Frankly the Chinese Zodiac signology or even the Western kind is all hocus-pocus and generalizations of character based on twelve animals are as reliable as believing in the Moon Fairy. The Americans didnt find any rabbit on the moon by the way!

The fact is people who are superstitious often hope against hope, live in fear and self-fulfilling prophecy, and enslave themselves to ideas that have no truth. And should something uncanny come true as sometimes happens,they will be hooked for life.

Even before I became a Christian, as I child I used to point my finger at the moon only to be scolded by my elders,who warned that I could get my ears slit for doing that. To test the superstition I purposely pointed at the full moon but nothing happened so I told my mom what I did and did it in front of her again and again! The spell of irrational fear was broken that way.

Its amazing how Chinese superstitions can keep so many in darkness and fear and even intelligent and rational people can fall under its spell.Why? Because such teachings often have a demonic source even as they are made up by people from ancient times.

You only need to read the description of character under each zodiac sign and realise that we all have bits and pieces of each zodiac sign. When we begin to think “Ah yeah that’s true I am like that,” so can someone born under a different sign.

And those who live by the horoscopes are wasting their time and opening themselves to great delusion. The paranormal experiences of those who dabble in the occult world often result in serious psychological and emotional disturbances, even demon possession.

According to Asian Animal Zodiac ” “People born in the Year of the Ox appear indecisive, deliberate and slow-moving.”

“Ox Year people are alert. Although they are not given to talking much, they can inspire confidence in others. They are very dextrous and can do almost anything with their hands. They’re stubborn and hate to fail in anything they’ve undertaken,” she says.

“When opposed, they can be quite unpleasant. They are reserved in their emotions.”

Well, that can apply to just about anyone.

The Bible warns against belief in astrology and superstitions because they open people’s minds to demonic influences instead of determining the will of God through prayer, the study of his Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Stay away from silly superstitions. The Bible warns us and there are many verses such as Deuteronomy 18:10.

But identifying a year as the Chinese do by animal characters and saying that such and such a year is an ox or tiger year is the extent I would go in relating with our Chinese friends. When used for identification I don’t have a problem. It is no different from talking about the English days of the week eg Monday to Sunday which are based on Norse or Roman gods.

For eg. Monday is dedicated to the Moon and by affiliation the moon deities as Sunday is for the Sun and sun worship, which in Western sun-deprived countries, gives new meaning to the term.

Some Chinese Christians in throwing away the baby of their culture with the water of pagan beliefs have falsely become subject to a form of neo-superstition. They even shy away from animal images eg dragon (a make-believe creature formed from parts of other animals eg eyes of a camel, claws of an eagle, scales of a crocodile etc)

As a result they are alienated from their own people and that is not the plan of God. We are children of the light and live by the light of God and the knowledge he gives us and are not to be like the non-believers who live by the light of their dark superstitions and stories man made up.

For want of examples of high achievers for better or for worse, born in the year of the ox who are not definitely not ‘indecisive and slow-moving’ consider Barack Obama, Magaret Thatcher, Napoleon, Hitler and Malaysia’s own Dr Mahathir Mohammed.

And the list of people include characters as varied as Jim Carrey the YES-man to Jimmy Choo, Malaysian celebrity shoe-man.

Health, wealth and success come not from silly superstitions but obedience to God. Matthew 6:33 is our life-guide not the Chinese almanac or Zodiac guide. The Bible is our ever reliable resource not the hollow predictions of soothsayers whom God condemns.

Every year is always a good year if we live in obedience to Christ. As Paul teaches and encourages us in his letters, we are like him to be content with plenty or little. And born in whatever year we all have the capablility to achieve things for God and make our lives count.

As Luke says, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.

Every year is the Year of God who plans good for us not evil.