Why do so many Christian believers do not believe in the possibility of reincarnation?

[The Truth]

For example, there are so many testimonies on YouTube from people who say they have memories and experiences of a past life on earth. It is hard to say that reincarnation does not exist.

 

[JohnDB]

For example, there are so many testimonies on YouTube from people who say they have memories and experiences of a past life on earth. It is hard to say that reincarnation does not exist.

Because we believe God. We don't believe others so much.

Back in the day...
There were tons of footages of Bigfoot and UFO'S... today with the exponential increase in cameras the numbers of UFO'S and Bigfoot sightings haven't gone up...and in fact have decreased.

So ALL those many people seemed to be liars today.
God has never lied.
Track records seem to favor God on this one.

 

[Nathan12]

Why do so many Christian believers do not believe in the possibility of reincarnation?

The answer is quite simple. Reincarnation is A LIE. Just like the dead visiting the living. If you want the truth, stick with what the Bible has to say.

 

[Bull of the Woods]

We believe in resurrection not reincarnation. Resurrection is way better than the concept of reincarnation. Resurrection is founded on the promises of God. It's power is that same power by which Christ rose bfrom the dead.
It is something that happens to those whose faith is in the person of Jesus Christ and who therefore have had His righteousness imparted to them.
Nothing in scripture hints at reincarnation. It is appointed to man to die after one life and enter into either eternal life in Christ or eternal death without Him.
There are no intermediate stages as various animals.

 

[Nathan12]

Nothing in scripture hints at reincarnation.

Correct. Reincarnation is a concept found in Eastern religions, which originated with Hinduism (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Shintoism, etc). This also includes belief in polytheism and ancestor worship.

'This is explained in the Chandogya Upanishad (5.10.5-7): "There upon, exhausting the wealth of their karmas, they return again, by the same path by which they go, to space, and from space to air. Having become air, they become smoke; and having become smoke, they become mist. Having become mist, they become clouds, having become clouds, they rain down. Then they are born as rice plants and corn plants, as herbs and trees, as sesame and bean plants. From here on their escape becomes difficult. For whoever person may eat the food, and begets offspring, he henceforth becomes like unto him. Those whose conduct was pleasant will attain pleasant wombs, such as the wombs of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, or Vaisyas; and those whose behavior was evil, will attain the wombs of the evil and the impure ones." '
https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/concepts/reincarnation.asp

 

[OzSpen]

For example, there are so many testimonies on YouTube from people who say they have memories and experiences of a past life on earth. It is hard to say that reincarnation does not exist.

TT,

'So many testimonies on YouTube', yet you provided no links for us to view.

What is your definition of reincarnation?

Where is that theology found in the Bible?

Oz

 

[DiscipleDave]

What this generation fails miserably to understand is that each of us has a Spirit in us. That Spirit is immortal, can't die or be killed. That is why that Spirit will either spend eternity in Heaven or eternity separated from Heaven. Just because your flesh dies and returns to dust, does NOT mean your spirit dies as well. Your Spirit existed before the Earth was ever created. John the Baptist had in him the same Spirit that was in Elijah. John the Baptist and Elijah - SAME Spirit. Even Jesus and all His Disciples believed in Ghosts. Jesus when He appeared to them after He rose from the dead said "Do spirits have flesh and blood?" Confirming that ghosts are real. Spirit entities are real.
It is appointed for all human flesh to die once. This says absolutely NOTHING about the spirit of that person, now does it.
God told me the reason He did not reveal this knowledge plainly in the Scriptures, is because people would inevitably take thought that they will live this life however they want to and do better in the next one to come. So it was His desire that everyone takes thought Get this life right. This is also why God said "This generation shall not pass away until all be fulfilled" Of course He was referring to the Generation of Humans on Earth, but He wanted them to think He meant their own generation at that time.

We are now living in the last days, and this information God is revealing to people more and more, because their just isn't any lives left.

 

[KevinK]

I don't have a Youtube video about it, but I am one of those who had a vision of both Hell and past lives (my own). I know I'm not lying. Yes, it could have been a demonic illusion, but I don't think so. The whole event sparked my born-again-ness, so why would Satan do that?

Hebrews 9:27 is used almost universally as the Scripture that refutes reincarnation. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,...". For a long time, I could not resolve Scripture with my personal experience. Then it hit me- that passage does not necessarily say that men only live once. It may only say that after every lifetime, there is a mandatory judgment (some call it a "life review"). The phrasing is a bit clumsy; perhaps it is even intentionally so?

There are Christians who believe in reincarnation. I guess I'm one of them.

 

[Who Me]

I don't have a Youtube video about it, but I am one of those who had a vision of both Hell and past lives (my own). I know I'm not lying. Yes, it could have been a demonic illusion, but I don't think so. The whole event sparked my born-again-ness, so why would Satan do that?

Hebrews 9:27 is used almost universally as the Scripture that refutes reincarnation. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,...". For a long time, I could not resolve Scripture with my personal experience. Then it hit me- that passage does not necessarily say that men only live once. It may only say that after every lifetime, there is a mandatory judgment (some call it a "life review"). The phrasing is a bit clumsy; perhaps it is even intentionally so?

There are Christians who believe in reincarnation. I guess I'm one of them.

Apointed to die once. If reincarnation is true then one dies many times.
We have to judge everything through scripture and if hebrews 9:27 says we die once not many times, then there is no reincarnation.

Also the idea behind reincarnation is that one does better in the next life, earning a better reincarnation untill perfection is reached.

Christianity teaches we do not earn or deserve salvation.

We accept it as a gift.

 

[KevinK]

Yes, but my point is that Hebrews 9:27 does not necessarily say we only die once, it may say (paraphrasing) that for every death there is a separate judgment. In other words, suppose you had 6 successive lives- after each death, there is a mandatory judgment. 6 lives, 6 judgments.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

What difference does it make if reincarnation does exist, but we don't believe in it? If it is real and a person doesn't believe in it does this affect their life, or alter what could happen after they die?

On the other hand though if a person does believe in reincarnation, does that change their attitudes, their behavior, or anything in their life?

Can it be a distraction from finding God, a distraction from seeking God, or from following what we know is from God?

I don't know about the phenomon of past lives, because it isn't something I've had contact with. Though there's a lot out there that makes people support it, it makes me think of how so many people believe in miracles but have no experience with them, so many other people believe in reincarnation without having an experience to draw from.

I don't know anyone who has had a past life memory either, though I do know of people who have answered prayers, experiences with God, Jesus, or with angels, and with miracles. To me this makes past life conclusions and reincarnation a lot more speculative with nothing there to be able to correct it or confirm it. Too much focus on karma, or on a possible explaination about a person's personality because of a past life. Just a lot of speculation without much more then that.

If it's true, then there's little to do to confirm it. Instead it seems to be an idea in competation with other perspective of what happens after we die. Including theories of an afterlife in heaven or hell, or the other afterlife phenomon that a lot of people draw focus on, ghosts.

As a teen I read a book on reincarnation with stories of people who say they have memories of a past life. Made me wonder back then. Since then I've found there are stories of all kinds of strange things in the world. But the only thing worth it in my opinion to focus on is on God. If everything else has the potential of being a lie, God's foundation will hold true, and remain steady.

So I put my trust in that. Everything else might be a distraction, a trick, or an outright lie. But God is a worth while focus. Finding Him, and following Jesus are what matters more then all the theories on ghosts and past lives combined.

 

[Truthfrees]

I don't have a Youtube video about it, but I am one of those who had a vision of both Hell and past lives (my own). I know I'm not lying. Yes, it could have been a demonic illusion, but I don't think so. The whole event sparked my born-again-ness, so why would Satan do that?

Hebrews 9:27 is used almost universally as the Scripture that refutes reincarnation. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,...". For a long time, I could not resolve Scripture with my personal experience. Then it hit me- that passage does not necessarily say that men only live once. It may only say that after every lifetime, there is a mandatory judgment (some call it a "life review"). The phrasing is a bit clumsy; perhaps it is even intentionally so?

There are Christians who believe in reincarnation. I guess I'm one of them.

i've had many experiences that are not found in scripture - i asked God about it and He said that we are test the spirits to sere what is from God and not - because even the elect elect can be deceived - 1 John 4:1 - Matthew 24:24

bottom line i had to reject many experiences because they were NOT in scripture

why would satan give you an experience that led you to being born again? - he wouldn't - he would give you an experience to lead you down the wrong path - which is what reincarnation is - John 10:10

but God uses EVERYTHING to reach us and draw us close to Him - Genesis 50:20

 

[Truthfrees]

Yes, but my point is that Hebrews 9:27 does not necessarily say we only die once

it does say that we only live once though

reincarnation means living over and over in a different body

to God we are fearfully and wonderfully made - unique - Psalms 139:14

reincarnations mean a person is a recycled human- not unique at all

 

[KevinK]

it does say that we only live once though

Begging to differ, but it does not say "only".

 

[Truthfrees]

Begging to differ, but it does not say "only".

appointed to man to live once and then die implies there is only one earth life

so the only reason you feel there is reincarnation is because you had an experience where you saw your past lives?

what if the experience was given by demons who created this false feeling/miracle/experience? - 2 Thessalonians 2:9 - Mark 13:22 - Matthew 7:22 - Matthew 24:24 -

i think the reason christians don't accept reincarnation is because scripture is fairly clear on the topic - and they have not been confused by a reincarnation experience

everyone has given really good reasons why reincarnation is unbiblical - it is probably between you and God to work this out - for sure God did not tell you your experience was from Him - you did not ask Him - why not?

anyway God bless you - praying for God's goodness and blessing and truth to saturate your life

 

[KevinK]

appointed to man to live once and then die implies there is only one earth life

Yes, it implies, but my point is it does not state. There is room for a different interpretation.

so the only reason you feel there is reincarnation is because you had an experience where you saw your past lives?

No. There is actually quite a lot more, but I see no reason to go into it right now. My only point in this thread was a different reading of Hebrews 9:27.

anyway God bless you - praying for God's goodness and blessing and truth to saturate your life

Thank you. I know my viewpoint is a bit radical for mainstream Christians.

 

[Nathan12]

Can it be a distraction from finding God, a distraction from seeking God, or from following what we know is from God?

Belief in reincarnation will result in the rejection of the Gospel. So it is more than a distraction. It will lead people to Hell, who are falsely believing that they will have dozens of opportunities in the future.

 

[KevinK]

I also believe in Hell, the one place you don't return from. So if there is reincarnation, you don't just keep getting lives. At some point a final judgment is rendered.

The thing is, you never know if your current life is your last one or not. So in practice, it doesn't even matter if there is reincarnation or not. Your last life is the same as your only life.

 

[Christ_empowered]

one thing that marks Christian's understanding of time and creation as different from what came before is that its structured kind of like a novel; beginning, middle, end. God exists beyond time, in ways that we cannot understand, this side of Heaven, but...

each human's life is similarly structured. conception, birth, life, death, judgment. Hopefully, at some point during the "life" section, the individual repents and comes to know and serve Jesus. We are -all- born destined for Hell. Its...because of The Fall, its human nature. by nature, we are bent away from God and towards the master of this world.

reincarnation works well in religions that go for cycles. Hinduism seems to call for seemingly endless cycles of creation, destruction...rinse, repeat. that's not how Christianity works, that's not the Truth, as revealed by Scripture and Our Lord.

 

[Who Me]

Yes, but my point is that Hebrews 9:27 does not necessarily say we only die once, it may say (paraphrasing) that for every death there is a separate judgment. In other words, suppose you had 6 successive lives- after each death, there is a mandatory judgment. 6 lives, 6 judgments.

But it does say 'Once'.
In context Jesus sacrificed himself 'Once', we die 'Once' from the passage it is clear there is only one death. see
"heb9: 26,But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

There is no support for reincarnation here.