Horoscope, Right or Wrong?

Is Reading Your Horoscope Wrong?

Q. My granddaughter has a friend who is reading his horoscope daily and sees nothing wrong with it. She needs specific verses of scripture to show him that will convince him it is demonic. I am familiar with the verses in Deuteronomy 18, and in several places in Daniel, but they are not as specific as I would like. Can you help?


A. The phrase “observer of times” in Deut. 18:10 and other places is commonly regarded to mean astrology and is described as being detestable to God. The study of astrology was forbidden in the Old Testament.

You didn’t mention whether the friend is a believer or not, but if he is then knowing something is detestable to God should be sufficient motivation to stop doing it, whether he believes it’s demonic or not.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

What does binding and loosing means?

Binding And Loosing?

Q. What is binding and loosing? Is it appropriate for Christians to pray for binding and loosing? If not then what is the proper way?

A. The concept of binding and loosing comes from Matt. 16:19 and is repeated in Matt 18:18. It comes from Jewish legal terminology where something bound was forbidden and something loosed was authorized. In Matt. 16:19 it was used in reference to the disciples’ authority regarding the Kingdom. Having the Keys to the Kingdom meant Peter, and by implication the others, could in effect open it to believers and close it to unbelievers on the Lord’s behalf. They did this by preaching the gospel, so when a person heard the gospel and asked to be saved, they had the authority to promise them entry into the Kingdom.

In Matt 18:18 there was a second, related application. This one has to do with church discipline. If a person refuses to acknowledge his sin and be reconciled to a brother, the church has the authority to treat him or her like an unbeliever. The phrase “like an unbeliever” doesn’t mean the church can revoke a person’s salvation, but that after all the other steps have been followed can suspend the person from the rights of fellowship until there’s reconciliation.

The Bible never refers to binding and loosing in the context of spiritual warfare. While believers do have authority over evil spirits in the Lord’s name (Luke 10:17), it doesn’t come from these verses, and to use “binding and loosing” in this context is a misapplication of Scripture. Paul demonstrated the proper way to deal with evil spirits in others when he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.” (Acts 16:18) And in personal matters James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5 also outlines personal application.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Is it right to use the picture of Jesus on a website?

Image Or Idol

Q. Re the picture of the hooded (”shepherd”?) on your home page: is that supposed to be Jesus Christ? I’m sure we don’tneed to have an IMAGE of our Savior. Perhaps the Ten Commandments even forbids it …? I tend to associate images with the worship in the Roman church. I look forward to your response as I count the issue as important.

A. Here’s what the commandment says.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5)

God Himself ordained that images of cherubim be made for the mercy seat (Ex. 25:18 & 2 Chron. 3:10) and woven into the veil in the tabernacle. (Ex. 26:31) There were images of palm trees (2 Chron. 3:5) and pomegranates (2 Chron. 3:16) through out the Temple. The bronze laver rested on the back of cast images of 12 bulls (2 Chron. 4:3-5) There were images of almond blossoms and flowers carved into the menorah (Ex. 37:17-24)

These were all carved (graven) images and likenesses, but since none of them was worshiped as an idol they were not violations of the commandment.

The artist’s rendering of the Lord on our site is not an idol either. We do not bow down to worship it. It’s a picture. If images themselves were forbidden, then every book, photograph, drawing, painting, movie, video, TV show, etc, etc, ever made would be a violation of the commandment. It’s when the image becomes an idol and you bow down to worship it that you’ve violated the commandment.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Can we judge others?

Are We The Sin Police?

Q. I just got around to reading “The Way It Was Meant To Be” and just wanted to say you’ve got to be careful making it sound like we are never to confront sin in others. Some like to call it “judging”, which is a favored term for those who shy away from possibly offending a brother or sister over doing the right thing and in a loving manner helping/correcting them. It’s not “judging”.The Bible tells us to confront sin. Jesus did it often. One example was the woman at the well. He didn’t just chat with her and then say “have a nice day”. He confronted her with her sin and told her to sin no more. There are times when believers are to do the same. When they don’t, they can easily be construed as approving of the sins being committed around them.

A. In Matt. 7:1-5 Jesus said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Each of us has enough to worry about with our own sins to preclude being so eager to correct others. Jesus could confront people because He was without sin. Remember, He also said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7) It’s not our responsibility to approve or disapprove of the behavior of others. In 1 Cor. 4:5 we’re told to judge nothing until the appointed time, when the Lord will come and expose man’s hidden motives.

When someone sins against us specifically we can confront them (Matt. 18:15) But even if they don’t apologize we are to forgive them 70 X 7 times if need be (Matt. 18:23). If their behavior is a public embarrassment to the Lord we’re not to associate with them (1 Cor. 5:11) but nowhere in the Bible are we called to be the “sin police”.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

How about living by the law of Moses?

A Torah Observant Christian?

Q. While on Facebook recently, I happened upon a childhood friend who describes herself as a “born again, Spirit filled, Torah observant, believer in Yeshua (Jesus).”

Have you ever heard of this? Doesn’t this seem to disregard the new covenant?

I can’t help be intrigued, because I have such love and admiration for the Jewish people, and would dearly love to be “one of them” myself…. but I don’t know how you can have it both ways. It seems that one observing the Torah couldn’t possibly embrace grace and forgiveness through faith. But clearly my old friend believes in Jesus. I’m so confused… can you please help me unravel this?

A. Being a Torah observant Christian could be something of a contradiction. It all comes down to where your friend believes her salvation comes from. If she believes she’s saved by grace through faith and observes the law solely to express her gratitude that’s one thing. But if she believes her salvation is even partly earned or maintained through her observance of the law then there’s a problem with her theology. After all grace plus work equals work.

Any work we do to supplement what the Lord did for us demonstrates our lack of faith in His work and violates the most basic tenet of Christianity. It’s by grace we are saved through faith. Not by works lest any should boast. (Ephes. 2:8-9)

Website : www.gracethrufaith.com

Double Paycheck

Work For The Lord. Get Paid Twice.

Q. Do you think there is there any chance of a future or anything? I keep thinking of Jeremiah 29:11 whenever I think about a career, but when I see the world collapsing I wonder if anything is worth it anymore. I’m basically praying for Him to return soon but remember I still have work to do and such ministry wise with my photography projects and whatever career door opens up. I am honestly running out of options and have hit one of those road signs that says either continue here and hit the same bumps again or go there and everything will fall into place since everything happens for a reason.

A. In my opinion Jeremiah 29: 11 was meant for Israel and doesn’t have general application. But even if it does, I think all those who have the option should strongly consider devoting their remaining time to serving the Lord. I don’t mean going to seminary, unless that’s where God has called you, but instead becoming missionaries of one kind or another.

One of the first things I learned in Mexico is that most missionaries don’t go around knocking on doors preaching the Gospel. They help in orphanages, build houses and churches, care for the sick, feed the hungry, teach the children, and do thousands of other jobs in the US and in other countries. Best of all, a life on the Lord’s payroll provides a double paycheck. One takes care of you here, and the other stores up treasure in Heaven.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com