There is so much evil, hatred, disregard of the laws/Constitution now in this country – why does God not intervene?
I want to break this down so I can consider what you’re asking. Sometimes, it’s better for me to define things as I go, to let you know how I’m thinking about them.
Evil can be defined as those things that draw us from God’s love or seek to destroy God’s creatures. Evil has always been and is in society. It strives for power and drives us apart by highlighting our differences and instilling fear between us. Sometimes humans do evil things, but I refuse to believe that humans are inherently evil. Evil can cause hatred brought on by fear. We are often afraid of and condemn what we don't understand or what we can't control. The early church tried to help by identifying the “seven deadly sins” to help us recognize the presence of evil. They are: gluttony, lust, greed, envy, wrath, sloth, and pride. These things are diametrically opposed to the love and grace we have received from God in Jesus Christ.
As far as the disregard for laws and the Constitution in this country, there is another layer. The principles of the Constitution include checks and balances, individual rights, liberty, limited government, natural rights theory, republican government, and popular sovereignty. While the framers included the basics in September 1787, those ideas were debated until it was ratified in June 1788. This included the first 10 articles we know as the “Bill of Rights.” Over the years, the Constitution has been amended to reflect a greater embrace of the people it governs, starting with an understanding of the need for certain freedoms, such as religion, speech, and assembly. These amendments began in 1791 and continue today. I would almost say that the amendments adding the abolition of slavery in 1865, women’s right to vote in 1920, and equal rights (proposed in 1971 – not yet ratified) express a broader embrace of our freedoms and rights under the Constitution. Laws are ways of enforcing the Constitution and should help us live peacefully in a well-governed and well-maintained civil society. The Constitution is only as good a document as those willing to live by it and defend it. I’m not sure why there is such disregard for the established and proven norms that govern our society.
To your overall question, I think that’s where evil comes in. Evil wants division and hatred. Evil thrives in chaos and dysfunction. Evil destroys the people of God, having them turn on each other. Sometimes this evil is caused by whoever is in power. Sometimes it's perpetuated by others. I personally feel that, whatever it is, we, as a people, have the power to stop it.
The litmus test I use when trying to view any situation through a Christian lens is “if it’s not of love, it’s not of God.” I ask myself, “Where do I see unity, equity, respect, dignity, and restoration?” Where is God in the context of all the chaos? The presence of God may come to us through a situation or a person. Mr. Rogers, of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” told the children, “In the middle of all the bad stuff happening around you, look for the helpers.”
I think that brings us to the final part of your question: Why doesn’t God intervene? God’s ways are not our ways. We shouldn’t think of God as a genie that grants us wishes, and we shouldn’t think of God as a puppet master manipulating situations on earth. We should remember that as Christians, we are referred to as the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12).
It was St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) who is credited with this excellent thought:
We are Christ’s body. We are how God intervenes. We are the helpers. We are the ones who can advocate for love and good. We are the followers of Christ who serve each other and care for one another. Optimistically, as the body of Christ, we can be the beacon of hope in a broken world where evil and hatred exist.
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