When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” He was helping us understand how to act in times of peace — and in times of strife, too.

At a time when our nation seems so polarized, it’s more important than ever to turn away from aggressive impulses and be thoughtful, careful, and prayerful in our actions.

Conservative evangelist Franklin Graham last week spoke out about the very odd rallying cry of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) to her supporters recently — about disrupting the activities of Trump administration officials as they go about their daily lives.

“If you see anybody from that [Trump] Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” Waters said at a California rally late last month.

Graham, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, chastised Waters for these remarks this past Thursday while also expressing support for 16-year-old Hunter Richard, victimized at a Whataburger restaurant in Texas recently for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.

Graham linked the incident to Waters in a Facebook post.

“Maxine Waters is encouraging attacks and harassment against Trump administration members, which we’ve been seeing happen. Now it’s spilling over,” he said in part.

(Warning: The video referenced here contains strong language.)

Maxine Waters is encouraging attacks and harassment against Trump administration members, which we've been seeing…

Posted by Franklin Graham on Thursday, July 5, 2018

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Graham also wrote, “I’m sure Representative Waters is very proud of the person who did this — but I’m more proud of this young man’s thoughtful response. He said, ‘I support my president, and if you don’t let’s have a conversation about it instead of ripping my hat off. I just think a conversation about politics is more productive for the entire whole rather than taking my hat and yelling subjective words to me.”

“Our hope for this country is not in wicked politicians who encourage violence, but our only hope is God,” concluded Graham.

Graham is also sharing other positive messages after “Impeach 45” apparel hit the Walmart website before it was quickly pulled due to public outcry. Graham offers an appealing alternative: “Pray for 45” T-shirts, which he is now selling, as Faithwire reported.

“The Bible says to pray for ‘all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence’ (1 Timothy 2:2, NKJV),” the Billy Graham bookstore website says in its product description. “Wear this T-shirt as a reminder to lift up our president in prayer.”

There's a way every one of us can make a difference for our nation—we can pray for our president and our leaders, as God…

Posted by Franklin Graham on Friday, July 6, 2018

Meanwhile, the video of the Whataburger incident (which contains a racial slur) posted on social media has been viewed more than two million times.

Thirty-year-old Jimenez was arrested Friday by detectives from the robbery task force on a warrant of theft.

He also lost his bartending job.

Related: Why Are Liberals So Violent?

He might take a cue from 16-year-old Hunter Richard. As one Facebook commenter said, “I am so proud of you, Hunter. God bless you for standing up for what you know is right. Not like the person who abused you because he didn’t agree with you. Shows how his hatred has overcome him.”

Elizabeth Economou is a former CNBC staff writer and adjunct professor. Follow her on Twitter.

(photo credit, article image: Rev. Franklin Graham, CC BY 2.0, by Matt Johnson)