A friend has recently asked for my views on fortune telling in life as a Christian. These are my thoughts after reading the following passage from Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (New International Version)
Detestable Practices
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 his son or daughter in [a] 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, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
There are a number of things to get out of this passage:
(1)
It is not a ruleWhat to get out of this is not to interpret it as a "rule" of Christian living. Christians are not about living with rules locking down your life. In fact, as Christians, we are freed from our sinful life so we may be free to live a life that God intended us to live, that is, to follow Christ rather than follow evil.
(2)
These things existGod speaks and acknowledges that these things exist. So there may be wonderful statistics or stunning testimonies where it has worked, because even God, the ultimate creator endorse that such things exist. But ...
(3)
God finds it detestableRather than to read this as a "rule", remember to read this as what God likes and dislikes (ie what He intends our lives to be, rather than evil). He sees things outlined in the passage above to be
detestable, including fortune telling (interpret omens). He finds it is filthy in our lives. It is activities that God does not endorse at all.
(4)
Where is the source from
If God does not endorse it, it means it does not come from God. Naturally, that means it comes from Satan, to lure us away from a Holy and Godly life, so we can fall back into sin. The fact that people experience the real power of fortune-telling does not mean it is Holy and Godly. There are many things that are happening around us that is real: people do anything for money, people lust, people have affairs, people cheat. These, amongst other things, are all real.
The question you have to ask is, is that what God really want in our lives?
God wants us to be Holy. He has paid a high price by getting his beloved son to die for us in our place for our sins so we could live the way God intends us people to live. We should avoid what is sinful.
(5)
Trust and FaithOne may say that fortune telling just means they'll be able to plan a smoother life, and avoid the bumps in life. I'm not hurting anyone, that's not too bad, it is not like fortune telling is doing something illegal.
The question that needs to be asked is this: Who do you trust in your life when you have decided to become a Christian? Do you trust God, who you have declared your faith, and submitted your life so you belong to Jesus? or trusting earthly (evil) sources to dictate how your life should be?
As Christians, we live by faith. We have to trust God is the one and only who, through our Lord Jesus Christ, will lead us. He is our Father in Heaven. We are told in the gospels fathers do not feed stones to their children. He will have everything good in store for us. For sure. All we need is steadfast faith in God.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has always planned for us: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
That is what Christian living is all about. It's not about having a carefree life. It is about trusting God in leading your life, and letting him steer your life to bring what is good for you.
