Should a Christian Be Involved in Astrology?

- By Pastor Matthew Spencer

First of all, Astrology and Astronomy are sometimes confused.

Astrology is an occult practice that seeks to discover secret knowledge of the future by believing that somehow our lives are governed or influenced by the movement of stars and planets. This is divination.

Astronomy, on the other hand is the science and study of the universe. Astronomy is a good thing. Astrology is not.

Let me point you to a few verses. I hope that this will clarify any confusion when Christians preach on stars. The Bible very clearly warns us and forbids us to be involved in any occult practices (Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Leviticus 19:26) or idolatry (“thou shalt have no other God before me” Exodus 20:3).

God forbids divination (which according to merriam-webster.com is “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers”), or the practice of soothsaying (“the act of foretelling events”). Which, must be noted, is different than prophesying by the Spirit of God, which has been done by men of God throughout the Bible and continues today. But soothsaying is attempting to foretell the future by other means than God or the Bible!

It is a good reminder that when Christians see the signs in the heavens, we should not attempt to predict the future. But what we can do is understand that God created the stars and that He Himself put them in the heavens (for us) to be for “signs and seasons.” Genesis 1:14, “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;”

God put the stars in the heavens in order to govern time, help us determine the lunar month (the Jewish calendar is based on the moon), the solar year, navigate on the ocean and even understand the coming of Jesus (the Star of Bethlehem, and coming Judgement spoken of in Joel 2:31 and by Jesus Himself in Luke 21:25, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars…).

As Christians, we should never to attempt to seek secret knowledge outside of the Bible in order to attempt to predict the future. I believe that, yes, we can know the “times and seasons” (1 Chronicles 12:32 and Matthew 24:32-33 point out that we can and should understand and be able to interpret the times ands seasons.) But we should not seek out “secret knowledge” that is not revealed to us in the Scripture. King Saul got into serious trouble when he searched out a medium to show him the future (1 Samuel 28). Ultimately, I believe what Christians are really doing when they consult horoscopes, divination, soothsaying, mediums, and witchcraft, etc. is that they are seeking other gods.They are rejecting and seeking other gods for guidance.

Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would show us things to come. John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

As Christians we understand that God created the heavens and the earth. He is sovereign and in several instances in the Bible has given us signs in the heavens. Most notably The Star of Bethlehem. I encourage you to watch the DVD The Star of Bethlehem (2007). Website: www.bethlehemstar.com.

Hopefully, this has clarified the difference between Astrology (attempting to predict the future through occult practices) and Christians understanding the “signs and seasons” (Genesis 1:14).