Hinduism, Karma, Reincarnation, Accountability, Second Chance, Term of Endearment

5/7/19                Sukrit     (click HERE to see conversation)

 A recent sidewalk conversation with an international college student named Sukrit reminded me of the attractiveness reincarnation holds for followers of Hinduism.  I also saw a lot of connections with a mistaken impression that many people have of Christianity.

Sukrit explained how his good and bad behavior in this life will determine his station in the next life.  This is determined by “karma”, which is a sort of impersonal balance scale between our good and bad deeds.  As a Hindu he believes he will be given multiple opportunities to perfect his moral behavior.  He believes that even though he isn’t perfect, God will give him opportunities to improve over many reincarnated lives, finally arriving at perfection and paradise.  He told me several times that it would be wrong to base one’s moral behavior on fear.

But are karma and reincarnation any different than the biblical concept of our accountability to God on a day of judgement?  In the end, we can’t avoid being judged either way. 

Neither can we avoid the fear that comes with judgement.  Reincarnation might delay or lessen the fear that comes from having to face the consequences of our actions, but in the end either the fear of punishment or loss of reward is what drives moral behavior.

Sukrit spoke of the “second chance” that Hinduism offers.  But is it really a second chance if the outcome is still the same whether we are motivated by fear now or fear later?

By comparison, Christianity offers a true second chance, one that casts out fear with love.  The cold, impersonal and unrelenting nature of karma is replaced with a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, who paid our sin debt at great cost and allows us to respond with love and gratitude. 

Romans 8:15 tells us “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  (“Abba” is a term of endearment, much like “Daddy”.)

No one can have that kind of relationship with “karma”.  The very thing that Sukrit kept repeating throughout our conversation, that one shouldn’t be motivated by fear, should be the very reason one comes to the love of the Father, a love we can only know through faith in the Son.

Thanks, Sukrit, for allowing me to record our conversation!  It can be seen HERE