I guess just about everyone has an opinion on the upcoming presidential election.
Here’s mine.
“It’s a mess.”
I love our nation and I am so thankful for the freedom, stability, security, and prosperity that we enjoy. Yes, we have our sins and shortcomings as a people but overall we live in one of the most privileged nations in the world…not only in modern times but in all of history. We have been exceedingly blessed.
So I lament the condition that we are in as a nation.
We are angry, divided, cynical, critical, dissatisfied and distrustful of one another.
It feels like our nation is coming apart at the seams. And this current election is only increasing the schism.
The two major party candidates are perhaps the most disliked and flawed in American history. Current polls say that close to 60% of the population extremely dislikes one of them. Thus, regardless of who wins on November 8, over half of the population will be sick to their stomachs. Hardly the prescription for national healing.
So how do I navigate through this mess? How do I vote? Should I even vote?
As a Christian, I have been confused, conflicted, and concerned throughout this election cycle.
Confused.
I’ll be honest. In watching the Republican primaries, I wanted any other candidate besides Trump to win. If there is one thing that the Bible emphasizes over and over when it comes to leadership, it is that character matters…character matters…characters matters. This is not about being moralistic but about being wise. A person can only lead out of the character they possess. Even if they have incredible skill and talent, their character will eventually seep through and affect everything they do. I simply could not…and still cannot…overlook, dismiss, or downplay his abusive language, sexual infidelity, and self-promoting pride. It is not just “locker room speech.” It is sin. It is not just “strong talk.” It is arrogance. It is not “just words.” It is the overflow of the heart (Matt. 12:34-37).
Conflicted.
But when I look at the other major option for president, I can equally say character matters…character matters…character matters. And though Clinton's sins and character flaws may be more covert and less sensational, they are equally disturbing. Political calculation. Media manipulation. Gross negligence. Denying responsibility. Skirting the law. Playing the political game. Holding both “public” and “private” positions for personal gain and power. The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them (1 Tim. 5:24).
Both major candidates fail the basic character test in my opinion.
So where do you go from there? The lesser of two evils? Third party? No vote?
In a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, I think we do have the privilege and responsibility to be involved in our governmental process…and at the very least, voting. Sure it is messy, unpleasant, and confusing but so is the rest of life. Ethical decisions in a sin-impacted, dysfunctional world are the challenges that force us to walk in humble dependence on the Lord.
It is hard for me to sit this election out. The next president could in theory appoint two or three Supreme Court justices during his/her term. Though the Supreme Court should not wield so much power, in our current political climate it does. When unelected judges appointed for life can “interpret” the Constitution based on their own political and social theories, then the balance of power has tilted to the judicial branch…with each Supreme Court appointee potentially influencing judicial decisions for the next 30-40 years. This is the real “prize” that many Democrats and Republicans are fighting for.
Plus I have read both the Democratic and Republican platforms…and they are miles apart. The Republican platform supports the sanctity of life, the biblical definition of marriage, the foundational priority of the family, and the protection of religious liberty. The Democratic platform either ignores these issues or rejects them outright. In the end, voting for a platform may be more important than voting for a candidate, even if going third party. That is where I have landed at this point.
Concerned.
This election is more about the character of our nation than the character of the candidates. Joseph de Maistre, a French philosopher, once said, “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” We have become a divided, distracted, angry, vulgar, entertainment-hungry culture. Our nominated candidates reflect our desire for image over substance and our abandonment of absolute truth for individual autonomy.
The book of Judges describes the nation of Israel at its lowest point…And there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes (17:6; 21:25). The people had no authority and wanted no authority. They rejected God and denied His law. They wanted to become their own gods and the whole land suffered for it.
In other words, our real issues are spiritual not political.
No politician…no law…can change our hearts.
For that matter, no politician…no law…can end sickness, ban natural disasters, abolish death, transform lives, or promise eternal life.
Thus, our ultimate confidence must not be in “princes” or political leaders but in God (Ps. 118:8-9). This is not simply a cliché. When we are anxious, angry, or desperate for our candidate to win, then we betray where our true confidence lies. We can easily forget that God is sovereign and can direct a leader’s heart like channels of water (Prov. 21:1). Even the worst candidate elected could be humbled, changed, and redirected by the power of the gospel (e.g., 2 Chron. 33:12; 1 Tim. 1:13). Whatever happens on November 8, God is still on His throne working all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11).
Let your speech always be with grace… (Col. 4:6).
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth… (Eph. 4:29).
Remind them…to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men… (Titus 3:1-2).
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called… (1 Pet. 3:9).
Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all… (Rom. 12:17).
Even in a divided, cantankerous, confusing election, do not forget your calling, lose your focus, or harm your testimony for the sake of a post on social media.
So what is my position on this election?
Kneeling.
I am praying for wisdom as I go to the voting booth, for the preservation of religious liberty, for the salvation of governmental leaders, and for the church in America to be strengthened and unified around the power of the gospel rather than the power of politics (1 Tim. 2:1-8). And I am also praying that God will somehow act to bring healing and revival to this nation… that in His wrath, He would remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
I know everyone has an opinion on this election but wisdom begins with the “fear of the Lord” (Prov. 9:10). Seek His face and cry out for His wisdom. He alone knows the future and knows what is best for our nation.
The simple promise of Proverbs 3:5-6 is more relevant than ever:
Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Certainly that includes a ballot in a messy election.
Beautifully said, Steve! Thank you for a great perspective!