How should I vote in this election?
Unless you’ve been in a coma for the past year, you have likely asked yourself that question. After all, as everyone is saying, this is the most important election of our lifetimes.
I believe it is. Of course, we hear that every election, but every election increases in importance because of the extreme pace at which our society is disintegrating.
I usually enjoy the election process, but this year I have a disgusting feeling in the pit of my stomach. It seems that this time around the campaign ads have reached a new low. Although I’ve heard a few commercials touting the experiences and dreams of a candidate, the overwhelming majority are nothing more than self-serving, mudslinging attacks against an equally malicious opponent.
Amid this political chaos, how do we decide who will receive our precious vote?
I know that everyone has an opinion on the matter, but I would like to chime in and offer a few rules that we should take into the polling booth.
Rule 1: Think biblically
We tend to segment our lives between spiritual and secular. We piously crack open our Bibles on Sunday morning but allow them to collect dust the rest of the week. We like to quote “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105), but then neglect to take the path it illuminates. The message of the Bible must guide every aspect of our lives.
Including how we vote.
Once we decide that we will think biblically, then it’s time to advance to rule #2.
Rule 2: Prioritize issues of right and wrong
Our society has stripped the authority of determining what is right and wrong from God and handed it off to the secular world. Biblical issues have become social issues, which means we have no right to reject them.
However, there are some matters that we cannot disregard. They are issues of right and wrong, and if allowed to continue, will destroy our nation.
The biblical proverb makes an excellent point: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). Unfortunately, we have rejected righteousness in favor of sin, and it has brought a reproach on our nation.
There are two primary issues of right and wrong on the forefront today; issues that we cannot ignore if we are going to think biblically.
Issue #1: Abortion
Abortion is much more than a political hot potato; it is an issue of morality. Plain and simple, the elimination of babies while still in the womb is nothing less than coldblooded murder. On top of that, it is an assault on the character of God.
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
If we are created in God’s image, then to purposefully terminate an innocent life is more than a slap in His face; it is an outright rejection of His very essence.
Issue #2: LGBT rights/gender confusion/same sex marriage
While abortion is an assault on the character of God, gender confusion (no one knows any more if they are a boy, girl, neither, both, or whatever) is an assault on the creation of God. Remember from Genesis 1:27 that God created humans as “male and female.” Two options. And you don’t get to choose.
Same sex marriage (and all acts of homosexuality) is much more than a simple choice that consenting adults should be allowed to make: it is an assault on the design of God.
God is clear about His design for marriage. Soon after the creation of man and woman, He issued these instructions:
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
One man and one woman united until death. That is God’s perfect design. We have no right to change that definition.
Now that we’ve pinpointed the primary issues of this election season, where do the current candidates stand?
For now, let’s just focus on the presidential candidates as we move to rule 3.
Rule 3: Select those who will do what is right
I know what you’re thinking. There’s no one who will do what is right!
I feel your pain. However, to sit at home on election day would be a dereliction of duty. God created government, so His people should get involved in it, right? Does it make sense to hand the reigns of the election over completely to unbelievers?
Let’s take a quick look at each of the presidential candidates and where they stand on the two primary moral issues of this campaign:
Hillary Clinton (Democrat)
Hillary is verbal about her stand against biblical values. She supports LGBT rights as a protected class and believes that an unborn baby is not a constitutionally protected person. In her final presidential debate this year, nothing riled her like Trump’s attack on abortion.
Donald Trump (Republican)
I was unable to find information on Trump’s website about abortion and LGBT rights, but the GOP party platform condemns the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of homosexual marriage and supports the pro-life cause.
Gary Johnson (Libertarian)
Many would-be Republicans have defected to the Libertarian party for this election, but Johnson’s website brags about how he and his running mate Bill Weld both solidly support “marriage equality” and LGBT rights as well as abortion.
Jill Stein (Green Party)
Stein’s website says her plan is to protect LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination. Furthermore, she tweeted on June 27, 2016 that “A woman’s right to choose is a non-negotiable human right.” From that statement, I would surmise that she is not in favor of giving the baby a vote in the matter, but that’s common for the lack logic evident in abortion supporters.
Darrell Castle (Constitutional Party)
Castle is against abortion and believes in biblical marriage. His overall beliefs are much more in line with those of most conservative Christians, but that raises an important question: should we vote for someone who has no chance of winning and therefore allow an avowedly liberal candidate to win? Darrell is not even going to be on the ballot in many states.
The choices this year put us in a dilemma. There is little doubt that one of the two main party candidates will be elected. So, do we choose an immoral womanizer (is anyone really surprised?) or a woman with an overtly anti-God agenda?
I am reminded of this verse that seems to so aptly describe our predicament:
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)
I’m not sure we can find many “righteous” people among our candidates, but let’s do the best we can. I don’t want to spend the next few years groaning. I prefer to live in a nation that God is willing to bless.
Let’s think biblically about every area of our lives, including the upcoming election.
