Logical Antithesis
Karma: Does God Use it? (permalink)
Published on June 23, 2009
Define: Karma1
karma, n.
1. Hinduism, Buddhism. action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or the reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman.
2. Theosophy. 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.
3. fate; destiny.
4. the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something.
Hinduism?
Hinduism defines karma2 as a deed or act, things which either save or condemn a person. There is also a dualistic side to this, in that it encompasses thoughts and words as well as actions. Someone with either kind of karma will receive full recompense for their actions, eventually.
The Buddhist faith borrows this principle from the older Hindu religion.
So there you have it: salvation by works alone. Depending on whom you believe in, this is either dissolution (total peace through non-existence) or deification. Either way, can this possibly be construed to be Christian in any way?
What God Says
The biggest principle in stark contrast with karma is easily found in the Bible. In fact, it’s so prevalent that you can find it anywhere!
Grace!
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Romans 3:23)
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
(James 2:8-13)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23)
The following should be obvious.
Just drawing upon these three scriptures:
- all have sinned,
- all are guilty of the whole of the law,
- and all are justly deserving of capital punishment.
This message is the very preamble of Jesus’ ministry, and the very reason for which He came.
Summary
God does not, cannot, and will not use karma, because He is a merciful God. Karma, the belief and what it would be in actuality, is nothing more than heartless torture and does nothing to encourage purity.
Think about it. If you got everything you did back to you 100%, then any time you went to give someone a gift … why would you give it? Personally, I’m shallow enough that away from God I would give it because I wanted something. How does this encourage a pure heart? I’d take momentary joy in giving someone something, and then would look forward to the reward I would be assured. On the other hand, any time I hit someone I would get hit: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”3
But Jesus said,—
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(Matthew 5:38-48)
I for one prefer a world in which the rain falls on both the good and the evil, for are we not all evil at one time or another? If God were to reward me as I deserve (and justly so) I would never see heaven. I am content to let God Himself take vengeance.4
I’m rejoice that this world is free from the curse of karma.
