Karma

[Punchy]

I didn't know where put this, so I put it here...

Do you guys believe in karma ( or in other words reap what you sow )?

If you do, why? And have you ever seen the effects of reaping what you sow?

[jayne]

Hey Punchy -

No, I don't believe in karma. Here's why. It's a religious belief that is intertwined with reincarnation. It's a way to explain why someone might be born blind or deaf. Some believe that in their "past lives" they messed up and so they are being punished in their new life.

When the disciples asked Jesus why was a certain man born blind and was it because of someone's past sin, Jesus said no.

I do believe in the Biblical concept of reaping what you sow. Yes.

Have I seen it? Yes. Over and over. One of my older ladies in Sunday School smoked for decades. She quit about 20 years ago, but she suffers from smoke-related health issues.

I've seen a married couple at my church who split up and I watched the wife pray for her husband, refuse to gossip about him or humilate him by telling all the dirt, help him find rehabs and counselors, uplift him for over a year, and basically gave up her needs at all costs in battling the spirit realm on his behalf.
He is now repentant, out of his mistress's home, sober, and they are now reconciled.

[Punchy]

Hey Punchy -

No, I don't believe in karma. Here's why. It's a religious belief that is intertwined with reincarnation. It's a way to explain why someone might be born blind or deaf. Some believe that in their "past lives" they messed up and so they are being punished in their new life.

When the disciples asked Jesus why was a certain man born blind and was it because of someone's past sin, Jesus said no.

I do believe in the Biblical concept of reaping what you sow. Yes.

Have I seen it? Yes. Over and over. One of my older ladies in Sunday School smoked for decades. She quit about 20 years ago, but she suffers from smoke-related health issues.

I've seen a married couple at my church who split up and I watched the wife pray for her husband, refuse to gossip about him or humilate him by telling all the dirt, help him find rehabs and counselors, uplift him for over a year, and basically gave up her needs at all costs in battling the spirit realm on his behalf.
He is now repentant, out of his mistress's home, sober, and they are now reconciled.

I don't believe in the religious belief of karma either. I see karma and reaping what you sow as the same exact thing. So when I said " do you believe in karma ", I meant reaping what you sow.

[Indueseason]

Everything we do or say has consequences, even thinking about stuff causes a response. That's why scripture tells us to take every thought captive! If we think on godly things,godly actions usually follow. If we think on sinful things, we tend to act sinfully(if we think abut it long enough).

If I love my brother, my brother will usually love me( if he doesn't, then God will deal with that) If I show hatred, I am bound to see it in return.

For every action there is a consequence, be it physical or spiritual. So yes I believe you reap what you sow, and I the evidence all around me!

Now don't go thinking every had thing that happens, is because you did something wrong. That's not the case. The Lord told us we would face tribulation in this world, that evil would abound. God lets it rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. You usually can see what action or sin, caused a negative reaction. The Lord uses it as correction, if we listen to Him.Then everything really will work together for good, because we love Him and live for Him.

blessings to you

[Dani H]

If by "karma" you mean some system of what you send out will come back (reaping what you sow) in this existence as the human being you now are, then ... yes.

If by "karma" you mean the traditional Eastern understanding of however you live in this life, will affect what you are born as and how you will spend your days in the next existence (whether that be animal or whatever else), then ... no.

Why?

Because the Bible says so, repeatedly (Galations probably being the best known). And, because I can definitely attest to it also based on my own life and observation, including things from way back when that ended up catching up with me decades later. It does happen and there are definite connections. It's almost spooky sometimes, honestly.

Job 4:8
As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.

Proverbs 11:18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

Proverbs 22:8
Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

Hosea 8:7
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

[chad]

There is the sowing and reaping that we do ... Towards others. Our actions, words, deeds...etc and there is sowing and reaping that we do unto our own lives. That is into the flesh or the spirit.

I don't know if I would call it Karma, but God does watch over us all. If we walk and abide in Gods ways, there are blessings.

[claybevan]

There is the sowing and reaping that we do ... Towards others. Our actions, words, deeds...etc and there is sowing and reaping that we do unto our own lives. That is into the flesh or the spirit.

I don't know if I would call it Karma, but God does watch over us all. If we walk and abide in Gods ways, there are blessings.

I thought the definition of karma was ' what will be will be and nothing that we can do can change it. That's why often when you go to parts of India you will see people lying suffering in the gutter and no one goes to help because they believe that it's their karma, what can we do?

Totally different from 'what you sow you reap' which is in effect receiving the consequences for what you do, be it good or bad.

[Indueseason]

Karma is the law of cause and effect. It goes along with the belief of re-incarnation.

See here for more info.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma

blessings to you

[Punchy]

Ok let me clear something up.. I don't believe in the eastern belief of karma.. like I said before, I believe karma and sowing what you reap as the same thing.

[Athanasius]

Ok let me clear something up.. I don't believe in the eastern belief of karma.. like I said before, I believe karma and sowing what you reap as the same thing.

Then you don't believe in Karma. You believe in something you've decided to call 'Karma', and as Karmic retribution requires reincarnation, you really shouldn't equate Karma with 'sowing and reaping'. I'm not sure why you mentioned Karma at all, but as for 'sowing and reaping', that seems to be quite obviously the case most of the time. By 'quite obviously' I mean to say that 'sowing and reaping' can probably be expressed in terms of consequences for one's actions, which it's incontrovertible that actions have consequences, even if those consequences aren't what's desired.

[mrsarnold]

I don't think we have to hairsplit. Those of you more well versed in Eastern religions have given us all good examples of how karma is a different concept to reaping what we sow, but I think in essence we all understand what the original poster is asking.

I believe in reaping what you sow because the Bible repeatedly says so and yes, I too have seen proof of it in the lives of others. Then again, using the example Jayne mentioned about the woman who never gave up on her husband and with time he did come to repentance, I see that as nothing short of a modern miracle. It doesn't always happen like that. It is possible to pray and seek and do what is right in God's eyes and not have everything come out perfect in the end. It isn't a magic formula. There are times when you will do everything right and still suffer loss. I know that from experience.

In general, yes. You will reap what you sow. If you plant a good seed it has a very good chance of growth, but sometimes we really do give our all and things don't come out right.

[Reynolds357]

I didn't know where put this, so I put it here...

Do you guys believe in karma ( or in other words reap what you sow )?

If you do, why? And have you ever seen the effects of reaping what you sow?

Karma is a pagan belief and term. Sowing and reaping is biblical. "Karma" is a bastardization of a biblical principle.

[Reynolds357]

I don't think we have to hairsplit. Those of you more well versed in Eastern religions have given us all good examples of how karma is a different concept to reaping what we sow, but I think in essence we all understand what the original poster is asking.
.

Its not hair splitting. The concept is about as far off base as saying God and Allah are the same or calling The Holy Spirit "The force."

[Reynolds357]

Ok let me clear something up.. I don't believe in the eastern belief of karma.. like I said before, I believe karma and sowing what you reap as the same thing.

If I believe okra and pears are the same thing does it make my belief reality?

[mrsarnold]

If I believe okra and pears are the same thing does it make my belief reality?

I don't think sarcasm is one of the fruits of the Spirit of God. It isn't in my Bible. Please know that you really don't have to be so condescending in your posts, Reynolds. I don't believe it is necessary or edifying. And by the by if you want to believe that okra and pears are the same thing I'm perfectly content to respect your right to hold that opinion. God gave you a mind and free will. I might strongly disagree with your okra and pear feelings and politely tell you so and why but I wouldn't talk down to you. I just don't think insulting someone's intelligence is a good way to join in a civilised discussion.

Its not hair splitting. The concept is about as far off base as saying God and Allah are the same or calling The Holy Spirit "The force."

All I was saying is that others have explained the differences to the OP so I didn't need to go there. Did you really think that the OP was calling The Holy Spirit "The force" from Star Wars? I didn't get that impression. It felt more to me that they had innocently gotten the two terms mixed up. No need to condemn or treat anyone as though they were committing a sin. The OP and all others reading this thread have been politely enlightened and have taken the information onboard. I guess I just believe in a more peaceful, patient, and gentle response. Against those three attributes there is no law.

Just my 2 pence.