So, I have a brother in law, little Joe, who just mentioned this idea, and who goes to a Catholic school, and who raised his hand last Easter service while he sat next to me… One who I hope to invest more of my life into, and who needs role models and mentors in his life.
So I thought about it, and figured a question would be the most appropriate way to re-attack the idea after Gideon derailed the initial volley of “really? Karma?" and “yeah, it's for real" between the 13 year old and me the 33 year old… The question was “What do you think a person would go through if there weren't a reason for something bad that happened to them – if they believe in Karma?" He replied as I thought and hoped he would: “They would probably have a hard time with it and try to make up a reason for it." I went on to explain that there are two other – very real -influences on what happens and what does not happen in this world where we live. Joey knows about God and the devil from Catholic school so I just let him have it: God is in ultimate control and desires for good to happen, and yet the devil is still allowed to cause evil here on earth for the time being, and his most effective method is to make us blame the bad on God… With that, it was time for him to go play with Gideon some more, and I rested in knowing a seed was planted in fertile soil, and although some “re-learning" might need to take place, my bro is on the right track!
So as I was considering blogging about this, I did a quick search, and with the help of sites like this I am happy to let you know I've come up with an acronym that I think spells out just how serious I feel about the dangers of Karma. I'll spell it out and then elaborate a bit:
Kooks
Attempting to
Replace
Messiah's
Atonement
For a definition of what a Kook is, go here, and for a detailed discussion of Christ's atonement go here.
The reason I say it's an attempt to replace God's work is that it focuses on man's works. And while I agree in the principle of reaping what you sow, the idea of Karma goes way deeper than that, having effects in the afterlife of which Eastern Religion proposes to happen over and over again here on earth… (I don't respect that ideology enough to even name it!) So subtile is this scheme of Satan that a 13 year old going to Catholic school has bought into it easily, apparently unaware of it's dangers…
The bottom line is this: works matter as James said, but Christ's work matters more than any other work that we could ever do – Salvation is by His work not ours – it's by grace through faith and not of ourselves – it is NOT like the Mormons believe and add “after all you can do." That, like Karma is a strategy of Satan, that we who walk in the light, need to seriously be aware of, or we'll find ourselves entertaining the darkness.
I'll close with the admonition Paul gave as he wrote the Roman church, and usually I just link verses, but permit me to copy the whole thing:
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV)
Don't make any provision for Karma, my friends, it has no place in your faith in Christ, He is the Light!
Peace,
Adam
PS: I asked Joe if he minded that I blog about him and use his name and he gave me his permission, he also wanted to read the post, and he liked it!
Linked bible Verses: mostly NKJV
Galatians 6:7
James 2:26
John 17:1-5
Ephesians 2:8-9
John 12:35
John 8:12
2 Cor 4:6