1 1 1 1 2016

Most evangelical Christians in America see involvement in the electoral process as a moral/spiritual obligation. So, what is an American Christian to do when presented with a choice between two prominent presidential candidates where choosing either is morally problematic?

Many of us have been prayerfully asking ourselves that question. And we’ve been seeking wise counsel. In today’s post, I’ve collated online counsel that can be helpful to us as we seek to address the issue of Trump, Clinton, and the Evangelical Christian Voter.

1. Should Christians Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils? 

In a widely-read Christianity Today article, Russell Moore asks and answers the question, Should Christians Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils? Moore begins with these prophetic words:

For years, I have urged Christians to take seriously their obligations as citizens, starting with exercising the right to vote. In the public square and at the ballot box, we must be more engaged, not less. But what happens in a race where Christians are faced with two morally problematic choices? Should voters cast a ballot for the lesser of two evils?

After a well-reasoned presentation, Moore concludes:

Given these moral convictions, there have been times when I’ve faced two candidates, both of whom were morally disqualified. In one case, one candidate was pro-life but a race-baiter, running against a candidate who was pro-choice. I could not in good conscience put my name on either candidate. I wrote in the name of another leader. Other times, I’ve voted for a minor party candidate. In the cases when I’ve voted for an independent or written in a candidate, I didn’t necessarily expect that candidate to win—my main objective was to participate in the process without endorsing moral evil. As Christians, we are not responsible for the reality of our two-party system or for the way others exercise their citizenship, but we will give an account for how we delegate our authority.

Our primary concern is not the election night victory party, but the Judgment Seat of Christ.

When Christians face two clearly immoral options, we cannot rationalize a vote for immorality or injustice just because we deem the alternative to be worse. The Bible tells us we will be held accountable not only for the evil deeds we do but also when we “give approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). This side of the New Jerusalem, we will never have a perfect candidate. But we cannot vote for evil, even if it’s our only option.

2. Trump, Clinton, or Neither: How Evangelicals Are Expected to Vote 

Christianity Today highlights the issue: with the two major parties likely running candidates that many Evangelicals could not endorse, what does the Evangelical Christian do? According to CT:

Half of the 81 “evangelical insiders” surveyed by World magazine in March said that if faced with a Clinton/Trump ballot in November, they would vote for a third-party candidate even if that candidate had no chance to win (51%). More than a quarter more said they’d vote for a viable third-party candidate (29%). 

Read the entire CT article here: Trump, Clinton, or Neither: How Evangelicals Are Expected to Vote.

3. Crisis in American Democracy 

After a broad-based reflection on the state of democracy in the US, Al Mohler refuses to mince words:

To put the matter bluntly, we are now confronted with the reality that, in November, Hillary Clinton will likely be the Democratic nominee and Donald Trump the Republican nominee. This poses a significant problem for many Christians who believe they cannot, in good conscience, vote for either candidate. As a result, Christians are going to need a lot of careful political reflection in order to steward their vote and their political responsibility in this election cycle.

Read Dr. Mohler’s entire post here: Crisis in American Democracy. 

4. Why Social Conservatives Should Support #NeverTrump

Denny Burk summarizes 5 reasons Why Social Conservatives Should Support #NeverTrump.

  1. It is not at all clear what kind of justices Trump would appoint.
  2. Trump’s pro-life credentials are suspect.
  3. Trump is a pathological liar.
  4. It is misunderstanding of single-issue voting to say that abortion is the only issue that is disqualifying for a candidate.
  5. There are a host of characteristics that render Trump not merely a flawed candidate but a real threat to our constitutional order.

 5. #NeverTrump Has Only Just Started 

Denny Burk has been consistent with his conviction. In a follow-up post to Why Social Conservatives Should Support #NeverTrump, Burk offers 5 additional reflections around the theme of: #NeverTrump Has Only Just Started.

6. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? Conservative Christians May Face Tough Moral Choice, Warns Baptist Leader

The Christian Post interviewed Al Mohler in Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? Conservative Christians May Face Tough Moral Choice, Warns Baptist Leader.

Conservative Christians in America are going to be facing a “fundamental rethinking” about the government if the choice for president in November is between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, a Southern Baptist leader warned. “At the very least this is going to require of conservative Christians in America a fundamental rethinking of what we believe about the purpose of government and the character of political leadership,” said Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“We are going to have to be thinking through and praying through how Christian faithfulness, biblical fidelity, gospel faithfulness, can be channeled into very real but finite political choices that are going to be presented to the American people on the presidential ballot form this coming November,” he added.

7. Erick Erickson: I Will Not Vote for Clinton or Her Donor, Donald Trump

In a Fox News Opinion Piece, Erick Erickson states, I Will Not Vote for Clinton or Her Donor, Donald Trump. Erickson will have nothing to do with the false guilt that some try to heap on those who refuse to vote for Trump:

I could no more vote for Donald Trump for president than I could David Duke. Nor can I in good conscience vote for Hillary Clinton. The fact that Trump supporters will now spend seven months blaming conservatives for Trump’s defeat instead of admitting his general election chances are doomed will not persuade me to vote for Trump. His supporters will have to own his defeat.

Erickson concludes with these words:

Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump should be acceptable to any principled conservative or evangelical Christian. Neither candidate is fit for office. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Of two evils, choose neither.”

8. A Viable Alternative to Trump vs Clinton 

Many claim that a vote for anyone but Trump is a vote for Clinton. Jennifer Rubin, among others, disputes that notion. Rubin, writing an Opinion Piece for The Washington Post probes A Viable Alternative to Trump vs Clinton. Rubin quotes Bill Kristol’s perspective:

“An independent race is more doable than conventional wisdom has it, and lots of different individuals and groups are working or are ready to work on aspects of it,” says one of the most prominent backers of a third candidate, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol. “What’s really needed — in a way, all that’s really needed — is a candidate to jell around.”

9. An Open Letter to Majority America 

Nebraska Senator, Ben Sasse, proposes something akin to Rubin’s suggestion. Sasse posted An Open Letter to Majority America on his Facebook page. Senator Sasse begins with these words:

Note: If you are one of those rare souls who genuinely believe Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are honorable people – if they are the role models you want for your kids – then this letter is not for you. Instead, this letter is for the majority of Americans who wonder why the nation that put a man on the moon can’t find a healthy leader who can take us forward together.

Read Senator Sasse’s full proposal here.

A Concluding Word 

John Adams’ counsel from centuries ago reads like today’s headlines, and like wise counsel for us today…

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”

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