Karma Say What?
As I said it my insides knew something wasn’t right, although
culturally acceptable, so many people use the word, believers and non-alike it
didn’t taste right coming out of my mouth … “well you know karma” is what I said, while having a conversation with someone on
checking if something was accurately mine or not … which lead me to ask, does
the word karma even have a place in a follower of Jesus’ life?
So, it originates from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, and it
would be hard pressed to go a day without hearing or reading it, right?
Karma is defined as the following:
- action, seen as bringing upon oneself
inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation: in
Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman.
- the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished
in one incarnation according to that person's deeds in the previous
incarnation.
- fate; destiny.
- the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something
So in pursuit of knowledge, I worked the Google, and came upon a
few other blurbs and blogs on the topic.
On Crosswalk there is a heartfelt writing, What’s
The Difference Between Grace and Karma by Sarah Coleman:
“The Bible does not teach karma. It teaches grace.
Grace is where you get what you don't deserve.
Grace is unmerited favour. It is love and mercy
bestowed upon us by God because He desires us
to have it. As you can see, very different to karma.
More like polar opposites.”
Grace is where you get what you don't deserve.
Grace is unmerited favour. It is love and mercy
bestowed upon us by God because He desires us
to have it. As you can see, very different to karma.
More like polar opposites.”
On Compelling Truth the question is asked
straight forward, What
Does The Bible Say About Karma? It concludes that,
“It is only through Jesus' sacrifice that our good deeds will
produce any real good” (Philippians 2:13). It goes on to
share
Galatians 6:7-8 that reads, “Do not be
deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to
please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to
please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we can read that is says, “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.” Being told even prior to that in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
These all point to what we, as Christians,
believers of the One true God, and His Son (our Savior), should focus on .. the
bigger picture (the reason we are here), advancing God’s kingdom, as there are only one of two possible outcomes for everyone once this life has concluded. The price of
our sins have been paid, yes we may stumble and fall, but glory be, Jesus’s
death and resurrection has set us free! So as believers of Jesus,
we do not have to live by the fear or trappings of the idea of karma. The Bible
is clear that good
and bad falls on the just and unjust, but the way to secure your forever is
to accept and declare the truth that Jesus IS savior, as by Him alone are
we reconciled to the Father. No amount of good deeds or “right” behavior can
earn our way to a blissful eternity. “It is a free gift, so that no man can
boast.” While we should try (and try again) to do that which is right, and
operate out of love, we do not have to live with the fear that karma lends
notion to.
Rejoice, I say, rejoice. Give thanks to the
Creator for His wonderful plan, for Jesus’ obedience to the Father, and for the
Spirit that guides!
For further reading check out “Reaping
What You Sow: Christian Karma” on Crosswalk.com by Whitney Hopler.
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