The Spiritual Lie Many Christians Believe
Last night at the dinner table, our daughter asked us about karma. She mentioned that some of her friends at school believe in it, and that simple question sparked a family conversation—one that touched not only on karma, but on several other spiritual topics.
Today, most people understand karma as this: if you do good, good will come back to you; if you do bad, bad will return to you. We laugh at the idea when we see it play out in everyday situations—like someone cutting in line only to spill their coffee, or a reckless driver running a red light and immediately being pulled over by a police officer.
But here’s the bigger question: is karma actually true?
The Origin of Karma vs. The Truth of Scripture
Karma is not a biblical idea. Its roots come from Hinduism, later adapted by Buddhism, and eventually absorbed into Western culture in the simplified form of “what goes around, comes around.”
The Bible, however, never mentions karma. Neither Jesus, nor the prophets, nor the writers of the New Testament ever describe such a concept. And yet, many Christians assume it’s there.
Years ago, when I was a youth pastor, a teenager once told me they thought the phrase “what goes around comes around” was found in the book of Proverbs. It’s not. And that’s exactly the problem.
Why This Is a Serious Problem
We live in a world filled with competing voices—messages that sound spiritual, moral, or even biblical, but are not grounded in truth. The Bible warns us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). In other words, deception doesn’t usually look like evil at first glance; it looks appealing, reasonable, even right.
This is why so many believers—myself included at times—fall into traps of believing ideas that seem true but are, in fact, lies. That’s the danger of adopting karma (or any other unbiblical idea) into our faith: it distorts what God has revealed as truth.
The Solution: Two Ways to Guard Ourselves
Thankfully, God has not left us defenseless. Scripture gives us two powerful ways to guard ourselves against spiritual half-truths and outright lies.
1. Follow the Example of the Bereans
In Acts 17, Paul preached the gospel in Berea, and the response of the people there is remarkable:
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed…” (Acts 17:11–12 NIV)
The Bereans didn’t just take Paul at his word. They eagerly listened, but then they tested his teaching against the Scriptures. That’s why they were considered noble: they filtered everything they heard through God’s Word.
We can do the same. Today we have greater access to the Bible than at any point in history. Yet many Christians rarely open it. We don’t study Scripture just to fulfill a religious duty; we study it to know God, to understand His ways, and to recognize His truth from the counterfeits.
2. Learn to Listen to the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). That means God’s very presence dwells in us and actively helps us discern truth from lies.
The way the Spirit speaks may look a little different for each of us. Sometimes it’s a deep conviction, other times it’s through Scripture coming alive, or through the wisdom of another believer. But He is always faithful to lead us when we walk in fellowship with Him.
I’ll be honest—there are times I’ve struggled to hear His voice, either by second-guessing myself or by not recognizing how He was speaking. If you feel the same, don’t give up. Keep asking the Spirit to reveal Himself. Surround yourself with trusted believers who can help you discern His leading.
If you don’t have someone like that, I’d encourage you to consider finding a spiritual director. Their role is to walk alongside you, helping you listen and respond to God’s voice in your life. My wife is a spiritual director, and if you’d like me to connect you with her, feel free to reach out by contacting me here.
Final Thought
Karma may sound appealing. It may even feel like justice. But it is not God’s truth. The Bible gives us something infinitely better: the Word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit—two unshakable guides that keep us grounded when the world offers half-truths and counterfeits.
Let’s be like the Bereans. Let’s lean into the Spirit. And let’s build our lives not on what sounds true, but on what God Himself has revealed as truth.