Why don't Christians believe in reincarnation?

Q:

Why don't Christians believe in reincarnation? Personally, I think it's kind of exciting to think that death isn't the end, and we'll get to come back and experience another life on this earth (or perhaps on some other planet).


A:

One reason Christians don’t believe in reincarnation—the belief that we come back to life over and over again—is because they believe in heaven.

After all, if heaven is real (as Christians believe), then there isn’t any need for an endless cycle of dying and coming back to Earth. In fact, why would we want to return time and time again to the pain and insecurities of this life? Ahead of us is the glory of heaven! As the Bible says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

There is, however, another reason why Christians reject the idea of reincarnation. It is this: No matter how long we lived—or how many lives we had—we could never erase the stain of sin that keeps us from God. In other words, we could never reach perfection. But God loves us and has provided the way for all our sins to be forgiven. That way is Jesus Christ, who died as the one final sacrifice for our sins.

Don’t be misled by false hopes or deceptive dreams that will only take you down the wrong path. Instead, face your own need of God and by faith commit yourself to Jesus Christ. In Him we have hope—hope for this life and hope for life with Him in heaven forever.