Is Following Astrology Sin? Does The Bible Condemn Horoscopes?

What does the Bible say about a Christian following astrology? Are horoscopes allowed for the believer? How does God feel about anyone following astrology or horoscopes?

Astrology’s roots are tied to the calendar and seasons and have almost always been culturally and politically acceptable.

Ancient Astrological Practices

Following astrology is not new. This practice has been around for thousands of years. It has been dated from the 3rd millennium BC and its origins are most certainly not from God…at least the big “G” God. Its roots are tied to the calendar and seasons and have almost always been culturally and politically acceptable. In the 20th century, the practice and use of astrology has exploded and sadly, even among professing Christians. At the roots of astrology is a deep human desire to know the future and to explain the meaning and purpose of human life. Even the ancient Babylonians practiced astrology as far back as 1800 BC. The Babylonians used astrology as part of a divination or predicting of the future. It was believed that the gods presented themselves by their constellations and planets. Astrology has been practiced by almost every culture known to mankind and still is to this very day. It has been practice by politicians, actors, bankers, and cuts across almost every segment of society. There is even an American Association of Astrology as well as countless other groups and clubs dedicated to divining the future.

Horoscopes Origins

Billions of people worldwide check their horoscopes each and every day, and yes, even followers of Christ. Before I was saved I did too. I was born under the sign of Sagittarius and I used to look at what the daily horoscopes said that was predicted for me every day. For me they became known as the “horror-scopes” because I almost always dreaded reading what I believed to be my future. I could not have been more wrong. The problem with horoscopes is that they are all so general that they could apply to almost anyone born at any time of the year but I still believed that there was some relevance to them. Even today I hear people ask what sign they are with the intent of finding out what type of person they are or if a couple are compatible or not. Horoscopes are believed to have originated with the ancient Greeks. The word horoscope literally means “watcher of the hour.” The ancient Greeks believed that the sun, moon, and stars dramatically impacted their lives. And people today still believe that. The different signs are thought to be indicators of what a person is like. The problem with this is that it turns into a kind of fatalism.

Does God Condemn Horoscopes and Astrology

What does God say about horoscopes, astrology, predicting the future or trying to communicate with the dead? Plenty, but I have pared down to just using a few Scriptures to see how God feels about such satanic practices.

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.”

How clear is that!? God has not allowed us to do this. It is an abomination to God. That is, He detests it.

Isaiah 47:13 “You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.”

This verse deals specifically with trying to divine the future by using the stars, the moon, or the heavens (constellations).

Micah 5:12 “And I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes.”

Here God condemns fortune tellers. These include those who read palms, tea leaves, use tarot cards or any other device or practice that tries to predict a person’s future or fortunes.

Conclusion

God condemns the use of astrology and horoscopes for many reasons. For one thing, God alone knows the future. We have no business trying to divine what God has not clearly revealed in His Word. Deuteronomy 29:29 says “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” What has God revealed to us? He has revealed His will to us in the Word of God the Bible. We have no business in trying to divine or predict the unknown future. That is God‘s prerogative, not ours. Even if we tried, we’d likely be wrong anyway but the main reason is that it is an abomination to God. When we try to predict or know the future, we are impinging on God’s sovereignty and we are showing a lack of trust in Him.

Christians are treading on dangerous ground if they are reading and following horoscopes or astrology. Sadly I know of several professing Christians who do this. How seriously does God take it when we use anything or anyone that tries to communicate with the dead, predict the future, or seek counsel from anyone else but God? Here is a direct warning, not from me, but from the Word of God. First Chronicles 10:13-14 says that “Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” Take the Word of God with trembling and fear. God will not compromise with sin and the divination of the future by use of astrology or horoscopes makes Him righteously angry. Don’t go there. Not even for curiosity, “for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:12) for “the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this” (Deuteronomy 18:14).