Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
6 5 2024
Karma Versus Christianity
I spoke with an old friend who spoke about Karma.
They had lost someone and was mad at God and somehow related that to bad Karma. So, what is it? Where did it originate? Why is it often confused with “you reap what you sow scripture?” In researching this there are many conjectures and opinions.
Karma is a concept that originated from Hinduism and is the only thing that all sects in Hinduism and other Dharmic religions like Jainism and Buddhism have in common.
The concept of Karma says that the universe serves justice.
It is said Karma is what happens in your next life depending on the kind of person you were in this life.
If you have collected good karma points you will be in a better position,
in your next life and if you have collected bad karma points you will be in a worse position.
Many Christians in the West believe in Karma while they remain ignorant of the fact that the concept contradicts their faith. Christianity teaches that the ones who are saved spend an eternity
heaven but the ones who aren’t burn in hell.
There is no next life in Christianity. (except eternity).
But sadly, too many Christians know very little about Christianity, let alone other faiths.
Let’s be clear…Christians are not saved because they did “good” stuff…
they are saved for belief in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 That is not karma.
Karma is based on the theological belief in reincarnation. The Bible rejects the idea of reincarnation; therefore, it does not support the idea of karma. Christianity teaches that we’re all sinners who do not deserve forgiveness and everlasting life. Hebrews 10:31
It is rather a gift from God, given freely and not deserved.
Karma, aka “the cycle of vengeance” means one pays for ones’ wrongs in subsequent lives. For Christians, Jesus pays for our sins, Col 1:14 Hebrews 9:27 says, There is no afterlife, no incarnation “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.
The pop version of karma, where good or bad things happen to you in your current life based on things you do in your current life isn’t part of any formal belief system and is demonstrably wrong, since bad things do happen to good people and vice versa.
But some would argue that Christian concepts of salvation share elements with karma. Doesn’t Jesus say you reap what you sow? As far as salvation is concerned, NO….Again, salvation is based purely on God’s grace and our accepting his forgiveness. The basic idea of karma is that you get exactly what you deserve. The Tibetan Buddhist literature says there’s good karma and bad karma. However, karma isn’t some force of nature, but rather, a type of cosmic point counter. It starts running at birth and stops at death. Depending on the point balance, your reincarnation will be decided. These karma points are generated through various actions or means. Bad karma is generated by bad deeds, or sins. Killing a fly or stepping on a worm kills a living being that could have been your grandmother. This is bad karma.
Truth be told, when most people use the term “karma” they aren’t referring to it in the Hindu/Buddhist sense. It’s just a catchphrase for bad people getting what’s coming to them. Karma teaches that your actions determine how things go for you in the next life. Christians believe that accepting Jesus as your lord and savior and following his teachings, earns you a place in the kingdom to come.
Satan’s lies have just enough truth in them so we stop and think…that could be true… or Maybe…
and before you know it an ideology has begun somewhere in time and becomes truth-like
this whole transgender idea that has now become law and their right under the constitution to be protected. Karma…To think that a single deed could create an endless spiral of punishments.
But isn’t that close to the truth: you reap what you sow?
The difference is, in Christianity… a mistake, a misguided act, or even a bad thing that we did, doesn’t become this “punishment” that says we will be re-paid in the next life. But in Christianity a mistake or misdeed is something that one can learn from and grow in wisdom. It is more of an opportunity to grow and become more like Jesus than this indictment of getting paid back in kind. Gods way is entirely different, it is about mercy and forgiveness, not punishment. Even though there are typically repercussions and consequences to our mistakes. We have a chance to make things right, and to make peace with our brothers.
If Karma is indeed some kind of cosmic rule, that bad things follow us into another life.
Where is our free will?
Does it just override our desires and will? The Bible says we are free to choose our ways, but we are also subject to his laws. Will there be a God reaction to our deeds, our words or thoughts? Yes there will be a final judgement, but he says he will never violate our free will. I certainly believe that doing evil can bring you curses and doing good can bring you blessings. But I also know that God is sovereign and that his ways are above our ways and that he either allows certain things to happen or He can choose to redirect them for some greater good he has planned that we cannot see at the time. I do believe that God does personally intervene and can provide personal mercy beyond his natural laws of seed and harvest.
But not against our will.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. That is NOT karma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnUDqibR_W4
Carrie Underwood Because He Lives
