Good Heavens! False Belief in the Stars

Good Heavens! False Belief in the Stars.

“And beware that you do not raise your eyes toward heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and let yourselves be led astray and worship them and serve them, [mere created bodies] which the Lord your God has allotted to [serve and benefit] all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:19, Amplified Bible).

Human beings seem to have a worship gene. If a person doesn’t worship Creator God, then the most likely candidate for worship is something as glorious, magnificent, and awe-inspiring as the celestial bodies, the stars, the planets, what has been called the “host of heaven.” How can one look up at the sky and not be overwhelmed by the grandeur and beauty and other-worldly mystery of the universe above us?  Since ancient times, every culture has been tempted to worship the cosmos in some way. If they didn’t actually worship the stars, then they nonetheless consulted the stars and constellations for guidance and life direction.

Astronomy is the exciting study and exploration of the cosmos, the stars in the heavens, and the facts of the universe. Astrology, though, is the belief that the twelve signs of the Zodiac and horoscope can be used to “interpret” the constellations and the placement of the planets in order to analyze one’s birth chart and determine someone’s character, personality traits and even one’s destiny. This misuse of God’s constellations has been debunked by modern science and has no legitimate credibility whatsoever. Many zodiac constellations are mentioned in Scripture, true, but to measure time, space, and the seasons, not to derive personal meaning or guidance. The constellations belong to their Maker, the Lord God, and while inspiring awe and wonder at God’s power and beauty, they are not to be consulted as God’s replacement in any way.

Divination. The Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament are full of warnings about worshipping the stars and losing God in the process. The Hebrew word for astrology means “divining the heavens.” Since the early pagan days of Babylon, consulting the stars for insight, wisdom, guidance and even secret knowledge has been a popular religion in its own right. In fact, archeologists have discovered horoscope charts in artifacts dating from the 5^th century BC.  And right from the beginning of the Hebrew faith in Yahweh and going forward to right now, astrology has been considered a form of divination. Astrology is a belief system that claims the stars, planets and constellations foretell events and determine a person’s destiny. Those engaged in the divination art of astrology believe that we are ruled by the stars, not the Creator of the stars, and that the hosts of heaven have power over us and not God. Astrology is one aspect of the occultic belief system, along with tarot cards, seances, oija boards, the casting of spells, and a host of other forbidden activities.

This was serious business, spiritual business, and the Lord considered it an abomination in the Law of Moses:

1. ^2 “If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, ³ and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky, ⁴ and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, ⁵ take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.” (Deuteronomy 17:2-7);
2. ^9 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the Lord your God. ¹⁴ The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).
3. ²⁶ “Do not practice divination or seek omens. ³¹ “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:26, 31).
4. ⁶ “I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.” (Leviticus 20:6).

Despite these grave and extreme warnings, astrology became a part of Jewish worship during the time of King Manasseh (716-661 B.C.E.). “They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal.” (2 Kings 17:16).

The prophet Isaiah didn’t mince any words about astrology and the dependence upon stars for the wisdom that can only come from the Lord God:

1. ^“When someone tells 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?” (Isaiah 8:19).
2. “All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!
   Let your astrologers come forward,
   those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
       let them save you from what is coming upon you.
   Surely they are like stubble;
       the fire will burn them up.
   They cannot even save themselves
       from the power of the flame.
   These are not coals for warmth;
       this is not a fire to sit by.
   That is all they are to you—
       these you have dealt with
       and labored with since childhood.
   All of them go on in their error;
       there is not one that can save you.” (Isaiah 47:13-15).

And certainly the great prophet Daniel revealed the foolishness of astrology and the dark arts in Nebuchadnezzar’s search for the wisdom that only can God provide:

1. ^“So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers^[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king…” (Daniel 2:2); “Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” (Dan. 2:27-28); “When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers^[ and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.” (Dan. 4:7);

Perhaps St. Paul summarized the sin of divination and astrology best in Romans 1:19-20, 25:

“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools… They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”