Throughout this series, we have tried to understand the modern climate of new age spirituality, syncretistic beliefs, and increasingly irreligious but spiritual climate of our culture.

• Christians have home-field advantage in this world, regardless of what beliefs people come up with. From devotion to science to syncretistic philosophy, we all live in the same

. There are core truths we can point to that are commonly held.
• When it comes to beliefs, America was created to be an intentionally

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society.
• However, one of the unintended

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of this social experiment has been the unique ability of Americans to treat beliefs like an all-you-can-eat spiritual buffet. I’d like some of this from Christianity, some of this from Hinduism, some of this from Buddhism, etc.
• Over 55% of Americans, even those who would identify themselves as Christians, would say they believe in some sort of

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. (2022 YouGov poll)
• What do we make of this? Is karma real? Why would that many Christians believe in something like this?

The

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of Karma

• Rob Lowe >> “I try to hold on to the things I believe to be good and true. Good things happen to good people. Karma is real. There is a larger, better plan for us all if we stay positive, keep pushing, and get out of our own way.”
• True to form, Americans like Rob Lowe and those who coined the phrase “Instant Karma” have stripped the doctrine from its original

. Most people who speak of Karma don’t actually know its origin. The doctrine of Karma originates from ancient Indian religions, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

// Hinduism: The concept of Karma first appeared in the early Upanishads, sacred texts dating back to around 800-400 BC. It is intricately linked with the ideas of

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(samsara) and the moral law of cause and effect.
// Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) integrated the idea of Karma into his teachings around the 5th century BC, emphasizing

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conduct and the consequences of actions on future lives.
//Jainism: Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, also adopted the doctrine of Karma, focusing on how it

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the soul and affects its liberation.

• Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action” or “deed.” It refers to the principle of cause and effect where the actions of an individual (intentional and unintentional) influence their

. In simple terms, it means that good actions lead to positive outcomes, and bad actions result in negative consequences, either in this life or in future lives.

Is Karma

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?

• Lead singer of the band U2, Bono, seems to think that there is some alignment here. In an interview he described his beliefs about life and religion >> “What you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it.””
• Karma was taught in Eastern Religions as a way to underscore and emphasize ethical

. The warning was that life or the universe would get you back – evil for evil and good for good. However, the Bible tells us that God created humans and is the ultimate judge. God has given humans moral agency, which is to see that He holds us

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for our choices. As Creator, God is also Judge and has the right to do so.
• Our lives are the stage where

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are made. We are not judged in another earthly life (as taught by Hinduism, because there is no such thing as reincarnation in Christianity. We would say that we are judged in eternity, which is the life after this life

// Matthew 25 >> The Great White Throne Judgment
// Hebrews 9:27 | …it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment
// 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.
// Romans 14:12 | So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

•

provides the best explanation of why our choices matter. However, if we are honest about our lives, that is not good news. As sinners being held accountable by a perfect God, we stand condemned. Karma does not have the power to press us towards righteousness or transform us from the core of who we are. Therefore, the belief in karma is bad news and the Gospel is good news.

Christians have home-field

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against karma

• This is where we need to go back and finish the quote from Bono, who is a professed Christian. He said, “What you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff….It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.
• Biblically, we must speak of the law of the

: you reap what you sow. However, we must also speak of sin, forgiveness, redemption and grace.

// Psalm 130:2-5 | Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
// Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
// Galatians 6:4-10 | But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Our choices matter. What we choose is meaningful to God and should serve as a warning to us. What we choose

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who we are.

• George Munzing >> If you cheat in practice, you’ll cheat in the game. If you cheat in your head, you’ll cheat on the test. You’ll cheat on the girl. You’ll cheat in business. You’ll cheat on your mate. Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.
• We have all made bad choices, unwise decisions, mistakes, and we have all sinned against a holy God. Karma offers not hope for forgiveness and no power for redemption. Only the grace of Jesus can transform the human heart.