Does the zodiac and its way of telling us about a person's personality have any place in the life of a Bible believing Christian?
1) [Is it] useful in dealing with other people, especially my own children[?] Is it okay to determine what "sign" my child is and be prepared for what type of personality they will have as they grow older - knowing, of course, that some people do not fall as close to their prescribed sign as others?
2) I am totally fascinated by God's creation and all the quirks and specialties that we don't even have a clue about! I know that full moons and new moons and high tides and low tides are the stuff of the occult and witchcraft (something I, thankfully, never got involved in) and one needs to be careful when treading these waters. But why should I be afraid of or shy away from learning about God's beautiful creation just because the heathen use it incorrectly?
So... there are two distinct questions here, that I am going to further re-set in order to better differentiate them:
1) can I use "omens" signs of any kind to determine future outcomes?
2) Is observation of God's creation (including stars, moons, tides, etc) OK? I mean, He made them all didn't He?
You will notice that I differentiated between (1) using natural events as indicators for the future and (2) simple observation of all natural events... whereas the OP and the general thread here
The Christian and The Zodiac may have slightly mixed the two.
So, my thoughts:
1)
Prophecy is a gift of God. It is the signature and hallmark of God. It is the way that God proves that His word is true, Isa 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [...] I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it. ... and one way that God establishes His prophets.
Despite all this, it is possible that a prophet will arise and even be able to tell the future correctly in some case or another, but he will instruct the people to follow after other gods... in this case the prophet (in this case, not a righteous man) has indeed been given a real prophecy from God, and He has given it by such a man in order to test the people. To test them and see if they will be faithful to the only One that can tell the end from the beginning, or whether they will follow the prophet to his (and their) destruction:
Deuteronomy 13:1
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. So. The Bible expresses plainly, don't look for signs from nature, or from prophets who assert other gods, or from palm readers, etc... if you wish to know anything (in this case about the nature and personality of your children) ask the Existing One. He may tell you, and He may not, but, in any case, know He is the only one that can.
2)
As concerns the observation of nature, it always gives knowledge of God.Paul says this: Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, People observe God Himself in His creation... but when, in doing so, they worship the creation itself as God, they make themselves fools (read the whole passage).
...and the writer of Hebrews says this: Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. We understand that which is not seen by observing that which we can see... His creation... including stars, the cycles of the moon, the tides, etc...
...and in another place, this: Hebrews 12:27
And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. All that we now observe will in time be removed, so that that which cannot be removed will stand.
So, it is established that it is good and right to observe creation. Including the stars. But! One must observe creation for the purpose of understanding God. It is my experience that in doing so, one learns much more about oneself.
As concerns the Zodiac... know that it is a system of naming the stars that groups and orders them. It was men (men and women...) that gave the names of the stars and the names of the constellations. Those men may have done so in order to know God better, or they may have done so in order to worship the creation. Most likely (and a pattern that I have seen over and over again) a person made diligent and astute observation of what God had made, and in so doing greatly increased knowledge of God... then another person who had no interest in God came and took that learning and observation and corrupted it into a fool's game of worship of nature.
My personal opinion is that this is just the case with the stars and constellations... but I do not know anyone that has deciphered the original ideas and intent. The "Bethlehem Star" video and "Gospel in the Stars" type books are attempts to do this... but in a very limited way.
In the same way, using the sign that your child was born in to determine things about them, as I understand it, is allowing the creation itself to tell you the future... it is the act of worshiping the creation itself instead of it Maker. If you have done this, just confess it to God, and ask His forgiveness... He is faithful to forgive all unrighteousness.
To sum up, if you want to know the future or some thing about your child that will be helpful to you in raising your child, ask God. In my experience this is something that He will give you.
--gabe
