Voting Your Conscience
Say what you will about the presidential candidates, you have to admit this year's election cycle has been an interesting one. Born only eight days after Bill Clinton's swearing into office as the 42nd President of the United States, I have only been around for the last three presidencies. Perhaps I am ill-qualified to write about something I quite honestly know little about. If you know me you'd probably be surprised to see me even discussing politics.
Before I begin, I believe it is important for me to note that I do not support either major party candidate. The following thoughts are my observations on the current presidential election and are that alone: observations. Like I said, I certainly do not claim to "know-it-all" when it comes to politics and I am not going to try to convince you one way or the other — we've all had enough of that lately. I pray for wisdom and discernment and I take voting seriously, thoughtfully considering every candidate.
In the past few months I have seen article after article telling me why I should side with "#NeverThis" or "#NeverThat" and why evangelicals should be ashamed of something or other. Click-baiting aside, I think our nation is at a crossroads. When neither side is willing to tell the real truth unless it benefits their case, those crossroads become a daunting reality. Democracy just doesn't work that way. If we continue to build a nation on lies, deceit and immorality, we shouldn't expect something different in return.
Flawed Persons
There is a ridiculous moral and ethical double standard in this election from both sides of the aisle. If we are honest, there has been real deception. There has been immoral, lewd behavior. The media skews every news story, debate and scandal that emerges. Each candidate dodges question after question in search of a way to insert-their-political-agenda-here. They try to justify their actions and words by fighting each other — they tear each other down — just to make themselves look not as bad.
Both candidates are flawed people. Let's face it, we all are. We put them within striking distance of the White House. Both candidates' parties look for ways to dig up dirt on the other. Instead of focusing on their own might-be-presidency, they focus on burning down the platform of the man or woman on their left or right. It reminds me of my sixth grade class' presidential election. One twelve year old promised to assert his will over the authorities to rid the halls of school uniforms, instating "denim reform" in favor of the students. The other spoke for mandated ice cream breaks. I feel like I am watching twelve year olds fight it out over a pair of jeans and ice cream (neither of which came to fruition).
Forgiveness
For some reason it would seem that each side believes the actions and words of their candidates are more worthy of forgiveness than their opponents'. Each hold their opponent's candidate to a higher moral and ethical standard than their own candidate offers. This alone is contradictory, but there is more here for believers. Does this not speak against the very foundation of the forgiveness that Christ modeled for us? Christ didn't grade sins on the cross when he was covering them with his blood. He didn't have to differentiate between those he would forgive and those he would not — he covered all sins (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). We know the only sin for which forgiveness is not given is the sin for which forgiveness is not wanted: utter rejection of God's grace.
I have seen both candidates deny allegations against them. I have seen them both lie to cover up their words from weeks, months and years before. Words can be hurtful, and can many times lead to harmful action. I have also seen them both apologize for some of those instances. Words can also rebuild and repair. We should hold them each responsible for their wrongdoings and their speech, but we can't offer forgiveness to one and not to the other.
Throwing Away Your Vote
I have seen many pastors and evangelical leaders urging their congregations and conventions to vote for a specific candidate over the other simply because they shouldn't vote for the one they deem irredeemable. They may not even truly support the candidate they endorse, but they know they for sure don't approve of the other. I can respect their conviction not to vote for a specific candidate. But I cannot respect their tossing aside of values based on a "lesser of two evils" ideology. Last time I checked, if something is the "lesser of two evils" it is still evil. Hear me say this: I do not believe that either candidate is inherently evil and irredeemable. I think to say so is incredible fallacious, not to mention limiting of the power and sovereignty of God.
When you allow your values to become worthless by contradicting them with your actions and words, you lose authority and influence. As a shepherd or leader of people, you must recognize the influence and importance of the position you hold. The recent uprising of students against Jerry Falwell of Liberty University speaks to this. Supporting Trump could mean turning a blind eye to racism, adultery, lasciviousness, false witness and superiority of being — idolatry. Supporting Clinton could mean turning a blind eye to deceit, wrongful ambition, disregard for law, and the systematic erasing of infant lives. There seems to be no real choice for those caught in the mess.
Fostering prayerful contemplation and consideration amongst believers attending the polls, however, can cultivate a greater community open to discourse; one that honors and reflects the heart of Christ. There are third party candidates that successfully respect the constitution of the United States, the rights of the people under and outside of that constitution, and the laws that govern our once great nation. If throwing away your vote means sticking to your convictions and values, then by all means: throw away your vote. When your yes is "yes" and your no is "no," your vote has not been thrown away. You are holding to a greater system of values and conviction.
Religious Freedom
Let's face it, we live in a time when religious liberty is threatened regardless of party lines. One candidate wants to stop, frisk, and deport all of those entering the country as immigrants and refugees looking for something more, based solely on their ethnicity and religious belief. The other candidate looks to retract the rights of those expressing their religious values, condemning those values as discriminatory.
We live in a nation founded on basic principles, one of them being religious liberty. Immigrants traveled to this country over four hundred years ago in search of a place where they could express their religious beliefs freely, unhindered by government control. By closing our borders we lose the melting pot culture that has created the American Dream, replacing it with the fear-mongering of terrorism and difference of religion. And by restricting the religious beliefs and convictions of people to fit the mold and opinion of a few, persecution has taken hold of our nation.
Religious freedom was the crux on which this nation was founded, and might very well be the crux on which it falls. Christ tells us that he did not come to bring peace, but division (Luke 12:49-53). He forces us to choose between dying to ourselves and glorifying him, or rejecting his offer of grace in hopes of finding unity where there is only discord. I continue to see his teaching come to life everyday. There is a difference between discrimination and religious conviction. The two, when used interchangeably, are dangerously destructive.
Conclusion
My intention was not to push buttons or criticize the voting decisions of anyone. My only hope was to encourage those who feel the media has skewed this election — and quite honestly are tired of it — to wade through the mess. I certainly did not have the chance to cover every issue. That wasn't my goal. I want to merely create a discourse that goes further than supporting a candidate in spite of another one. These were my observations from the past few months. I am saddened by what I have seen. I am critical of the abuse of the democratic system in our country. It is damaging, deceiving and dividing us as a nation.
I'm not telling you who to vote for, be it Trump, Clinton, or a third party candidate. What I do ask is that you prayerfully consider your decision. It matters. Your conviction matters. Don't check it at the curtain of the voting booth on November 8. Do your homework. Learn about the candidates outside of the mainstream, biased news media. Stand up for your values. Vote your conscience. At the end of the day, all we can do is strive for better and rely on Jesus Christ to guide the work he has for us in his kingdom.