A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (December 6, 2009)

<Futurology, Soothsaying, Fortunetelling, and the Biblical Prophesy)

Most of people eagerly expect to know the future and the events to come. But not many people think about the life after death. Why? Probably because it is unknown, and people think that “it is still far away from me.” But I believe that when one turns to be old or get sick will probably think about it more. Most of the healthy people will think about the future: 10, 20, or 30 years later or after retirement -- what are they going to do? The futurists will always look forward probably even think of furthermore -- 50 years later what will be the future?  And it is because of this human nature and needs; futurology, soothsaying, and fortunetelling begin to develop their works.

What is “futurology”? It is a kind of academic work. Scholars use their academic knowledge and studies to predict the future and foretell what kind of society and world it will be in the future. About 40 years ago (1970) Alvin Toffler, a sociologist published a book, entitled, “Future Shock.” He became famous and established his leadership in the field of “futurology.” This book was translated into many different languages and was sold more than 6 million copies. In his book, Toffler as a sociologist predicted that in the future the world would be from industrial society become super-industrial society. Furthermore, the future world will become “information overloaded.”

To certain point, Toffler was right. Yet whatever he said 40 years ago was still very shallow and superficial from today’s point of view. For example, even today, no one still can accurately predict and know the future scientific development which moves so fast that is beyond our imagination. Not only that; because of the high-tech which keeps developing and it moves very fast, any unbelievable possibilities will happen. And because of that that already affects human ways of thinking and behaviors.

Meanwhile, religions and politics also constantly interact and affect the whole world powerfully. And many “isms”, “ideologies”, and “theories” come and go to impact the human thinking and shape the mentality of human behaviors. For instance, the main reason that caused the World War I & II was because of the Fascism and Militarism. After that was the Communism. After World War II the Communists tried very hard to grasp the political power and they were very successful. They almost seized a half of the world resumes and made the world to be “half red.”  But, nowadays, these three “isms” are fated, especially the Communism which does not have much impact on human world any more.

However, no one had ever thought that after 911 Event, one kind of new “ism” rises – which is called, “terrorism.” It was the result of the works of Muslim’s extremists. The world now turns to be more shaking and unstable because of this Muslim terrorism. There is no peace at all. But unfortunately, the President of United States, Mr. Barack Obama, keeps flattering Muslim religion to be the most advanced religion which provides the most important contributions to human world in peace, culture, and many aspects. I do not know whether he is spiritually blind or he is intentionally to promote such kind of extreme religion because basically he is a Muslim? What a pity!

In order to know and control the future, many people are willing to spend money to buy advises from fortunetellers, soothsayers, or eve witches. Even President Ronald Reagan’s wife Nancy did the same thing – hiring some fortunetellers and witches to check the schedules for the President especially after President Reagan had been attacked, which really embraced the President as a good Christian.  Why? It is because of fear. Anyone who increases riches and powers also increases fear and insecurity unless that person has the true faith in Christ.

Many people might think that this kind of superstition – seeking helps from witches will only find in the low or undeveloped societies. Actually, it is wrong. Surprisingly that even in the USA and Germany these two highly developed high-tech countries, the witch doctors and psychics are more popular than Christian pastors. Why? A simple answer: The true peace doesn’t come for science or materials. The Bible tells us, to get involved in fortunetelling, witches, or psychics are ways of seeking for the advices from evil, the result will be even worse. Therefore, the only one that we can seek for is the Lord, the almighty God. Christians should not get involved in such kind of activities.

Finally, the Bible tells us the prophets’ prophesies. I believe that whatever the biblical prophesies which come from God are all accurate and will come true. Actually many of them have come true, yet some are still on the way to be fulfilled. The biblical prophesy is part of the real word of God that we need to study and pursue for it.

Let me make a summary: “Futurology” comes from human understanding and knowledge that is a kind of scholarship. It is O.K. to know. However, we cannot become superstitious in that area. Witches and psychics are always involved in the evil spirit; please do not try or taste it. The only right “futurology” is in the Bible which we need to study well, for it is a means that God wants to reveal His plan to us for the future.  (To be continued…)