Peace By Force...Or Is It Karma??

Romans 13.1-7 was the basis for a Karen (Kah-ren) perspective. This text and discussion seemed to push the question: How much control does God have in earth? Is everything divinely ordered by God as a facet of God’s will? Should you simply accept your position, leaders and surroundings in life without resistance as faithful obedience to God? To submit to leaders in authority is to do what God intended. Claiming a leader was appointed by God in early Christianity is actually a subversive statement as most rulers of the day believed they achieved their political power of their own might, sword and gods. Our presenters also pointed out how Paul wrote this letter before Nero began persecuting Christians and had his mother killed. Such is the time of the Pax Romana (peace by force). In Myanmar, a literal interpretation of scripture is the pietistic tradition and reinterpretations are resisted and frowned upon.

It has been my experience that things which are forced are merely illusions of what people seek to bring about. Forced love isn't really love. Forced peace isn't really peace. Some might call it a version of compromise. Some might consider it karma--getting the balance owed to you for past deeds whether good or bad. I prefer to call it what it is--the law. If it is forced, it's a rule or command placed upon you; a yoke to bear. If it is karma, it's shaped primarily upon past deeds and has little to do with present or future actions. I don't know about you, but I find looking backwards hurts more than anything. Either I'm craning and straining my neck or I'm reminded of all which I cannot change.

In Buddhism, rulers attain their positions by having good karma from previous lives. To me this seems an arbitrary way to decide. How do you know if someone led a good life previously? What if they are lying to attain power? The scriptures teach that a good king will honor the people by using a proper tax and not taking what is unlawful. However, there are no rules about succession. If a king is good, his son may be permitted to rule after him. History shows how commonly leaders were killed or paid off to bring in a new leader/dynasty. For those who use unlawful means of securing leadership, power or wealth, a Buddhist can always do good deeds (such as building a pagoda to gain merit) to balance bad karma for good karma. The larger, more expensive and jeweled a pagoda is, the more merit one receives.

Our afternoon study tour was of a local seminary. We met some professors and students, toured the campus and were treated to snacks and drinks.