Karmageddon: Why Denying God’s Providence Destroys Your Life”

Karma: “the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences…destiny or fate, following as effect from cause” (Oxford Languages).

Providence: “God’s activity and protective care in the world.”

Christian, don’t believe in karma. It’s paganism. Karma can be summed up in a few popular phrases often used by the people of God: “What goes around comes around.” “She’ll get what she deserves sooner or later.” Or by simply saying the word “karma” when something happens to someone who deserved it. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly principles of wisdom that God has ingrained into creation that are generally true when we practice them (see Proverbs). However, karma is different. This doctrine finds its root in the Hindu teaching of reincarnation, an idea antithetical to the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body. If I’m bad then I will come back as a slug or maybe even a fly if I’m lucky. If I’m good then I may come back as another human or even a holy cow! The problem with karma is that our fate is totally determined by our actions, not God’s. What a disastrous deterministic destiny.

We believe in providence, not karma. Providence is sometimes interchanged with the word sovereignty. When something only God can do happens Christians will often say, “God is sovereign over this situation.” While this is true, it is not precise. Sovereignty deals with God’s authority as the sovereign, or king, over the earth. Whereas providence is God’s active working in the world and in our individual lives. The Lord doesn’t sit back and intervene when necessary. He is present in every situation. He provides, sustains, and remains with us even when it doesn’t seem so. This is why we can trust Paul’s words in Romans when he says that “God works everything together for the good of those who love Him” (Rom. 8:28). We trust in the Lord not just for the future but for the here and now. God is the master orchestrator of our lives, making melody through us and tuning our hearts to sing his praise.

So next time you catch yourself talking or thinking in the terms of karma remember this: I’m not in control, the universe isn’t a morality 401k, and that God is certainly in control of my life. Praise The Lord that karma is a myth and we can trust in Christ for a fixed and secure destiny.

Bro. Tyler Williams