Ben Wyatt

In which we restate the obvious with the full knowledge that such is what the readership here is used to, so we decide to do so "again and again and again, from different angles" (name that Simpsons episode) ... we may even cite sources [gasp]...

.Yes, I think that's normal. It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma ... I really believe we've moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace ... You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma (Of course, he's right: Hinduism & Karma = Buddhism & the cycle of suffering = Confucianism & Golden Rule-esque sayings = Islam & people crowding Mideast streets 9/12/01 and called the attacks the day before God's punishment on an immoral nation = Judeo-Christianity & the law -ed). You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff. (This quote doubles as Matt Heerema Rant #2684 -ed)a

.1As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (read: Whose Karma was it? -ed) 3Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (read: It was nobody's Karma, but my own purposes that necessitated this man's condition. -ed) 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (See? -ed)b

I was in Borders on day (whoops), and decided to browse the new release Christian section (double whoops). The first thing I noticed, me being me, was that at least half of the book contained something resembling heresy. Of these, the most humorous/not even remotely funny was a work chronicling the interaction between men and God with the underlying thesis that God needs us as much as we need Him, to be taken to the point that man has deeply influenced God, his interactions with us, and the very course of all history that God would dare dictate to us. Decontexualized examples include Sodom and Gomorrah, Job, and kings from Saul to Hezekiah. In other words, history is a humanistic triumph in the face of God. At its core, one could easily grab one core assumption (besides the fact that this author hadn't ever read Isaiah 40): God is capricious, childish, inconsistent, and most importantly, not worthy of anyone's absolute obedience.

One of the greatest lies about the law is that it is as capricious, childish, inconsistent, and most importantly, not worthy of anyone's absolute obedience as the God that set it upon tablets and in our hearts. Sabbaths, no shellfish, sin offerings, what's up with all that? Every politician (except for maybe the bad ones) will tell you that a law is no law without an enforcement vehicle (up to and including helicopters, silly Belgians). So what's God's enforcement vehicle? It may be Hell, but then Hell fits better as the place that those that do not enter into relationship with God choose. Rather/additionally, Karma fills that role. All of the law is there with our welfare as the end. I can't tell you what purpose each rule has, but after you sow so many types of wind only to reap just as many different whirlwinds, you give the Big Man Upstairs the benefit of the doubt. If I stick my finger in the electrical socket a few time and get shocked each time, I'm not sticking my finger in any more electrical sockets, especially after a figurative Michael Riley tells me every socket in the room is hot. (That reminds me; ask me about my cousin in Afghanistan. Good times, great oldies.)

In fact, that reminds me of some 'No OT, no Paul, no Patriarchy' Christians at one Tom Short speaking engagement that decided that (among other things, Dan Brown kind of things, things that should refute themselves but don't) much of the rabbinical law was nothing more than a public health code, with healthy laws ranging from the separation from diseased people rules, to required railings on roofs, to that whole shellfish thing. In this regard, they contend the exact opposite of the God's-off-the-wagon-again crowd: this whole Law thingy makes so much sense, no God I know could have written it. Both extremes lead back to the original lie: God either cares more about proving He's the boss than He does about man's welfare, or He couldn't plan a smiting, much less a path to salvation.

.34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." 39They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.c

.5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-- 6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.d

The Abrahamic spat above directly precedes Jesus healing the man born blind. The short version is that the Pharisees don't know grace from 18% gratuities, because they miss the fact that righteousness comes through faith. (It's almost like the Epistles were written as direct corroboration of the Gospels. Somebody pinch me.) They then prove their ignorance by approaching everyday suffering and missing the Grace inherent in the moment in favor of the same old Karma. 'Everything is changing,' he replies, 'and I'm setting it all right.'

.Have you ever wondered what you would do to frighten Lazarus after he had been raised from the dead? What would you do to threaten him? Caligula said “I’m going to kill you as I’m killing all the Christians.” Lazarus doubles over in uncontrollable laugher, comes up for air, and says ‘Caligula, haven’t you heard? Death is dead.’ How do you frighten the one who has already been there and knows the one who is going to let him out?e

.55"O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"f

So Death is dead, but what of Karma?

.21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[f] nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.g

At the risk of stretching the point, what does the life without Karma look like?

.1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?h