This election is hard for us. It is especially difficult for all of us that were raised with trophies just for participating and those of us that were told that everyone is a winner, that we could be whatever we wanted when we grew up, that America is always the hero, and that hard work and kindness were the way to be successful. We are indignant that we don’t have a “good choice” in this election.
We are idealists, albeit cynical ones, and we are horrified that we cannot throw our passions, ideals, hopes, dreams, and emotions wholeheartedly behind a candidate. It becomes even more increasingly difficult for those of us that are Christians and that desperately want, and perhaps even feel morally obligated, to vote our full conscience.
We desperately want, and perhaps even feel morally obligated, to vote our full conscience.
We want a candidate that may not be perfect, but that is humble and kind and conscientious and passionate and has a deep sense of personal integrity. However, that same person must also have ideals and principles that align with our own. He or she must share each and every personal conviction that we hold dear.
Unfortunately, that candidate likely doesn’t exist for us. We as a nation have deviated so far from the vision and intentions of our founding fathers that we likely do not have a system that could even allow for a candidate like that to exist.
However, that is not acceptable to us. We decide to not vote, to vote for a third-party candidate that has no chance of victory, or to write in a name of the person we believe in our hearts would be the best to lead our country. I beg you, don’t do that.
Your vote is not a full endorsement of a candidate and everything that he or she stands for. It is a choice, perhaps even a difficult and painful choice, to prayerfully look at our options and then check the box of the person that will *maybe* help pave the way for someone we would long to put into office in the future.
Your vote is not a full endorsement of a candidate and everything that he or she stands for. It is a choice, perhaps even a difficult and painful choice…
I cannot and will not attempt to defend either candidate. I am not thrilled at the opportunity to put one of them in office. However, my hope is not in Hillary Clinton or the Democratic Party and it’s not in Donald Trump or the Republican Party. My hope is in Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
We must acknowledge that our silence and our frustration at the denial of candidates that hold our ideals is a major part of the problem. We take so little responsibility but then complain and debate in forums that will accomplish nothing other than increasing offense and inactivity. Vote, get involved, pray, repent for yourself, your family, and our country.
This election is not an ending point, but it will very likely be a turning point. Don’t just toss your vote into a third, more palatable direction. Look a little further into the future and consider the implications of this election on every level, not just at the executive.
This election is not an ending point, but it will very likely be a turning point.
I agree with Franklin Graham who said, “Contrary to what one of the candidates said in last night’s debate, our country isn’t great because we are good. America is great because God has blessed it.” Our country was founded by men that acknowledged, respected, and submitted to a King much higher than themselves. We are responsible for how far from that we have shifted.
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4
Please pray. Please vote. Please take responsibility. This doesn’t have to be the end of America. But, it may be the beginning of the end of all of that for which we have stood. Stop blaming and getting offended and do something to make a real change.
