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Is Astrology for Real?

Astrology is the study of the alignment and activity of planets and stars, based upon the belief that these alignments have bearing on human lives and can be useful in predicting the future.  The dictionary definition looks like this:

"The study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs."  (American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed.)

Astrology.com offers a helpful summary of astrology's past:

"The earliest known astrological records date back to Babylon, 1645 BC, and the earliest horoscope to 410 BC. Astrology's origins can also be traced to several other locations and cultures, including Egypt, which developed sophisticated timekeeping and calendar science; Greece, where Ptolemy authored influential astrological and astronomical texts; and Rome, where many of the most learned men-including two emperors-were astrologers who wrote laws and counseled citizens based on the Stars."  (astrology.com / Feb. 03)

Most regard astrology to be very ancient, some scholars even suggesting that the Tower of Babel (in Genesis 11) was built for astrological purposes. Yet this ancient practice has so permeated human thinking that even our daily newspapers print astrological predictions (horoscopes).

Scientific Problems

There are many scientific problems with astrology, however. One physicist and astronomer, Dr. Donald DeYoung, has noted three such issues in  his book "Astrology and the Bible" (2000):

1. Astrology fails to succeed when tested against reality. For example, if the distribution of heavenly bodies at birth has any implication into the life-course of the child, then twins should be virtually identical in their future, interests, talents, and personalities. Of course, this is not the case.

2. Because of the precession of the earth's axis, star positions relative to our planet have changed since astrological calendars were invented centuries ago. Thus, the "signs" are no longer valid. The error grows greater every year.

3. The gravity of stars and planets is the only force that could effect earth, and for the vast majority of heavenly bodies, this effect is negligible.

Theological / Philosophical Problems

Aside from scientific objections, astrology is strongly condemned by the Bible as tantamount to witchcraft and occultism. If the underlying theory of astrology is true, that the position of the stars impacts, foretells, or in any way determines human activity, consider some of the implications:

1. Humans could not be held responsible for their actions, good or bad. There would be no basis upon which to judge an behavior "right" or "wrong" if the individual was compelled to behave that way due to some cosmic alignment.

2. Our choices would be rendered meaningless. If the future can be foretold by gaging the movements of planets and stars, proving that we are living with only an illusion of free will, then nothing we do or fail to do would matter in the least. We would be "trapped" by our starlit "destiny."

3. Life-change, one of the central concepts of the Bible, would be impossible, because our lives were set on a particular course at birth.

Does Astrology Work?

Some people, after getting their "reading" or studying their horoscope, report that the predictions were accurate, or that their personality is in line with the "expected" traits based on the month of their birth. There are three possible reasons why this occasionally takes place:

1. Most predictions of behavior and personality are so generalized that it would be hard for them not to be at least partially accurate.

2. The individual can "make" it come true, after they find out what is "supposed" to happen. In other words, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, not a legitimate foretelling of the future.

3. Demonic spiritual forces can manipulate the events of people's lives who have opened themselves up to occult influence, such as astrology and horoscopes. The Bible contains strict warnings related to this.

Conclusion:

The stars do have a specific message for humanity, but that message isn't transmitted through astrology.  To learn more, consider Psalm 19:1 in the Bible.

The Real Purpose of the Stars

Three Major Purposes of Stars (according to the Bible)

1. To Declare the Glory of God.

The more we look into the heavens, the more we are awe-inspired by the seemingly infinite reaches of space. The power, glory, grandeur, and incomprehensible size of the Universe should lead each of us to an honest question: "Who made this?" The order, complexity, beauty, and laws observed in the night sky are eloquent testimony to the glory of its Creator.

"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known…" (Psalm 19:1-2)

2. To Keep Mankind Humble.

People have a tendency to get prideful and self-centered, but a look into the heavens is good medicine for the arrogant heart. When compared to the vast expanses and brightness of billions of galaxies, we quickly must admit that we are essentially powerless and meaningless. If it were not for our specific divine purpose in creation, we would be tempted to say that, in comparison to the Universe, we are nothing and worth nothing.  Only as we acknowledge the Creator's purpose for us can we have any basis for meaning or significance.

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place--what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

3. To Mark off Days and Seasons.

One practical use for the stars, sun, and moon, as they relate to humanity, is for the measurement of time and giving of light.

"And God said, 'Let bright lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. They will be signs to mark off the seasons, the days, and the years. Let their light shine down upon the earth.' And so it was. For God made two great lights, the sun and the moon, to shine down upon the earth...God set these lights in the heavens to light the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. This all happened on the fourth day [of creation]." (Genesis 1:14-19)

A Cosmic Tragedy

Stars that were created to shout the glory of God have been used by astrologers to turn people away from Him. The tragedy of astrology is that it actually leads people away from the message of the stars...diverting attention from the majestic, powerful, personal, loving Creator who made the heavens as a testimony to Himself and as a message to humanity.

If you are interested in what the stars are saying to you, skip the horoscopes and hot-lines. Step outside on a cool, starlit night, look up and listen. Open your heart to the message the stars are proclaiming in silent majesty, just as they have since the day of their creation.

Discover Your Destiny

We humans have an insatiable desire to know our destiny.

Fortunately, the Bible gives us some clear answers on the subject. (And you don't have to spend $1.99 a minute on a 1-900 line to hear the truth, either.) Your destiny has not been determined by the alignment of the stars, nor is the truth about your future being printed in tomorrow's horoscope. Your destiny, and the destiny of every man, woman, and child, is explained in detail on the pages of the Bible.

The Original Plan

Our original destiny (pre-destiny) was that each of us would be a part of God's family, living in love and joy for eternity.

"Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure." (Ephesians 1:4-5)

The Problem

Tragically, this plan for humanity was interrupted by rebellion -- the first humans (Adam and Eve) rejected God's love and commands. Because of this, they (and we, their descendants) were set on the path of an alternate destiny -- a horrible one that includes death, evil and fear.

"When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned." (Romans 5:12)

The Bible clearly teaches us that our rebellion against God (pride, lust, greed, selfishness) has destined us for death and the fearsome judgment of God. Humans were never meant to do evil or to end up as the recipients of God's anger, but our own choices have condemned us.

Restoring Our Pre-Destiny

God hates our sin, but He is willing to give us a second chance. In fact, that is why the Bible was written: to show us how we can be restored to the "original" destiny, so that we can be adopted into the family of God.

God is willing to forgive our sins on the basis of what Jesus did (Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty of justice for our sins).

"And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift...So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:15,21)

Each of us was created by God for a special purpose. If we will repent (stop following evil and start following God) and put our faith in what Jesus did for us, God will bring us back into His family. This is the only way that we can truly "fulfill our destiny."

Only through a personal relationship with God can you or I fulfill the purpose of our creation and accomplish the mission of our lives.

Fearing the Future

The future can be frightening. Perhaps that's what drives so many to seek predictions from astrologers.

Will I ever find true love?
Will I die early?
What will happen to my kids?
Will my spouse leave me?
Will terrorists strike my city?
Will war change my life?
What if I make a wrong decision?
What will happen to my money?
Is my home safe?
Will I lose my job?
What if I get some disease?

There are plenty of reasons to be scared. 

Fear comes from three things:

Lack of knowledge. Probably the biggest "fear-maker" is the unknown -- we want the security of knowing all that the future holds, but such security eludes us.  The best we can do is guess, and we're always afraid that we could be wrong.

Lack of trust. Another fear-maker: a lack of confidence in oneself, in the government, in God's protection, in the honesty of our friends and loved ones, in the goodwill of people around us, etc. Without trust, everyone and everything is suspect -- and everyone and everything is a reason to be afraid.

An over-active imagination. When we hear noises at night in the basement, or when we walk through a dark parking lot, what causes the adrenalin rush of fear? Our imagination. We see things that aren't there and hear things that don't exist. We see shadows shifting and hear floors creaking. We often allow our imaginations to trump our logic.

Overcoming fear in our lives will not happen until we can learn to deal with these three "fear makers." If astrology and the occult don't have the answers, what should we do?  What does the Bible teach about conquering our fears?

Realize that God is bigger than any "unknown". Nuclear power plant meltdown? God is bigger. Radiological weapons? God is bigger. Economic problems? God is bigger. Family breakup? Health problems?  Car crash?  God has more power, more resources, and more intelligence than any threat we face. Could we face these threats?  Sure.  Need we take precautions as necessary?  Sure.  But at some point we must acknowledge our lack of control over many situations we encounter.  We must learn to trust God to deal with the "unknown" things we cannot see. No matter what happens, God will be there.

Realize that God is worthy of our trust. Trusting in God means that we recognize His authority and power over everything that may happen on earth. When we trust in God, we put your faith in Him, instead of in money, people, the government, etc. Trusting God doesn't mean you'll have a problem-free existence.  It does mean that you can look to Him for comfort and hope. It does mean that you don't have to worry -- because God will be beside you.

Remember childhood nights that you got scared in your bedroom, all alone? The lights were out and the covers were your only security. Your eyes were like saucers -- open wide, straining to see what horrible monster was lurking in darkness. But suddenly, Mom came in the room, and the "monster"  disappeared. You took a deep breath and drifted off to sleep, knowing that as long as mom is around, you can sleep in safety. That same feeling of relief comes to us now, even in these troubled times, when we realize that God is "in the room." Bad things will still happen -- but we'll never be alone.

Take control of our imaginations. Think on things that are true. Nothing can run faster than our imaginations -- all the terrible things that could happen, maybe, if, perhaps. To be free from fear, make a commitment to obey what the Bible says in Philippians 4:8: "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Don't dwell on what "could happen"...dwell on things that are true.

Conclusion:

Rather than allowing your fear to control you, why not put your faith in the Creator?  Don't let the fear of the future drive you to astrology; instead, let it be a wake-up call to make sure you are in a right relationship with God.

Jesus made a statement that, while a bit confrontational, does put fear in a proper perspective:

"Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.

But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear."  (Luke 12:4-5, NLT)

Could it be that for all our worry and fear and wonder -- we're forgetting about the one thing that is a well-founded, certain fear?  Another Bible passage declares that, "each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment." (Heb. 9:27)

(For those of you who haven't read much of the Bible, note that much of the Bible's message is encouraging and inspiring.  But, as you can see, it doesn't hide the truth on difficult subjects.   Sometimes the truth isn't easy to hear.)

For a dose of Bible-based fear (and assurance), check out: Matthew 13, Revelation 21-22, Exodus 19-20, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 18.

Astrology in the Bible

What appears to be harmless fun can often be very destructive and addictive.

Astrology, along with occult and new age practices, is a "doorway" for dark spiritual forces to enter and influence a person's life. Many times these doorways do not look dangerous at all -- the Apostle Paul tells us that even the devil dresses himself up as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14) Take a moment to carefully consider these warnings from the Bible:

"You have more than enough advisers, astrologers, and stargazers. Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are as useless as dried grass burning in a fire. They cannot even save themselves!"  -Isaiah 47:13-14

"This is what the Lord says: 'Do not act like other nations who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them. Their ways are futile and foolish…" -Jeremiah 10:2-3

The Hebrew prophet Daniel recorded how the astrologers of Babylon were never able to give real information to the king when he needed it; the only ones who could interpret dreams and consistently predict the future were the ones who were in touch with God the Creator (See Daniel 2, 4:7, and 5:7-9).

In the Bible, astrology is often linked with other magic arts, fortune-telling, and sorcery. All of these are dangerous, in that they can lead people away from God's purposes for life.  Even worse, they can open participants up to temptation or demonic influence.

In summary: The Bible affirms that astrology is dangerous, useless, and wicked. It is sin to participate in astrology because the practice draws attention away from the only One with real answers for life and the future -- God.

Following the Star

"Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men [astrologers] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.'...After this interview [with King Herod] the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!" (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10)

Apparently these wise men, or Magi, as they were called, were well practiced in astrology.  But they had hearts open to the things of God. Even in the midst of their involvement with the occult, God used a star to point them to the truth.

Today, we must follow that same star -- looking to the King whom it declared. God did a special miracle that day by placing a star in the heavens that would "lead" the wise men to Jesus.  God wants you also to learn the truth about His plan for the world. But you don't have to wait for some mystical experience or cosmic alignment, you can discover the life-changing, soul-inspiring truth of God on the pages of His Word, the Bible.

Jesus was sent to earth those many years ago to give humanity a second chance -- to give us the opportunity to fulfill our purpose in life. We need a Savior to rescue us from the evil of our hearts.  Our pride, lust, greed, anger, bitterness, envy, deceit, and selfishness have destroyed our future and our ability to know our Creator.

But there is hope.  He still has an amazing future planned for those who will follow Him. The Bible explains, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)

Take a Step of Faith

"Following the star" costs something. Jesus said that to come after Him, we would have to lay down our old lives and let Him be our Leader; we would have to give up our selfish habits and behaviors, and love God above everything else in life. The wise men did that -- they set out on a journey that may have taken them months or even years -- and they came to worship the Savior, Jesus. They made a great sacrifice in their quest to meet the King.

From reading the rest of the story, we know now that Jesus died to set us free from sin, and rose again from the dead with power three days later. He is calling us to repent and join Him. -- to put our faith in God and begin a personal relationship with Him.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is." (Romans 12:1-2)

You can learn more about Jesus Christ by reading the New Testament of the Bible.