Karma vs. Grace

If there's 2 words that I hate hearing Christians use it's the words "Luck" & "Karma." These words simply shouldn't exist in a Christian's vocabulary. (Editors Note: To read my views on "luck" please read my blog titled "Luck.")

The Law of Karma is basically this: If you do good, good things will happen to you. If you do bad then bad things will happen to you. Depending on your religious views it will happen to you either in this lifetime or another, & what happens to you today could be the result of things that have taken place in a previous lifetime.


The idea of Karma is found in many religions, chiefly Hindu & Buddhist. Karma is actually foundational to both systems of belief, and can even be found in Wiccan & other "new age" type of religions.

But karma is not just exclusive to those systems of belief. Many Christians & people of other religions who believe in God or a "god" also subscribe to the belief known as karma. You hear it in the way they talk

For instance ever heard someone ask the question:

"Why does good things always happen to bad people? And bad things happen to good people?"

That, folks, is karma. I think most of us are guilty of thinking that way at one time in our life. Some of us are there right now & that's why I feel that now is the time for me to address the "Law of Karma" in relation to Christianity.

To get a true perspective of karma you first have to look at it through the perspective of God the Father. The perspective we currently have of karma is through the eyes of man, and unfortunately man's eyes never have the best perspective.

Let's take a look at some of the things from God's word, so that we can get His perspective on it. But before we do, let me remind you what "The Law of Karma" says. The "Law of Karma" says if you do good, good things will happen to you & if you do bad then bad things will happen to you.

Here's what God's word says:

"As it is written: There is none righteous. No. Not one." - Romans 3:10
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
"The wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23

Ok. If karma is true, then we're all screwed. If good things happen to good people, & bad things happen to bad people then in God's eyes we're all bad (sinners) people and we all deserve death. If karma is true then it's a merry-go-round that we can NEVER get off because we're all bad people, and we should expect nothing but the worst from God.

It's a good thing for us that karma is not a true "law" as some believe it to be. God the Father made a way for us to get off of this merry-go-round & it's summed up in one little word called "Grace."

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

It's by placing our faith in Jesus (the gift of God (See John 3:16)) that God's grace is extended to us. It's Jesus that pulls us off of this merry-go-round of works that Satan spins with his lie called "karma."

Karma is a lie because in order for karma to be true it would have to be a law established by God, which simply can not be found in the word of God.

Instead what we find is the law of grace. The Apostle Paul says it like this in II Timothy 1:9 (NLT):

"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it,  but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time- to show us His grace through Christ Jesus."

From BEFORE the beginning of time....GRACE. Not karma. Wow. Enough said.

Plunder Hell to Populate Heaven

Today marks a first in both my career as a comedian & my ministry as a minister. Today I booked a show at a bar.

Normally most Christian entertainers mostly stick to entertaining at Christian venues.  We stick to church events, & other "church" type functions. Yet if you talk to the entertainer they will tell you that their "ministry" is an "outreach."

Who are they fooling? They're preaching to the choir!! In some cases they're not even preaching - they're only entertaining.

I know it sounds like I'm being pretty critical. I am. But this blog is just as much directed at myself as it is them.

I'll be honest here, folks....I'm scared!! Even though I'm taking my Pastor with me, it's still me in front of all those people, most of them intoxicated, with a microphone in my hand talking. This is my Elijah & the 450 prophets of Baal.

I've heard this term used over & over again: You've got to plunder hell to populate Heaven. Going into enemy territory is never easy, but it is necessary. There's people in there who are dying mentally, physically, emotionally, & especially spiritually. They need Jesus, but they're not going to find Him in that bar unless someone brings Jesus in.

Please keep me in prayer as I prepare myself for this 1-night mission trip. I do need to hear from God on what to say & what to do. I need to hear from God while I'm there. Not only that, but there's someone there who needs to hear from God, and that's what is most important.

Thank you guys for your continued love & support!!

Many blessings,
Eric

Behind the Music: Someone's Gone to Hell

I wrote this song, Someone's Gone to Hell, in the summer of 2009. There had actually been a shoot out here in town between a guy & the local police department, which resulted in this guy being shot & killed.

This had happened in a neighborhood that we used to live in. Even though I did not know the guy, it still hit me pretty close to home. In the days after the shooting, more & more information came out about this guy & his life. It was obvious that this man did not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

This "revelation" greatly disturbed me. This man is now dead & it's too late for anyone to do anything for him, spiritually speaking. All I kept asking myself is "Where was the church?" Where was I? Where was Christianity? This man's whole life could have been changed if we Christians were doing what we're supposed to do. He could have left this earth in a entirely different fashion, & instead of arriving to eternal torment, he could have walked into the loving arms of a Savior.

Now, it's not my place to say if this guy's in heaven or hell. I do not sincerely know. But based on what little information that I do know my guess would be hell. That's not to say that he didn't cry out to Jesus before he took his finally breath, or that someone didn't have a chance to pray with him. It could have happened, & I hope & pray that something did.

Never-the-less, here's my song, "Someone's Gone to Hell."