The Problems in Personal Evangelism

31. WHAT ABOUT THE BELIEFS OF KARMA, REBIRTH, NIRVANA, ETC?

1. The basis of these beliefs.
   
   
   1. Some Eastern religions and philosophies hold on to the belief that life is a process of birth, death and rebirth in which one's station in life depends on one's karma or the works he had done in his past life. If he has done good, then his next life will be good and vice versa. The ultimate goal is to escape rebirth through enlightenment and good deeds, and reach Nirvana which is to be absorbed back into the universe.
      
      
2. The fallacies of these beliefs.
   
   
   1. First, the end result of rebirth and reincarnation is to pay for all our sins or to have a zero account with regards to our sins. In short, to be pure or "sinless." But in the first place, when we first entered into the world, we have to be logically "sinless" because we have not committed any sins yet. If that being the case, then why did we come into this world to experience birth, suffering, death and rebirth? Why then did the process of birth and rebirth begin?
      
      
   2. Secondly, why would an all-powerful and all-knowing God require so many births and rebirths to know who we are? God, because of His foreknowledge, knows who we are or what we will be like even before we are actually born. Our birth and existence is more for ourselves than for God - we will stand before Him inexcusable in the day of judgment. We cannot say that we were not given a chance to prove ourselves.
      
      ... I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. - Isa 46:9-10
      
      
   3. Thirdly, life's suffering is not the result of bad past karma but rather in accordance to the foreknowledge and purpose of God. Some people are born blind, deaf or retarded, not because of some bad, past karma but because God may want to restrain them from their destructive potential or He may use such handicaps to help these people come to know Him. Don't we wish that men like Adolph Hitler who gassed six million Jews during World War II be born blind or deaf?
      
      TO RESTRAIN MAN: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. - 2 Cor 12:7
      
      TO REVEAL GOD: ... Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. - Jn 9:1-3
      
      
   4. Fourthly, the Bible teaches eternal judgment rather than rebirth. ... the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments... and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. - Lk 16:22-24
      
      And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. - Heb 9:27
      
      
   5. Fifthly, practices like being a vegetarian, very often associated with these beliefs, are found to be inconsistent.
      
      If vegetarians are honest and objective enough, they will realize that plants and vegetables are not "lifeless forms" but are just another form of life. In short, they are still killing lives, albeit a different form of life. Also, it has been scientifically proven that plants and vegetables, when attacked, do send out some kind of distressed signals.
      
      Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. - 1 Tim 4:3-5

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Question 32: What About Idol Worship?

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