By Pamela Rose Williams
Can you be a Christian and believe in Karma? Here is what I have found God’s Word to say:
Karma The Great Law: Whatever we put into the Universe will come back to us.
Christianity and the Law: Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Galatians 2-3)
Karma The Law of Creation: Life does not happen by itself, we need to make it happen.
Christianity Creation: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)
Karma The Law of Humility: One must accept something in order to change it.
Christianity Humility: The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Proverbs 15:33)
Karma The Law of Responsibility: We must take responsibility for what is in our lives.
Christianity Responsibility: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
Karma The Law of Change: History repeats itself until we learn from it and change our path.
Christianity Change: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (1 Corinthians 5:17)
Karma The Law of Patience and Reward: The most valuable rewards require persistence.
Christianity Work and Rewards: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Karma The Law of Significance and Inspiration: Rewards are a result of the energy and effort we put into it.
Christianity Desires and Blessings: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalm 37:4)
As a Christian, I believe the Bible teaches that we are to “put off” the old nature and “put on” the new nature. Karma is an old philosophy that has its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism which states that your good or bad actions are what decide your future. It is a system of “works” that predict what will happen in your “next life”, when you are reincarnated. It is believed to be a force inside of you that you can use to do good or bad.
Karma totally contradicts the Christian view of salvation by grace through faith because to get things in “the next life” you must follow a set of laws and do good. Grace through faith in what Jesus did on the cross to pay our sin debt does not get us another life (reincarnation), it promises eternal life (resurrection) in that when we die on earth we join God in heaven and remain there forever (John 6:40, 1 Corinthians 6:14, Philippians 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
So, to answer the question, “Can you be a Christian and believe in karma”? The Bible’s answer is “No”.
