159. SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE INVOLVED IN READING THE ALMANAC, ASTROLOGY, HOROSCOPES, PSYCHICS AND THE LIKE?

(The Information & Edification Series – Batch 3)

Having browsed through the 2015 version of the ‘DR. MACDONALD FARMERS ALMANAC’ which some persons who have professed to be believers in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that are involved in farming, have been religiously using and relying on over the years and having done a bit of research, these were my SHOCKING, UNSETTLING and DISTURBING findings:

Bibliographic information of the book is referred to online as ‘Rules for Planting and Harvesting by the Moon, Predictions about Crops, the Weather, Sickness, Lucky Days, Future Events.’

The entire book is therefore based on providing information on the future BUT NOWHERE does it give any credence to or acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the source of this revelation.

The founder of the book is Dr. Jeremiah MacDonald (now deceased). A search for his name online, directs you to the following heading: ‘Helps to Succeed Or the Secrets of Astrology Revealed’.

The front cover of the actual book reads, “PUBLICATION TELLS WHEN TO PLANT AND HARVEST BY THE MOON…PREDICTIONS ABOUT CROPS, THE WEATHER, SICKNESS, LUCKY DAYS AND FUTURE EVENTS.“

The back of the book states: “DR. MAC DONALD’S ASTROLOGICAL DREAM BOOK – A COMPREHENSIVE AND SCIENTIFIC SYSTEM FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS.“

Page 4 of the book shows the Zodiac signs, along with an explanation and classification of the Signs and Symbols (similar to the horoscopes put out in the daily papers by Psychics).

Page 8 which claims to supernaturally know the proper time to plant and harvest, states that this timing is “…as indicated by the signs of the heavens and when this Almanac shows the moon to be in the right phase and zodiacal sign.”

The last paragraph of the seventh page states, “…Dr. MacDonald’s business has been limited to publishing the almanac and his astrological Dream Book. It has since been passed down through four generations of the MacDonald and Rury families, through the marriage of our publisher, Franklin Rury, to Dr. MacDonald’s grand-daughter, the late Marion MacDonald Rury. In the spirit of Dr. MacDonald’s life quest to provide safe, natural medicines for his patients and sound advice to his farmer clientele, we remain committed to providing our readers with timely information on new developments in agriculture and ecology.”

The second to last page of the book, advertises other books which it endorses, approves of and recommends (due to similarity in origin). One set of books is headed, “FAMOUS SPIRITUAL BOOKS and includes, inter alia, the following book titles:

“Reversible Spells & Rituals”

“Golden Secrets of Mystic Oils”

“Candle Burning Magic”

“7 Sisters Spell book”

“Famous Voodoo Rituals & Spells”

The book also recommends, supports and endorses books headed, “DREAM BOOKS & LOTTERY”, which include, among others, a book entitled, “Lucky Star Dream Book.”

MY CONCLUSIONS

The entire book, as the product of Dr. MacDonald and his family throughout many generations is based on predictions, the interpretation of dreams, signs and symbols, luck/fortune, future telling, astrology and the observance of times and seasons.

Whether the suggestions of the book have been proven to be accurate, I do not know. However, it begs the question: Where does the information about the future and about the moon come from and is it from a natural or spiritual source? And if a spiritual source, is it from the Lord Jesus Christ? And if not, then from what or whom? And if from some supernatural source outside of Jesus Christ, would Jesus approve of a Christian using it?

This researcher submits that it is CLEAR that the founder of this book and his family, that have continued his so-called legacy were and still are steeped in astrology and the recommendations in his book stem from consultation with FAMILIAR SPIRITS.

Horoscopes, palm-reading, necromancy, sorcery and psychics are all based on the same ideology and derive their supernatural/occultist insight from the very same source, which this researcher submits is from none other than the devil. These practices are tantamount to what the Bible refers to as ‘witchcraft’. They are therefore (in my staunch view), to be given NO support, to be looked to for NO guidance and to be avoided and abandoned entirely.

The Bible tells us that we must avoid the very appearance of evil but in this case, such practices do not merely appear to be evil but ARE evil. A Christian should therefore run from it, like the plague.

The book, by its own several references to astrology is not based on any ‘developments in agriculture and ecology’ as it tries to suggest but rather, entirely on the ‘spirit’ of divination.

This researcher submits that the Bible is very clear on God’s position on these things and that it unequivocally condemns these practices.

It is not possible for a believer (like the Galatians to whom Paul warned in Galatians 4:9-11), to hold on to faith in Jesus Christ (which ought to stand on its own) while not completely letting go of these practices and still please God. There is absolutely NO justification for usage of any material that is derived from occultist sources.

In Galatians 4:9-11, Paul told the Galatians that seemed to have regressed to these practices:

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

The born again Christian MUST of necessity choose who he will serve, as light and darkness cannot co-exist. 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 makes it clear to Christians, of the life that ungodly people (referred to as Gentiles) live and how Christians are to be different:

“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would NOT that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye CANNOT be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”

The believer cannot recklessly embrace what God has blatantly, vehemently, outrightly and unequivocally condemned and win. Furthermore, the information and insight provided from these so-called ‘sources’ are not needed, as Christ alone is sufficient. Why should we want insight into the future, if we are trusting in the one that holds it?

Yet, having submitted this very Note to the professing believers who have been using this diabolical book to assist them with their crops and finally convincing one to throw out all the ALMANACS he had purchased over the years (and they were many) and even taking it upon myself to throw them all in the garbage personally, where they belonged, a few years later, I returned to find that he had re-commenced the purchase of these dreadful books, obviously convinced that he needed to get insight from them, so as to determine when to plant.

Why do we need insight from the devil to get ahead in life? And why, when we read in the Bible that Saul died for this very thing (1 Chronicles 10:13-14) is this wicked practice being considered as acceptable among men who have claimed to know Christ and read the scriptures day and night and that are supposed to know better?

It is my belief, based on solid scriptures, that this book (THE ALMANAC) in all of its summation is an abomination unto God. This is further reinforced by my subsequent perusal of the last two pages of the book, which, not surprisingly, continues to support and recommend further diabolical reading material, such as:

“Its’ in the Star’s”
“Astrology Made Easy”
“Your Subconscious Power”
“Witchcraft, The Sixth Sense”
“400 Magic Tricks You Can Do”
“Magic For All Ages”
“Astrology and Sexual Analysis”
“How to Interpret Dreams, Omens & Fortune Signs”
“Witchcraft, Magic and Occultism”
“How to Attract Good Luck”
“Rituals and Spells of Santeria”
Spiritual Cleansing & Psychic Defenses.”

This book is not even trying to hide its source, which is obviously the devil. The devil of course, uses the ploy as he did with Adam and Eve, by mixing some truth with many lies. Hence, in the book, he blasphemously refers to a few ‘spiritual’ books that mention the wording, ‘Psalms’, ‘Selected Prayers’ and ‘Devotions to the Saints.’

If a Christian is not discerning, if he is asleep when it is high time to arise out of slumber, he will find himself caught in this cunning trap and perhaps, some have already been deceived into thinking, that something good and profitable can come out of usage of this book.

In the Bible, there has always been a positive correlation between the spirit of divination and making a profit and this is what the book really offers to unsuspecting Christian and non-Christian farmers: That is, it encourages them to consult it, so as to do well in farming and to be profitable in the farming business.

Given the seriousness of this issue and the negative consequences it is sure to pose, it is also my staunch view (as supported by scripture), that the use of this so-called Almanac and any other practice associated with witchcraft, should be boycotted permanently by anyone who names the name of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:19). There is also a real need for personal confession and repentance before God, for any past usage of (and hence reliance on) it (which may have been done innocently).

There is a real danger in any affiliation to this wicked book and these wicked sources. For, although a Christian may not have engaged directly in the abominable practices that the book clearly supports and operates by, referring to the book or any aspect of it for information, cues or advice on any issue is tantamount to participating, condoning and lending full support to these evil occultist practices.

The Bible requires the Christian to come out from among these practices and to be separate.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 states:

“…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

The Christian’s trust and confidence is to be placed completely in almighty God and in his Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the scripture admonishes that we ought to “…give no place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27). For, “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Instead, we are to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

It is my view that Christians can at times, unbeknown to them, fall into the devil’s web of deception by not exercising enough discernment, thereby opening spiritual doors and giving him license to kill, steal and destroy.

SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK TO THE GRAVITY OF THE ABOVE PRACTICES

To those thinking that dabbling in and reading such material or just a small portion of it and then relying on the information provided by it to plant crops is not a serious thing, the following scriptures support all that I have said above. These scriptures are very clear and therefore require no exposition in my view:

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 – “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”

Leviticus 19:31 – “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 20:27 – “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”

Exodus 22:18 – “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

Leviticus 20:6 – “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”

1 John 4:1-3 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 – “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, AND ALSO FOR ASKING COUNSEL OF ONE THAT HAD A familiar spirit, TO ENQUIRE OF IT; And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.”

Isaiah 8:19 – “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE SEEK UNTO THEIR GOD? for the living to the dead?”

Acts 16:16-19 – “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers.”

Deuteronomy 18:20 – “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.”

Revelations 21:8 – “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

2 Kings 21:6 – “And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: HE WROUGHT MUCH WICKEDNESS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER.”

Daniel 5:11-12 – “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made MASTER of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; Forasmuch as an EXCELLENT SPIRIT, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.“

Daniel 2:27-28 – “Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.”

Acts 19:18-20 – “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and BURNED THEM before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILED.”

Isaiah 47:8-13 – “Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.”

Deutoronomy 4:19 – “And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.”

Galatians 4:9-11 – “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

Ephesians 5:6-12 – “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and TRUTH;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Acts 8:9-13;18-24 – “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done…And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

2 Kings 23:23-25 – “But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the Lord in Jerusalem. Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah PUT AWAY, THAT HE MIGHT PERFORM the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

2 Kings 9:22 – “And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?”

Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness ,Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

As I close, I would like to reiterate to those involved with farming, who may stubbornly be asking the question: “How then will we know when to plant?”, that JESUS CHRIST IS ENOUGH. There are some things that God has given us to know before hand and others that he has withheld in his wisdom. The Word of God requires you to have faith, not in a time or season to plant but in the POWER of almighty God and his Son Jesus Christ.

God owns this world and all that is in it and he is bigger than seasons. He therefore wants you to plant your crops in faith, not based on any advance information from an occult, diabolical and wicked source (such as which the Almanac originates) but IN CHRIST ALONE. Jesus is able to give increase, even without advance information. He is able, to cause your crops to grow well and healthy, if you would only put your trust in Him and Him alone.

If you say you are a Christian and have therefore claimed to have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, then why are you failing so miserably in this regard? Why can you not see that consulting this evil book for any kind of information is wrong? Why are you holding on to something that God HATES and vehemently condemns in his Word? Can anybody fight against God and win?

Here is how the Word of God answers your question about when to plant in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6:

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days…If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that OBSERVETH the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so THOU KNOWEST NOT the works of God who maketh all.In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for THOU KNOWEST NOT whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.“

The Word of God therefore acknowledges that the planting of crops is an area that we, as human beings do not know, in advance, whether it will bear fruit, lots of fruit or not much or none at all. Despite our limitation in knowledge, the Word of God does not tell us to go consult with the devil through these diabolical books like the ALMANAC, for advance knowledge but instead, in faith, to just trust God, plant what we have to plant and wait to see the outcome.

Whereas the devil, through these books therefore, entices mankind with the promise that he can give him advance knowledge of what will be in the future and what season is best to plant, it is clear from God’s Word, that this is not an area that God intends for man to know. He wants us to be content with not knowing the future in this regard, to just do what we have to do in faith, to still go ahead and plant without observing times and leave the rest up to Him. If the Lord wills, he is able to give us increase.

(Written in 2015 or thereabout; added to thereafter)