I Don’t Believe in Karma or the Man Upstairs
Do you believe?
My plans for a blog post today had nothing to do with this topic. But my plans often turn topsy-turvy in the middle of life.
Recently, I’ve seen social media posts and received chain letters. Each written from the premise of a promise. If I believe in karma, then something good will happen today to make me happy. An angel will come to watch over me. The man upstairs will bless me.
The bottom line is based on forwarding the message to ten or fourteen friends including the sender to secure the deal. And posting as your status on social media. If you want the promise to come true, you must act fast—within minutes. And do not, I repeat, do not break the chain.
To set the record straight, I don’t believe these promises hold any power or hope.
I don’t believe in karma. But I do believe…
Karma’s the idea that a mystical force causes either good or bad things and determines someone’s fate.
Google defines karma, “In Hinduism and Buddhism, 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.”
Merriam-Webster explains karma, “The force created by a person’s actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person.”
I enjoyed Star Wars and the theme, “the force be with you.” But the force is fictional. Herein lies the deception of karma. It’s purely philosophical and not founded on fact.
I don’t believe in good and bad karma. I do believe I belong to Christ. As one of His own, angels watch over me (Psalm 91:11) and I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3).
I do believe my actions bring consequences. I choose my words, deeds, thoughts, and behavior. Each of these areas have a ripple effect on me and others.
I can’t choose to continually overeat with no weight gain. When my performance at work lacks effort, I may lose my job. Mean words from my mouth crush the spirit of my spouse or child.
On the flip side, exercise strengthens my heart and tones my muscles. When I labor in my job with the highest caliber, the rewards may be a promotion or bonus. Words of kindness build others up.
The spiritual principle holds true. 
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NLT
I don’t believe in the man upstairs. But I do believe…
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy.)
When I think about God, I don’t picture Him as the man upstairs. Social media posts referring to “the main upstairs” and chain letters addressing “Dear man upstairs” cheapen the indescribable God.
This. Is. Empty. Rhetoric.
I do believe that Jesus, God incarnate, came in the flesh as both man and God. Christ rose from the dead—not by a mystical force, but by supernatural power. He defeated the grave and spiritual death.
The Lord Jesus Christ became victor over the powers of darkness with His illuminating light. He ascended to heaven where He’s seated at the right hand of God. God reigns supreme over the realm of both heaven and earth.
God’s glory cannot be mistaken, lowered, or misdirected. I believe He’s God. Mighty. Powerful. Majestic. Holy. Sovereign. Eternal. Infinite. Wise. Faithful.
Questions/answer
Q: Have you not known? H
ave you not heard?
A: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28, ESV)
I don’t believe in karma or the man upstairs. I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Do you believe?
© 2016 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Very good article daughter. I pray this article reaches many people. I have never believed in Karma and although I have forwarded chain articles in the past I really don’t believe in them.
Thanks for this very well written article. It’s so inspiring and hope others will benefit from it as much as I have. Proud of you my daughter! Love you
Thanks, Mom. Yes, culture sneaks subtle deceptions in to derail us from God’s ultimate truth. When we put our full faith, trust, and belief system in God alone, we don’t need the disguises of the enemy’s lies. God is God. Blessings, protection, and joy come from Him. Thanks for your sweet comment. Love you.
Karen, very good article..I two pass those things on by…the articles are sweet but I don’t believe in them.
I’m with you on that, Karen. Imagine Karma defining one destiny or fate. God’s Word rules! Thanks for sharing. P.S. I never respond to those messages or post!
Thanks, Shira. God’s glory cannot be mistaken, lowered, or misdirected. I believe He’s God. Mighty. Powerful. Majestic. Holy. Sovereign. Eternal. Infinite. Wise. Faithful.
I just found your website and love your blog. This may be a year after you wrote this but I felt compelled to comment.
I don’t believe in karma in the sense of those chain letters. Those are ridiculous and I delete them without opening them. But I do believe in a type of karma.
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2 (KJV)
In Semon on the Mount, Emmitt Fox basically explains that whatever good or bad we do to others will eventually be done back to us by someone, somewhere. Meaning, some other person in the future will do the same to us. He calls it the law of retribution but it sounds a lot like karma to me. He even states that people object to this doctrine saying it’s Hinduism or Budhism. But it is clearly written in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus spoke these words and if we are to take the Bible as the one and only true word of God, then how can you deny that Jesus did not believe in a form of karma.
All I know is that I live my life by doing unto others as I would want done to me. If only more people lived this way, our world would be a more peaceful place.
Thank you for you blogs and have a blessed day!
Hey Jean, thank you for your kind words about this blog. I so appreciate you taking time to comment and offer your thoughts on this particular post. They are very interesting and I do understand your stance, for in Luke 6, Jesus does say “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And also the same reason I quote Galatians 6 passage, we will reap what we sow. So, yes, all these spiritual principles come into play in our lives in God’s ways and laws. I agree the chain letters are ridiculous. But I also think we need to be careful with the term “karma” in conjunction with the Almighty God. Because its roots are in other religions and not in Christianity. We see that in all the research surrounding it. In fact, the word itself is never mentioned in God’s Word so that’s a good enough warning for me to be careful how I convey the meaning to others. Blessings!