Karma or Grace

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“Do you believe in Karma, I do”!  That’s an unexpected statement from the mouth of a Christian, but sure enough, these were her words.  It all began when a former student of mine inquired about my perspective on karma.  As I have always understood it, karma involves the voluntary actions of a person past and present.  In other words, the things that I willingly and knowingly do and have done.  These actions can either be good or bad.  Basically, if I do good, then I accumulate good karma; and if I do bad, I accumulate bad Karma.  Of course, the idea of karma is much more involved than this simplistic presentation.  For instance, what is considered good or bad, and who makes such a determination?  But, it seems that the ordinary layperson’s understanding of karma may be expressed in this way.  In short, if I do good in this life I will accumulate good karma, and will earn a good existence after this life concludes.  This is the reason my student concluded here affirmation of karma by expressing, “I need good karma, that is why I try to be a good person.”  

It was the phrase “I need good karma” that stuck with me.  My student’s suggested that she was the one responsible for creating good karma, and good karma was responsible for her good end.  In other words, if she was to hope for a good conclusion in the afterlife (whatever that is in this system of thought) she must earn it here.  So, how can I be sure that I have a good afterlife?  I need to be sure that I leave this world with more good than bad.  When my good and bad deeds are measured, the scales of justice must tip in my favor, my good my outweighs my bad.  

I am most concerned at this point.  If I rely on karma, I am utterly doomed to be reincarnated into the form of a dung beetle for eternity.  A person who subscribes to karma has an paltry view of sin.  My student underestimated the measure of sin in her life.  Had she considered her passing thoughts throughout the day?  From a Christian perspective we have come to understand that the human condition is rather bleak because of the effects of sin.  

King David is an alarming example of failing to appreciate the far reaching effects of sin in his own heart.  David’s prayer in Psalm 51 seems to express an exasperation on David’s part.  It was as though David did not realize that he was capable of such evil — adultery, murder, and dishonesty.  For the average advocate, karma seems to only be concerned with what I can see, but does not account for what lies just below the surface.  When we look there, we find that “every intention of the thoughts of our heart is only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5).  Genesis 6:5 expresses what our hearts look like without God’s intervention.  

I don’t need good karma, I need grace.  Karma is concerned with justice, me making sure that my good works outweigh by bad works.  But what am I to do with the odds stacked against me?  Justice requires that I get what I deserve, but what I desire I do not want.  I deserve to be punished, to make retribution for all the evil that I have committed.  No, I don’t need karma, I desperately need grace.  I do not want justice, I want forgiveness.  I do not want what what is coming to me, I want what has been given to me.  

Grace is equally concerned with justice.  However, while karma suggests that your actions alone must tips the scales of justice, grace proclaims that a certain person has already acted in your place.  He received the justice that you deserved.  He took on himself the beating that you had coming.  He stepped in front of the bus that was meant for you.  This is what Jesus has done, by grace, for you.  Karma sounds spiritual, but grace is essential, we need grace.