CHRISTIAN KARMA? WHUUUUT?!

 

Wrote this 7 years ago and have thought of it countless times since. 

One definition of a Christian: someone who loves God because He loved us first; someone who has made a commitment to following Christ, who longs to be like Jesus.

In Sunday School class, Clay is using the book, RESPECTABLE SINS by Jerry Bridges, as a guide along with much Scripture. Last week we discussed the sin of ungodliness. Godliness being defined as thinking all the time about God and how to please Him. This week's topic was unthankfulness.

We looked in Scriptures at how ungodliness and unthankfulness are connected, at examples of ingratitude in the New Testament, then we considered the command to be grateful in every circumstance for everything.

Clay then posed the question: How is it possible to be thankful for everything and in every circumstance? He spoke of the misapplication of Romans 8:28. Many people think that means if something bad happens to you, then something good will come along to balance it, a sort of "Christian karma," e.g., losing your shoe and finding a quarter while looking for it.

I thought, "But what about those Christians for whom it never gets better in this life? What about the persecuted Rowandans whose houses were burned and they were left with only the clothes they were wearing, and they must go into hiding for fear of their lives? Or those believers who were forced to watch their children tortured to death?

Or, closer to home, someone like our dear elder, Don H., whose back pain grows worse, and the doctors can no longer help him?"

Clay had us read both Romans 8:28 and 29.

              28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for                                  good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

             29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the                                 image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.                                        (English Standard Version)

What he said, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say: Some people misunderstand what the "good" is in verse 28. But Paul *tells* us what it is in verse 29. The *good* is that God is conforming the called God-lovers to the image of His Son. Hmmm. I had previously understood that God uses trials to refine and grow Christians. But I had never noticed this connection that Clay was pin-pointing.

Rusty also brought up a good question. Could it be that the unpleasant situation one is in might not be specifically for that one's good, but for the good of another called-according-to-His-purpose person or persons? Wow! Now that's a new thought for me!

The conclusion to this lesson struck a deep chord in my soul, and has resonated in my head ever since. (Especially the next day! Seems as if Sunday was the classroom and Monday was the lab. All day. For my entire family. Literally.)

Here's what I learned. How can we be thankful in all circumstances and for all things?

First we need to make sure we're truly called by God and loving Him. Then, we must understand that the "bad" stuff isn't bad in God's eyes. (We need to learn to defined terms God's way.) He's using every circumstance to mold and shape us into the image of Jesus Christ. In such manner, He is working all things together for the good of the elect. For that ... we can be grateful.