false. It was based upon the assumption that the earth was the center of the universe and that stars were fixed in space. Astronomy disproved astrology.
During the 18th century, in the so-called "age of reason," astrology nearly died out.
So why, I ask you, do we have such avid interest today in something based upon known false assumptions? It is as ridiculous to believe in astrology today as it is to believe the earth is flat! There are some very good reasons for the resurgence of astrology today. We’ll cover them in my next point as we consider astrology’s:
2. Intent – What does astrology offer that is so appealing?
A. It attempts to penetrate the future.
I believe this is the main appeal. People are unsure of the future. They are insecure.
Wouldn’t it be nice if, when that insurance salesman was about to write a policy on your house, you could know if your house actually would burn down in the future?
Astrologers claim to be able to predict, at least in general, events that are yet to happen. That appeals to people – especially in affluent times when the basics of the present seem so assured and there is a lot of time left to worry about other things.
B. It claims to help solve anxieties about interpersonal problems.
There are people who will not even venture into public without knowing the predictions of their horoscope for that day! Astrologers claim to be able to give you accurate advice on your love life, your employment, your marriage, your relationship with your neighbors and in-laws and many other such concerns.
C. It appeals to people’s desire for power and purpose.
Some businesses hire astrologers to study the signs of their competitors.
It has been claimed that Adolph Hitler never entered a country without first consulting with his astrologers. There also seems to be evidence that, during the war, England hired astrologers to predict what Hitler’s astrologers would be telling him! (Sounds a bit like Nebuchadnezzar or Pharaoh in the Bible doesn’t it?)
Interestingly, under intent, we also should note that
D. It seeks Biblical sanction.
Astrologers would love to find support for their beliefs in the Bible.
"Daniel was an astrologer," they say. "Chief of the astrologers!"
I’ll deal with that bogus claim in just a few moments because I want to turn now to:
3. Relevant Scripture – What does the Bible say about it?
One thing we might note at the very beginning of this is that those deeply involved in astrology are seldom deeply involved in the Bible. They don’t understand the Bible or they would know that there is no way it can be said that the Bible supports astrology.
A. We’ll begin in Isaiah 47:12-15.
This passage was written when Judah was about to be attacked and carried away into captivity by the Babylonians. Drifting far from God, the Jews frantically consulted their astrologers and sorcerers rather than call out to their God. Isaiah, God’s prophet, sarcastically mocks them in their futile efforts:
12"Stand fast now in your spells
And in your many sorceries
With which you have labored from your youth;
Perhaps you will be able to profit,
Perhaps you may cause trembling.
13"You are wearied with your many counsels;
Let now the astrologers,
Those who prophesy by the stars,
Those who predict by the new moons,
Stand up and save you from what will come upon you.
14"Behold, they have become like stubble,
Fire burns them;
They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame;
There will be no coal to warm by,
Nor a fire to sit before!
15"So have those become to you with whom you have labored,
Who have trafficked with you from your youth;
Each has wandered in his own way.
There is none to save you.
What’s the message here? Don’t put your trust in astrologers. They can’t save you from the future. They can’t even save themselves!
B. Next we’ll look at Daniel 1:17-20.
Daniel lived 500 years before Christ. He was taken captive as a youth from his homeland and trained to be an official in the court of the king of Babylon. There he would serve with the king’s officials, which included "wise men, magicians, and conjurers (KJV, NKJV "astrologers")."
Since Daniel was part of the king’s cabinet, he was lumped in with them when they were mentioned, but that doesn’t mean he practiced their works. In fact, this passage indicates otherwise, that is, that He got his abilities from his God and not from reading the stars:
17And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. 18Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's personal service. 20And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers (KJV: astrologers) who were in all his realm.
The wisdom God gave these four boys was ten times better than the astrologers. Talk about a slap! Notice also that Daniel is set apart from these other officials as being superior to them because of God.
C. We’ll look next at Daniel 2:27-28:
27Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28"However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.
Here we see once again Daniel set apart from the conjurers (KJV: astrologers), magicians, and diviners. Note also that Daniel infers that such people have no special power!
Some astrologers today claim high percentages of accuracy. None claims 100%. If they got their power from God it would be 100%. Stars don’t run the universe. God does.
D. Words in Deuteronomy 4:19-20 make similar points and more.
19And beware, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today.
God doesn’t want Israel to forget that it was He that led them out of Egypt and not the stars.
I once heard of a certain contemporary movie star who had her own personal astrologer. She was in the bathtub when the astrologer read her horoscope. It was such a bad prediction that she stayed in the tub all day long! If that isn’t bowing to the altar of false gods, I don’t know what is.
E. We’ll look finally at Jeremiah 10:1-5.
10:1Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2Thus says the LORD,
"Do not learn the way of the nations,
And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens
Although the nations are terrified by them;
3For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
4"They decorate it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.
5"Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good."
Note that Jeremiah here says not to be afraid of the signs of the heavens. He puts such deeds on the same level as idolatry. Of verse 2, the Living Bible paraphrases:
2"Don't act like the people who make horoscopes and try to read their fate and future in the stars! Don't be frightened by predictions such as theirs, for it is all a pack of lies. Their ways are futile and foolish.
Conclusion
What about your horoscope? It’s based upon a false religion for starters. God puts it on the same level as idolatry and declares that it is powerless to save you.
It is today one of many of the substitutes provided by the Enemy of our souls to take the place of the good things offered by Jesus Christ. All people have the desire for intervention by something more powerful than themselves. Astrology claims to fill that need without a person ever coming to terms with the Creator.
What about your horoscope? You don’t have one – or at least I hope you don’t. If you have dabbled in astrology in ignorance, then now that you know, I call on you to repent and lay it aside.
Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.
Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.
All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
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