Couple of weeks ago a friend asked me to reconsider my stance of not voting for the lesser of two evils (Clinton & Trump). This was my response to his request. It is long, but I hope it explains why I believe as followers of Jesus we cannot vote for either. What will we do, will we trust in chariots and horses, or will we trust and boast in the name of our Lord, our God? (Psalm 1):

"I have thought once again about your position as I have heard many of my friends espouse the same view when I share about not being able to put my approval stamp on either Clinton or Trump. I need to remain consistent to how Jesus calls me to be as a witness to the world. Jesus never talks about being about this world’s kingdoms, but to be out and about engaging His Kingdom in the world, to be a light of Him in the world.

How can I state to an unbeliever that I approve of either? This whole idea about voting for the lesser evil is of man’s thinking and of this world’s thinking. It is not of our Lord’s thinking or of His Kingdom principles. When I say to an unbeliever that I cannot endorse either candidate because each so move in ways contrary to Christ, it is a beautiful witness to the unbeliever that God offers something different than what the world is offering. All unbelievers know in their hearts that the corrupted ways we are seeing and living in America is not a good way to live –they know this deep in their hearts because they were made in His image, and the Holy Spirit is always revealing this truth to their hearts. As a witness of Jesus I must pronounce the same to the world as a light unto our Lord, that He is the only source of rescue from the world’s darkness and madness.

The other issue that I strongly believe is this:
Jesus never talks to His followers about being at the king’s business, only about our Father’s business and about our Jesus’ passion to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10, Matt 4:19, Mark 1:17, Matt. 28:18-20) and He is the real King. We are to bring His Kingdom to others as true ambassadors of Christ who represent Him well. The disciples, after Jesus resurrected, and the early church never engaged in the politics of their time. Jesus asked them (and us today) to submit to the kings, to give them what is theirs, and we are commanded to love Him with all of our heart, to intimately know Him (“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” John 17:3) ,and to love others in how He defines what love IS.

If every person who professed they were a Christian would just engage the two greatest commandments (love Him and others) faithfully in each day, the world would look more like you refer to wanting. Government is never the answer to these needs and wants. We are to be about God’s Kingdom’s business, not at man’s kingdoms business. The enemy has distracted God’s people by getting them to think that they must engage mans’ kingdoms and be involved in man’s and king’s politics and governments, getting them to think that these man’s institutions are the answer. God never mentions in the NT anything about engaging the kings and governments except to honor them, submit to them, and that He has ordained kings (governments) to be His ministers of His justice (Rom 13:1-7). Many governments do not heed to His ordained call nor to His command to rule in His ways. All we have to do is look at Israel in the OT, and the judges in the Book of Judges to see how fickle man’s devotion to God is. They are not the answer, and never have been, or will be.

American politics have become so corrupt because the majority in this country have rejected God’s ways of living (even many who profess being followers of Jesus reject and refuse to live steadfast obedient lives to Christ). The only answer and rescue is Jesus and being about (engaging) His Kingdom business and principles and commandments. Voting for Clinton or Trump is NOT the answer. We can use this time to be an incredible witness to our unbelieving neighbors by sharing why we can’t vote for either, and sharing that Jesus and His ways are the Answer to all things.

I am not going to vote for either – and I am praying that God will extend His mercy to us -the church- in our failings unto Him, asking for His forgiveness that we have been a poor witness of Him to the world. That He would have mercy upon us (the church) and helps us to repent, and live lives that are steadfast obedient to Christ in every arena of our lives so that we will shine brighter and purer as His witnesses unto Him, unto His perfect love, justice, and ways; and unto His invitation that He truly is the only Source for all people, for all of their-our needs. No government, no person, no man solutions is the Answer, only He and His ways are! And He tells us many will turn away from Him, but there remains a remnant or the elect who will persevere – so let’s be praying that God will help us and help His elect to persevere, to remain true to Him and to His ways in all that we do.

I need to remain true to Him even regarding voting for candidates – and I cannot justify in any way (as I stand before Him as His ambassador on earth) by putting a stamp of approval (by voting) for either of the candidates. I must remain true to Him and to His ways.

I end with these last Scriptural exhortations for a time such as this, where God does not call us to look to government or politics for His answers during this era of the end times which is unfolding before our eyes. There is no mention in these passages to engage the world with man’s kings and governments, but instead to engage the world in Christ and through His ways:
2 Timothy 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Isn’t that such a lovely way to respond to what is going on? (I cannot and will not do anything willingly that will not glorify my Father - I believe in my heart: to condone my support for the lesser evil candidate is contrary to my precious Jesus, and does not bring glory to my dear Papa in heaven.) And again the other ways to engage is to be steadfast faithful to Him regarding His two greatest commandments (love Him and others through His ways) in each day…

For me, these behaviors of being obedient to our Jesus which are exhorted in these Scriptural passages brings much peace and comfort to my heart – the thought of voting for Clinton or Trump brings great unsettling and havoc to my heart.

What will you do, will you trust in chariots and horses, or will you trust and boast in the name of our Lord, our God? (Psalm 1)

Thanks for reading and considering all of what I wrote – I know I am repetitive with a couple of my stances, and that is probably to make clear where I stand in my commitment to the word of God, and in my passion to remain true to our Jesus and Father in heaven, in all that I do and say."

I welcome your responses to my thoughts. You can post your responses below in the comment section, or email directly by going to our Contact Website by clicking on this link.

God bless you,