As a nation, what are we to do?

Reflecting upon our current political climate, my daughter asked me something the other day: “Dad, where is God?”

I told her that God is right here.

When I read Scripture, I don’t see a bed of roses — in fact, quite the opposite. The Old Testament is filled with descriptions of imperfect people who lived messy lives, and God was in the very middle of these soap operas.

The Prophets, who spoke for God, had tough job descriptions. All of them ended up being killed by harsh critics. Was God absent from these situations because there were extreme hardships involved?

The letters of the Apostle Paul dominate the New Testament. They were filled with advice due to questions and conflicts within Christian communities.

Revelation is a book of hope given to seven churches that were undergoing severe persecution for their beliefs.

So, where was God? The answer is right in the middle of it, even though it was not evident to many at the time. This is one of the reasons why these books of the Bible were written.

Matthew 5:9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.” God works through peacemakers and each of us has the capacity to become one.

As such, the more we understand and promote a belief in “we” and “us,” as a nation, the less we lash out using such words as “those” and “them,” the closer we are to the kingdom of God.

This still allows for differing beliefs and opinions, but acknowledges that we are all in this together. Democracy can be quite messy and imperfect; however, it is much better than living in a Third World banana republic … where peaceful transitions in governing leadership are the exception and not the rule.

For example, here is one of the written prayers that were lifted to God this past Sunday at Immanuel: “Oh heavenly Shepherd, we ask for guidance as we all experience transition and change. Help us to find footing and strength for the work that lies ahead amidst churning seas. We lift to you this country in the wake of heavy division in our populace. Hear us, O God.”

It’s all up to us. I pray for strength for the peacemakers. They shall be called the Children of God; a most difficult calling, but sorely needed in times like these.

Walter is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and has served as parish pastor for more than 25 years.