But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy … - Ephesians 2:4

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 28, 2018): Ephesians 2

Jessica Brody in “The Karma Club” sums up the idea of Karma pretty well. “Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can't get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don't care who you are. What goes around comes around. That's how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.” Deep down it is what we want, for the universe to get its revenge on those who plot to do evil; for the cheaters who consistently break promises they have made to be cheated; for the haters to be hated, and the hunters to be hunted. This is the way that the world should work.

Well, at least in our dreams (and on the television shows that we watch.) Karma is a Buddhist theory that actually argues for a cosmic system of cause and effect. The spiritual principle argues that the actions, as well as the intent, of an individual will influence the future of that person. A good person will receive good things right here on this earth, while a bad person is in deep trouble. So during the Olympics, when Olympic favorite Lindsay Vonn failed to garner a medal in the “super-G” (ending up tied for sixth, 0.38 seconds behind the leader), Donald Trump fans were quick to blame Karma for her loss. Vonn had said that she was proud to ski for the United States, but not for President Donald Trump. For many Trump supporters, Vonn’s loss was exactly what she deserved. A heaping helping of Karma had just been served.

As I have mentioned, Karma is Buddhist in nature, so it always surprises me how many Christians seem to have some sort of belief in the theory – or in the idea that we get what we deserve. Actually, the Bible teaches a kind of anti-Karma. It argues that Christians are the ones who have the privilege of breaking Karma and delivering good even to those who are evil. I know, it is a concept that is hard to get our heads around. But the spirituality of Christianity has nothing to do with celebrating when bad things happen to people that we don’t like. In fact, it is the reverse. Our Christianity shows through in the love that we display to people who want nothing more than to harm us. It is a teaching that is hard to live, at least, it is hard on our own strength. Luckily God has promised to help us, and love through us.

And the concept extends from this thought, all of the good that we possess is because God loves us. And God’s love originated not from the idea that we somehow deserved his love because none of us deserve the good that we receive. If we are honest, we know that our built up negative karma. If Karma is real, we are all in trouble. None of us have done enough good to balance our karma accounts against the bad we have created in our lives. No, God’s love was a direct result of his mercy. And he commands that we would go and do likewise, love when no love is deserved, and be a people of mercy and forgiveness when it is only judgment that merited. After all “Karma comes after everyone …” unless somebody steps in to stop it.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3