Question: Are astrology and horoscopes forbidden for Christians?
Answer: Horoscopes are in magazines and newspapers, but most people today may access the predictions online. They may seem harmless, but are they? The Bible, God’s guidebook for our lives, warns on this topic.
Astrology is an ancient belief that the movement of the sun, moon, stars, and planets have some effect on human life on earth. Many today read their horoscopes “just for fun”. The Bible compares astrology with worshipping idols, “the worthless worship of the hosts of heaven which makes people worthless”, which led people long ago to take terrible, tragic further steps of sacrificing their children to man-made gods, seeking omens from the sky, consulting fortune tellers, and practicing magic (2 Kings 17:14-20). God created these beautiful objects seen the sky and used them as signs of HIS special events on earth. However, He did not design these to foretell future events. The Bible clearly shows that the heavenly bodies are only for astronomical and calendar purposes. Mentioned in the Bible are the constellations of The Bear, Orion, The Crooked Serpent, and The Pleiades, miraculous creations of God but never to be worshipped. He is ALWAYS to be the ONLY one we worship in His Trinity – God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit – three but yet one.
“God said, ‘Let there be lights in the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for sacred times and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for giving lights upon the earth.’” Genesis 1:14-15
“God determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names.” Psalm 147:4
Sadly, Satan is always trying to lead people astray and into their own destruction! He has been at the same dastardly cruel game since the Garden of Eden, when he lied to Adam and Eve that God was keeping secrets from them that could help them become “like God”. (Genesis 3)
Don’t confuse astrology with astronomy. Astronomy is the science of studying outer space, stars, and planets, which has nothing to do with astrology. The three famous wise men who traveled to see Jesus were led to His birthplace by a star that God caused to shine brightly for a brief time. Notice that the star did not CAUSE Jesus’ birth! God used it only as a sign to help guide those who He sent to worship Jesus. (Matthew 2:1-9)
Even if you don’t read a horoscope, or, as some appropriately renamed it, “horror scope”, God warns against focusing ANY of your attention on a practice that could be dangerous to you and a bad example for others to follow. God is the ONLY one directing our future, and we should help others to also understand this crucial, life-saving truth.
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not depend on your own thoughts or understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Have you ever invited Jesus to be YOUR leader and show you the right paths to take in life?
Being adopted into God’s family is not automatic when you are born but a spiritual rebirth. It requires action on your part! The Bible explains that each one of us must ask or invite Jesus to be our Lord, our Savior, the one who saves us from eternal separation from God and punishment in hell. There are no magic words for this; God knows your heart. His words through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel demonstrate how God desires to connect and bond with all of those who seek Him throughout the ages:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord…” Jeremiah 29:11-14
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart, you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. It is just as the Scripture says: ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:8-13
Call on Jesus now! He has given you a gift to accept – His gift of eternal life. You may not have another opportunity so don’t put it off. Talk to Him and say something like this:
Jesus, thank you for taking the punishment on the cross, shedding your own blood for me, the penalty that I deserve for my sins. I’m very sorry for the wrong ways I have lived, caring nothing about you and doing only what I desired. Please come into my life and help me every moment from now on! I need you to transform my life so that it will be pleasing to you. I want to live forever in heaven with you when I die. Thank you! Amen!
