AllHoursChurch

Does Karma Run Over Dogma?

Christians can stand to learn something from Hindus. Karma does indeed run over dogma. This isn't a joke and it's true in more than one sense. The first sense is that we live in a world with cultural differences that we need to respect. Hinduism is the world's third largest form of religion after Christianity and Islam with more than 950 million adherants, mostly in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and there are over 1.5 million in the United States. Karma is a central tenent of Hinduism and belief in it is "running over" to the United States and other Christian territories not just because of immigration but because to many people it is more sensible and kind. The Hindus are evanglising the Christians.

Christianity has a 2000 year history marked by wars and divisions over its dogmas - it's creeds. Like it or not, because of our credal differences we are known by this world not for our love for one another, as Jesus told us we would be known, but by our sharp disagreements. We wish we could convince this critical world that we were the "religion of peace" but they point to a history of bloodshed on our part. We know it is the devil that has done this but we are forced to meet this objection almost every day.

We would have always done well to develop a Christian Karma Consciousness that places the importance of love over the importance of doctrine. We fail to see that we are nothing but noisy gongs without love. We can have all wisdom and all prophecy and we can even heal the sick but without love we are nothing. Our faith and hope are in the Spirit of Truth but in the end what remains is love.

"Karma" is the hindu word for justice. Jesus says that judgment begins with the house of the Lord. Hinduism is marked by diverse expressions of faith, a pantheon of gods, yet they have managed to earn the reputation as the oldest organized religion, as if they were one, on earth. Jesus prayed that his disciples and those afterwards would all be one, even as He is one with the Father. Yet sadly, Christianity has been more divided than polytheistic Hinduism. This is where karma truly runs over dogma. We need to see that the world judges us and be willing to admit fault where it exists and repent of it. Dogma may be important. Maybe it is even important enough to fight for but it is not as important as Christian love and unity.

When we believe that because someone does not share the same dogma or creed that we do they are therefore not a true Christian, we have become their judge. Our Scriptures say plainly, "Who are you who judge your brother? There is one just lawgiver and judge. The one who is able to save or destroy." This is ironic. We judge the Hindus as godless because of their belief in so many gods that are not God and yet they display greater unity than we do as their karma unifies them with a shared sense of divine justice. The Hindu gods are also much kinder than the Christian God, giving adherants numerous lives with which to repent and grow spiritually, while the Christian God mercilessly condemns unbelievers to hell forever.

We may have a strong set of reasons for believing as we do, but how can we make a defense for our faith if we are unaware of these cultural perceptions? How can we convey that the cross is a plan of mercy that far exceeds the mercy of karma and endless cycles of reincarnation? One thing is certain, the truth cannot be conveyed by hypocrites who are not known by their love, but by their in-fighting. A person does not need to be a Hindu to see and believe that the Christians are a very unloving, very judgmental, very narrow-minded people in this world. When they see the bumper sticker that says "My Karma Ran Over My Dogma" they laugh and their unbelief is fortified by the memories they have of the Christians they have known or seen on television who did not preach the truth in love, but in condemnation.

Consider it then a mission of mercy and peace that we should unite as one by cooperating with each other as we build extensions to our various churches, which never close. Do not be concerned about the cost. Realize that the All Hours Church is not just an extra mission to adopt on top of your current obligations. If God is truly asking for such unity at this time so that He may overcome objections that we ourselves are powerless to overcome, then be certain that He personally will provide all that is needed in order to accomplish His will. He will not add to your burden. His yoke is easy. The Word of God will be spoken in power not of men but in that only grace which is able to overcome the world.

Therefore pray with us concerning the All Hours Church and what part in it the Lord may be asking you to have. Our volunteers are looking forward to visiting with you and praying with you and blessing your local church, hearing from you about how the Lord has spoken to you, that we also may lift up your burdens as we seek the Lord's power over the congregation you serve.