Gal 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Karma is a belief found in the Buddhist and Hindu religions.
It is the idea that how you live in this life will determine what kind of life you will have in the next life.
In other words, you reap in the next life what you sow in this one. Karma is based on the belief in reincarnation. The Bible rejects the idea of reincarnation; therefore, it does not support the idea of karma; therefore, a Christian has no business in talking about Karma.
The Bible does not support reincarnation.
It is written it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Heb 9:27
One life comes from one birth; and one death with no more life; just judgment.
There is no reincarnation.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” John 3:3-4
You can’t! To be born again is a spiritual experience through the power of the Holy Spirit, the mercy and grace of God, and the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.
Born again has nothing to do with a physical rebirth or being born again back into this life as something else.
Jesus gave an example of a man that died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.'” Luke 16:22-31
This story dispels several beliefs of karma.
First, the rich man was not called a murderer, thief, or any other horrid character. If karma was real, then why did he end up in a place of torment?
The rich man did not return back to earth as an earthworm, eagle, or any other life form.
The rich man asked that Lazarus be returned to earth to speak to the rich man’s family. The request was denied.
I know most Christians will read this story and say it is correct.
And still many Christians believe in a karma directive of right for right and wrong for wrong.
I’ll tackle that next time.