Karma

I've been reflecting on the concept of karma recently and how fully it has permeated the American mindset.  Although this is originally a Buddhist teaching, somehow even Christians are posting things on Facebook related to karma, all in apparent light-hearted fun.

As found in pop culture, the American understanding of karma is basically, "what goes around comes around":  if you do nice things for people, you'll have nice things done for you (and conversely, you generate "bad karma" if you don't treat people well).

It sounds kind of like the Golden Rule, but with one difference:  the Bible does not call us to treat others well so that we will be treated well.  We are called to show love to others despite their treatment of us. Just look at the cast of people in the Bible who did an incredible number of good things, most notably, Jesus.  Instead, most people know how that turned out.  Was Jesus actually crucified due to bad karma?

One can see where the popularity of karma comes in as there is definitely something ingrained in our DNA that demands justice...or at least our human concept of justice.  Good people should have good things, and bad people should not prosper.  In fact, although there are a vast number of books such as When Bad Things Happen to Good People (Kushner) on this topic, this is not a new concept.  The Psalms in particular are full of cries against injustice.  Jeremiah boldly cries out to God in chapter 12:1... "Yet I would speak with you about your justice:  why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why do all the faithless live at ease?"  Perhaps even more disturbing to our limited concept of human justice, much of the prosperity we see may be without regard to the soul:  Matthew 5:45 explains that the sun rises on the evil and the good, and rain is sent to both the righteous and unrighteous.  Some day, we know, eternal justice will prevail, but on this earth, God, not karma, decides the course of our lives.  And they often do look unjust.

However, this truth is comforting, since ultimately, all of us deserve "bad karma."  We are have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and not one of us is righteous ("No, not one! - Romans 3:10).  As a recipient of extreme grace, I'm thankful that He does not repay us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10).

A somewhat related idea that I've noticed (and that is also disturbingly present in my own life) is what I'll call "causality":  the idea, however jokingly presented, that what I do can "jinx" myself or somehow control an outcome.  Examples of this include:  talking about how amazing the weather is (doing so may cause the weather to turn?), mentioning that the traffic has been moving well (saying this out loud can somehow result in a traffic jam?), being thankful that health has been good (somehow articulating this can result in illness?)  To avoid these pitfalls, many people "knock on wood" in an attempt to negate those bold statements which may invite disaster.  How is this any different than a prehistoric totem or rain dance?

As I write out these mainstream U.S. practices of karma and causality, I'm convicted that these are both false idols.  I think both of these topics speak to our deisre for control of our own lives and they also highlight the power that pop culture has over us if we let it.  Although it doesn't seem like a big deal to talk about karma and jinxes, I think that, subtly, it shows that we are trying to be God - the original sin found in Genesis.

What's most scary to me is the word subtle.  I can't even recall the words "karma" or "knock on wood" spoken during my childhood, but they are now part of everyday-speak.  And as Matthew tells us, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."  (12:34).  Here in Africa, good and evil is very clear and the spirit world is not very far away, as my friend Amy highlights in her blog post about witch doctors here..  But in America, it's gray, subtle, sanitized, feel-good...and maybe even more dangerous because we are not paying attention.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Ephesians 6:12).