What did HE say? (continued)
It is odd that for more than 2000 years the subject of reincarnation has never really been an issue in the Christian Churches. There are some denominations that do believe that reincarnation is a real event in the life of the Soul and Spirit of man but they are few. The majority of Christians believe that there is heaven and there is hell and that the Souls or Spirits of men will go to one or to the other. However, the only scriptural reference that can be cited against it is found in Hebrews and it is a statement that can be understood in several ways. The verse “and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27) is part of a dialogue that is trying to convince the Jews that Christ is the Messiah and which follows the writer’s statement that Christ appeared at the end of the world or age. He says it thus “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). The wording of this quite clearly has Jesus appearing then at the end of the world (age) for His sacrifice on the Cross. Now if nothing else, we must admit that there is something in these verses that we do not see clearly. Commentary on this has been equally unclear as is the earlier reference by the writer of Hebrews concerning the last days (see 1:2).
So we have this statement of which the meaning is unclear leading to the subject statement concerning man. It is upon this that an entire philosophy which disagrees with the concept of reincarnation is built. Consider also that the writer of Hebrews did understand the mysteries of life and that this comment is regarding the appearance of man; the body nature, to which it is appointed to die only once. In the concept of rebirth one does not appear again in the same body but is reborn in a new body and in this there may be judgement after the death of the body. Not a final judgement but one that may lend itself to our placement in the scheme of things in the afterlife period between incarnations. Would be great if someone really knew and would tell us all what happens in death and dying but short of that we have only concepts and ideas and theories and the doctrines of the churches.
But what makes sense? We are told that God is Good and that God is Love by most all religions especially Christianity. We are also told that God is not a respecter of persons. Putting these ideas together it is hard to understand why there is such a disparity between people on this earth whether they be believers or not. One must wonder why some are born in the lap of luxury and others in extreme poverty; some in perfect health and others blind or malformed. Why does life place one in a place of opportunity and another in the pit of despair; why does one find success in all and another finds not even an opportunity? Why do some ‘believers’ suffer and ‘heathens’ prosper in all they do? Why so some live long healthy lives and others die before their first birthday? Why are some born to a Christian household and other to a non-Christian one which, in the eyes of the Christian, are doomed to hell. Is this chance or Providence. Why do two people do the same things and one gets punishment while the other seems to be ‘protected’? These are hard questions to answer and saying that ‘it is the Will of God’ does not answer it if we believe that He is no respecter of persons.
There is an answer to all this in the notion of “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7) which is equivalent to the Oriental Law of Karma but, as you can see from the above questions, it is not a good answer when looked at for single lifetime. In the combination of this law and the concept of rebirth we can find some sense of answers to the questions in that these person are at benefit or not based on what they had previously sowed. Note also that Jesus Himself never answered the question that He himself posed in this dialogue: “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell , and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5). Other than telling them to repent their own sins, He makes no explanation as to the fate of the innocent with the guilty if there were any guilty there at all. How does this leave us but to surmise that He is saying that these kind of things happen and not to sinners only but you should be sinless in any event. He does not say it is Gods Will but leaves us to know that accidents and killings do happen to the innocent and the only lesson in these incidents is that we should be at all times prepared. In the light of the concept of reincarnation all this would have little effect because, as we know, this life is of short duration. Using the concept of life and death we can only say O what a shame that they were killed. Currently some, even church authorities, have said and judged in response to these type events that those killed must have some kind of guilt while not ever knowing any of the people involved and this is a sad state for any in the church of Christ.
So this is reincarnation; we will believe or not based on what we have been taught and what our church believes. All of us however should think about it and understand it as what the concept really is and not what those who disagree say that it is. Our subject of eternal life has some direct relationship to the concept of reincarnation but, as said earlier, we can talk about one in the absence of the other quite well when we consider that eternal life is as Jesus said: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
Eternal life then is here and now and is the Presence of God in our lives. It is by His Presence that we know him and this is further reinforced by this from Galatians: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. (Galatians 6;7-9; ASV). The Apostle Paul is here telling us about reaping and sowing as shown above but he is also qualifying this regarding ‘the flesh’ and ‘the Spirit’. In selfishness we reap corruption but when we live spiritually we reap eternal life. Now this may seem the same Christian teaching; death and destruction and hell for sowing to the flesh and eternal heaven for sowing to the Spirit but let us also look at the next sentence which says “And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not“. His admonition is to continue in doing good and if we continue we will reap in due season this same eternal life. We can think here that the Apostle is saying that we will reap eternal life in heaven after death based on what it is we do good in this life or we can think that He is saying that doing good has its own reward and that it is here and is now.
Based on Jesus’ defining of eternal life, I choose to think the latter; that we constantly reap what we are sowing and that in sowing into the Spirit through spiritual living we are coming into the Presence of God and that this is ETERNAL LIFE.
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Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
….but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10). Here in today’s Quote of the Day is the Apostle Paul reiterating the Great Commandment that we love our neighbour and that in love all else is considered. This is the way to eternal life; LOVE.
