By: Tim Guinto, Content Intern

Editor’s Note: Faith Beyond Belief is glad to announce that this summer we have hired four interns to be trained in apologetics and help us with program preparation. We are especially proud that intern Timothy Guinto has taken it upon himself to write a blog exposing a major difference between the Christian faith and eastern religions.

“Welcome to the karma cafe,” begins a popular meme. “Have a seat. There is no menu. You will be served what you deserve.” For another perspective on this same theme try these examples from a video entitled People Who Got What They Deserved (Instant Karma). One clip shows a man furiously shaking a traffic light pole. He was angry because it was taking too long to turn green. But shaking the pole didn’t make the light turn green. It shook loose instead, and fell on his head. Another clip shows two people, a man and a woman, pulling a prank on an escalator. While the woman filmed her male friend, he reached across the gap and grabbed a man’s phone as they passed going in opposite directions. But then something happened that no one saw coming. The “victim” quickly realised he was being filmed, and grabbed the camera from the photographer as she passed by a couple of seconds later.

My last example is of a man who tried to break into someone’s car. He picked up a large rock lying nearby and threw it at the car’s window, assuming, I suppose, that concrete always beats glass. It turned out his assumption was incorrect. Instead of breaking the glass, the rock bounced off the window and smashed the would-be thief in the face. When I saw the thief’s instant punishment I did exactly what you would do. I burst out laughing.

As I’m sure you must admit, my reaction was completely normal. Most of us are glad when someone “gets what’s coming to them.” But more surprising is how many people believe there is something divine about “karma.” According to a New York based research company, 31% of Americans have a very strong belief in the concept of karma. The number is even higher in Great Britain, where 51% of British people believe in karma. It is uncertain how many of those surveyed were Christians or affiliated with any religion, but a study by the Pew Research Centre in 2021 discovered that 54% of Christians in India believe in karma.

Given that belief in karma is surprisingly widespread we should ask, is it affirmed in the Bible? The short answer is, “No.” Karma is associated with Buddhism and Hinduism, not Christianity. But what is karma? According to the Cambridge dictionary, it is not the idea of a malefactor instantly getting his just desserts, but rather “the force produced by a person's actions in one life that influences what happens to them in future lives.” Given this definition, it seems a huge portion of the world’s population believes bad people deserve punishment, whether they get it in this world or the next. The same applies to good people, except that there is an equally widespread assumption that they will get rewards instead of punishment. Indeed, a Buddhist or a Hindu will tell you that bad people are reincarnated (reborn into a new physical body) into an unpleasant station in life, whereas good people will be reincarnated into an appropriately pleasant station.

Again, nothing about karma is even remotely Christian. Why not? The Bible teaches that if karma were true, then we would all be without hope. Jesus said in Luke 18:19 (HCSB) that “No one is good but One—God.” Additionally, Romans 3:23 (HCSB) says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Uh oh! Does that mean every single individual in the world deserves an unpleasant station in their “future lives”? Based on a Buddhist or Hindu perspective, the answer would be, “Yes.” But that brings up another reason Karma is incompatible with Christianity; it rejects the possibility of reincarnation. Hebrews 9:27 (HCSB) says, “It is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment.” As you can see, the passage from this life straight to final judgement negates the possibility of either reincarnation or karma.

GIVE TODAY!

Without realizing it, western believers in karma live in the midst of paradox. For example, I have often heard someone shout “yolo” just before attempting a potentially dangerous stunt such as bungee jumping or a tough move on a longboard. English is my second language, but at some point I discovered that “yolo” is not a word; it’s an acronym that stands for “You Only Live Once,” which is a particularly Christian idea, an echo of the verse from Hebrews I just mentioned. Not only do we only live once, we only die once, after which comes judgement, followed by eternity. In other words, all of us get one life and there is no second chance. Faced with this reality, we should never be afraid to ask another, “Are you ready to face judgement?” Unless the person knows God through faith in His Son, the question will not easily be answered.

If all of us have sinned, then all of us are in trouble, because if karma is truly a thing it can be expressed in the formula (karma = hell). Think about it. How do you undo sin? Well, the answer is, you can’t, but God can, and He did so when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Thus, the Christian faith offers something far better than karma. It offers the grace of God.

John 3:16 (HCSB) says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” When I first understood this passage I felt so relieved. Jesus’ death completely abolishes karma. It is one of the main reasons why I submitted my life to God and became a Christian, and I sincerely pray that you will do the same. One of the lyrics of Amazing Grace goes:

“My chains are gone, I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love

Amazing grace”

Do you agree or disagree with me on this topic? Let me know in the comment section below and let’s have a conversation.

McKerracher, I. (2022, May 31). The best of's: A change in view. Faith Beyond Belief. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/podcast/the-best-ofs-a-change-in-view
Parker, S. (2022, January 28). Don't look now, but your worldview may have a gap. Faith Beyond Belief. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/blog/dont-look-now-but-your-worldview-may-have-a-gap
Beange, A. (2022, January 28). All roads lead somewhere. Faith Beyond Belief. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://www.faithbeyondbelief.ca/blog/all-roads-lead-somewhere

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