Balanced government under God

A couple months ago, as I looked at the election results for the United States Congress, I found myself staring at the line across my computer screen dividing an almost equal amount of blue and red. The dividing line seemed to shout, “We are a divided nation with no hope!”

But as I studied the line, what I noticed reminded me of something on the playground where I played as a child – the seesaw! When I would sit on one end of it and a friend would take the other end, there was often a need to adjust our positions. One of us would move farther back while the other moved closer to the middle until we found a balance.

That is such an important quality. We need balance in our lives, in our relationships, our economy, and our government. And while finding balance in the government might sound difficult, I’ve found that it helps to identify balance and equality as St. Paul described it: “Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal” (II Corinthians 8:13, 14, New Living Translation).

I’ve also thought about what’s most important in any election is getting a deeper understanding of the identity of its nation. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of The Christian Science Monitor, wrote in her book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” “Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love” (p. 477). Spirit, Principle, and Love are names for God. Knowing what God is and recognizing that we are His reflection, we can better understand how to govern ourselves and find a balance that respects and blesses all. We find the government of man through understanding that we all truly coexist in the kingdom of heaven, where the government of God produces and sustains harmony.

As we achieve this understanding of the real jurisdiction in which we coexist, we can’t help but participate in life in ways that build up, instead of tear apart, individually demonstrating wisdom, equality, compassion, generosity. This includes the willingness to forgive others on a daily basis.

As I prayed about government recently, I realized I could either agree with negative arguments of division, or I could continue to roll up my sleeves, both spiritually and practically, to take a stand for righteous government, informed by the sense of God’s universally just government, which gives freedom and opportunity to all His children.

As I began to identify my own nation through this more spiritual lens, I saw some similarity between working toward a balanced government, and the task set before the children of Israel when Moses encouraged them to enter their new country with wisdom and understanding. They weren’t there just to occupy the land – they were entrusted with obeying God’s laws and demonstrating their spiritual integrity so that neighboring nations would also learn of and appreciate this way of life. Moses said of these God-inspired laws: “Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’” (Deuteronomy 4:6, New Living Translation).

Not only were these moral laws the foundation for governing the children of Israel, but they have guided future governments throughout the centuries as well. They were established as a means of keeping all people working together and living in harmony, governed by God. These spiritual laws form an unbreakable bond between God and His creation. Our part is to acknowledge and trust this relationship, follow God’s guidance, and express His qualities in ways that promote balance, stability, and productivity, both individually and collectively.

Practicing this higher standard of living, we become more intuitive to recognize God’s all-inclusive, all-pervasive, spiritual peace, in which perfect balance is maintained. We recognize everyone as His creation, embraced in spiritual perfection. We discern God’s love for all humanity and acknowledge each individual’s ability to express the natural tendency toward God-given qualities such as compassion, equality, honesty, and justice.

Just as my friends and I found a balance on the seesaw, we can adjust our stance and agree to trust God to guide voters and those elected to act in ways that keep our country balanced and prosperous.