The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his075/reincar1.lzh/REINCAR1.TXT

Text File | 1991-07-12 | 5KB | 97 lines

CUL:Reincarnation and Christianity

   The teaching of reincarnation is being advanced on many sides today
as the philosophy and religion of the East makes its inroads in the
West. Such teachings call for a response from the Christian community,
which is in every way opposed to the idea that men's souls return time
and time again to go through the cycles of birth, life and death, as
it is taught in the Hindu systems which underlie all such concepts.

   Reincarnation is neither a proven fact of science, nor is it
approved by the Bible. It should be remembered; However, that evidence
of a scientific nature put forward to "disprove" reincarnation will do
little, if any, good. Evidence of that sort can easily be
reinterpreted. What must be emphasized is that there is absolutely no
scientific evidence that proves it. On the other hand, there are many
psychological and scientific evidences which show that the phenomena
associated with the theory of reincarnation could as easily be
produced by other means.

   It is very possible, for instance, for one to "learn" a language
subconsciously by being in the presence of those who speak it, even
for a short time, and then have something trigger that memory at a
particular time. Again, it is possible to learn things about other
places and times in a similar manner. While these do not account for
all the claimed phenomena, they do account for a great part of them.

   Some knowledge is not obtainable by natural means, and since the
Bible says that reincarnation does not occur, we can only conclude
that the information comes through supernatural agencies, either good
or bad. The question of whether the agencies are good or bad depends
on what attitude they show toward Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Since
reincarnation belittles the Atonement (Substitutionary) and
sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, we can identify these agencies as
evil.

   The Bible certainly denies the teaching of reincarnation.  While it
does not mention the term reincarnation, it does mention it in context
in speaking of John the Baptist and others, but this does not mean
that it AGREES with the theory. It merely says that some people might
have thought John was Elijah reincarnated; and perhaps that certain
people thought the man born blind had sinned in another life, and that
was the cause of his blindness. However, it tells of many other
incorrect thoughts and actions of people. Where then does the Bible
tell us that reincarnation is false?

   FIRST, it says in Hebrews 9:27 that it is appointed to everyone to
die BUT ONCE, and after that the judgement (where our ETERNAL
residence is decided - the New Earth or the Lake of Fire). There is no
room for one to die over and over again.

   SECOND, the Bible teaches the OPPOSITE of reincarnation -
RESURRECTION! The righteous in Christ will be raised to Eternal Life,
and the lost to Eternal punishment. RESURRECTION involves not a
transmigration of the soul, in which it takes on a new body, but a
raising up and glorification of the old body, reuniting soul and body
for eternity.

   THIRD, reincarnation is destroyed by the very idea of salvation in
and by the COMPLETED work of Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves,
no matter what the number of lives we go through. We are imperfect,
and God is perfect. That which is imperfect cannot possibly bring
forth perfection (for then the effect would be greater than the
cause!), and God can ONLY accept perfection. It is for this reason
that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for each of us who receive
His payment for our sins. Jesus bore on Himself our iniquities and
paid the penalty for our sins. By doing so; Jesus IMPUTED His
righteousness on us.

   Reincarnation is FINALLY a "works-Righteousness," and Paul reminds
us in Titus 3:5 that we are saved NOT by works of righteousness that
we have done, but by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the
Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. If we are due to be reincarnated
over and over again, then the death of Jesus Christ has no meaning for
us, and is of no effect, for we must still work our way to salvation,
making ourselves better, instead of allowing Jesus Christ to make us
acceptable to God.

   Aside from Biblical arguments against reincarnation, there are
various philosophical and scientific arguments. We suggest that you
look up the article on reincarnation in THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
PHILOSOPHY, edited by Paul Edwards (all college libraries USUALLY have
it), and see some of the arguments espoused there. In addition, the
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA has an excellent dissertation on the matter
under the subject "Metempsychosis." Additional material is listed
under the subject "Reincarnation" and "Metempsychosis" in THE NEW
SCHAFF-HERZOG ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE. It must be
remembered, though, that people will not always accept evidence which
is objectively adequate. They may not be willing to look at the
evidence OBJECTIVELY. The best approach is to proceed on positive
direction, showing the reliability of the Bible, and that the Bible
presents Jesus Christ as having proved Himself to be God, the Messiah,
by His resurrection (A proven and reliable historical event), then
showing that Jesus Christ accorded the Bible of infallibility, and
then showing that the Bible proves reincarnation is wrong.

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