Re: Reincarnation and the Message of Jesus

"Noah's Dove" <noahdove7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:1156463443.371679.303250@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

Reincarnation and the Message of Jesus
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/groothuis-reincarnation.html


Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., teaches philosophy at Denver Seminary. He
can
be reached at: Doug@xxxxxxxxxxx His website is
http://www.gospelcom.net/ivpress/groothuis.

People have always wondered what--if anything--lies beyond the grave.
Is death the end of existence, an entry into eternity, or an
intermission between earthly lives? Some Eastern religions teach that
the soul reincarnates in many different bodies, and approximately
twenty five percent of Americans now believe it. Why are so many
people
drawn to reincarnation?

Reincarnation offers hope to many. If we don't "get it right" in this
life, we have another chance the next time around. Some even consult
therapists in the hope of learning the details of their past lives
which may help them solve their present problems.

Reincarnation also claims to insure justice. We get what we deserve in
every life. Reincarnation is connected with the law of karma, which
teaches that our good and bad deeds produce good and bad results from
lifetime to lifetime. The law of karma is an unbending and impersonal
rule of the universe. By working off one's bad karma over many
lifetimes, a person can finally escape the process of rebirth and
attain enlightenment.

But can reincarnation realistically offer hope and a sense of justice
to a troubled world? Can it answer the nagging problem of death?

Even those who believe in reincarnation admit that the vast majority
of
humans do not remember their previous lives. Yet how can we learn from
our past mistakes if we cannot remember them? We seem to make the same
mistakes over and over again. Given the moral failure rate of human
history, do we any have reason to hope that we will get it right in a
future lifetime?

According to reincarnation, the innocent do not suffer. All suffering
is deserved on the basis of bad karma. The baby born without legs
deserved it, as did the woman who was raped. There is no injustice--
and
no forgiveness. None are innocent, and there is no grace available.
This is not good news.

The law of karma is unmerciful, yet the message of Jesus Christ is
different. He taught that no one can keep the moral law. The human
heart is impure because of wrong attitudes and actions. Wrongdoing is
an offense against a loving and absolutely good God. Yet Jesus never
spoke of reincarnation as a way out.

Jesus spoke of people receiving either eternal reward or eternal
punishment according to how they responded to him during their one
lifetime on earth (Matthew 25:31-46; see also Hebrews 9:27).
Reincarnation is out. But Jesus offered himself as the way out.

Jesus proclaimed that he came into the world "to seek and to save the
lost" (Luke 19:10). Through his ministry of teaching, preaching, and
healing, he demonstrated a sinless life and the power over death
itself
by raising the dead. He said that he "did not come to be served, but
to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Jesus showed his forgiving love even on his blood stained cross. A
thief on a cross next to Jesus confessed his sin and asked Jesus to
remember him. Jesus responded, "I tell you the truth, today you will
be
with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Only faith in Jesus was required
for
paradise, not lifetime after lifetime of working off bad karma and
building up good karma. As Jesus announced: "For God so loved the
world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). That, indeed, is good
news--for this life and beyond.


Nope, this guy has got it all wrong.
Incorrect understanding of Karma and reincarnation,
and even of Jesus' message...

This is more accurate and informative...

http://www.avilabooks.com/Jmmanuel1.htm


Harvey
.

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