A slightly updated version of the post “A Christian perspective on astrology” first appeared on Confident Living Magazine And Harvest Times For Your Family. Magazines.
Cover Image Credit: CLS Publication
Mad Rush Towards Astrology, Soothsayers or Astrologers
A write-up on Astrology. A Christian perspective on astrology published on the pages of “Confident Living” and “Harvest Times for your family” magazines. The writer brings out certain facts on this subject based on the Holy Bible. A Christian viewpoint on astrology. ~ Admin Philipscom
The uncertainties among people are increasing day by day. Things are fast changing; today’s man or thing is not there tomorrow. A kind of fear gripes among people and they wander here and there to find a solution to this. People are frustrated by the day to day incidents and in their search, they ultimately approach the so-called soothsayers or astrologers to find a solution to this. This becomes an order of the day in the modern society. The
soothsayers take advantage of this and are making hay while their clients are basking in glory. As a result of every day, a new one sprouts somewhere in the country.
It is very unfortunate to note that in India the politicians and the film personalities are the bunches of people who always in search of these soothsayers. In recent times this trend is spreading among the Indian cricketers’ community and the television program producers and its anchors. What a shame and pathetic condition this is.?
The sad fact is that most of their predictions do not hit the bull’s eye. One cannot understand sti ll the mad rush towards these soothsayers. In the Indian political scenario the ministers, M Ps (Members of Parliament) and M LAs (Members of Legislature Assembly), are on the run after these astrologers. Each of them have appointed or selected soothsayers for their functions and auspicious occasions.
Astrology A BIG NO From Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
The only exception to this in the Indian political history is Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. She wrote in a letter to one of her close friends, Dr. M S Shastri of Bangalore, “…I have always tried to avoid astrologers; I do not believe in astrology and have refused to ask questions about the future even when pressed”.
One thing is sure that our politicians and celebrities are addicted to this kind of superstitions. It seems like its diluted in their blood and with that, they are fooling their fans too. It looks like it is very difficult to weed out from their system.
The famous Indian writer, Khushwant Singh (a stalwart in the Indian Journalism) the former Editor of famous English weekly, “The Illustrated Weekly of India”, said in an interview, “Due to some problem the astrology columnist of the weekly left the organization and the column stopped abruptly. The readers started inquiring about it. I don’t want to displease the readers and I started compiling the column myself. I selected some previous issues astrology column and reshuffled it and arranged it for the week with a pen name. This was very much appreciated by the poor readers”.
This is what is happening in many of the publications in the name of this column called ‘Astrology’. The gullible readers eagerly wait to read this waste. How sad it is? Print and visual media is on a neck to neck race on this issue of knowing the future and telling the future. They run columns for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly forecasts for their readers.
The sad part is that, if we take a keen look at these soothsayers’ predictions, 99% of them never fulfilled or happened as they predicted. Still, the people are in search of these people and their predictions.
ASTROLOGY: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
The point here is about the Christian flocks: Even among some of the so-called Christians, there are a good number of people who are after such people. They seek the guidance of astrologers, tarot readers, and other soothsayers to know their future. For their children’s education, marriage and other families auspicious occasion’s dates etc they consult these astrologers. They eagerly look at the daily and weekly astrology columns in newspapers and weeklies. Some eagerly watch for the daily broadcasts through the TV.
These so-called Christians must take note that they are going after the old nature, a kind of idol worship. They are forgetting the fact that God is the one who controls everything and He is the one who decides about the future and every creator is in His hands. They just forget this great truth and running after the creators of this world.
Here is a warning to such people!!! In the book of Isaiah chapter 47 we read this: depending on the astrologers, the stargazers and monthly prognosticators Babylon took proud in itself and said in thine heart, I am and none else besides me. But alas God challenges them to save themselves. But they could not save themselves or even others. God warns the Babylonians about the consequences of their deeds. God challenges them to save the stars and star gazers could not.
God created the sun moon and stars to give light to the world. But alas people depend on them to know their future, what a pathetic state. It cannot save itself nor can’t save others; indeed it faces the wrath of God. Isaiah chapter 13:10 says, “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light.” The word of God very clearly urge to the people to call upon the wonder-working creator of this universe, stars like the seven stars and Orion (Amos 5:8)
A child of God is controlled and guided by the spirit of God, not the creations of this world. Creations should seek the face of the creator, not the stars, sun, moon or any other living or non-living things.
The Holy Bible: The God’s special revelation in written form. There are a number of books revered as sacred, but God has given only one book that is the BIBLE. Its unique authority is affirmed from cover to cover. Therefore, occult knowledge like astrology, tarot cards reading etc are off limit and should not influence a real Christian.
Therefore, occult means of knowledge (like astrology, tarot cards etc.) are off limits and unnecessary for the Christian. Isaiah emphasis us to use God’s written Word as the standard to judge spiritual truth claims: “Bind up the testimony, Seal up the law among my disciples.. When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to THIS WORD they have no light of dawn. (Isaiah 8:16,19-20). (NIV)
The Bible gives us a basis for assured knowledge of God. The apostle Peter even ranked it as more valuable than eye-witness evidence! “We have the PROPHETIC WORD CONFIRMED, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”(2 Peter 1:14-19).
Let me close this by quoting a verse from Deuteronomy: There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations, the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Deuteronomy Chapter. 18:10-12. (KJV).
Source:
Bible Quotes are from King James Version, Evangel Publishers Ltd, Kaduna, Nigeria.
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