The Lesser of Two Evils?

Written by Israel Wayne

The 2016 Election cycle has finally narrowed to just Donald Trump on the Republican side. It appears that Hillary Clinton will handily win the Democratic primaries.

This series of events brings us to a place that every election reaches. Is it morally right to vote for the lesser of two evils? As no human is perfect, this question will always emerge in politics. Some years may be easier than others for conservative voters, but this year is no easy choice.

What is fairly universally agreed upon is that Evangelical Christians overwhelmingly do NOT want Hillary Clinton to be the POTUS.

What they do not agree on, however, is how to best proceed. It seems to me that half of all of the Christians I know believe that a vote for a third party, or no vote at all, is a vote for Hillary. These individuals believe that you are a traitor to the cause if you do not vote for any Republican candidate, regardless of how repulsive you may find him.

These folks believe you must vote for Trump, no matter what you think of him…even if it means you have to hold your nose as you do it.

Another half believes that you are responsible for your vote before God, and that to vote for any evil or any compromise is to sin against God. These individuals believe that a vote is a sacred trust, and that they must steward it wisely. They cannot cast a vote for a candidate who is opposed to their deeply held values.

These folks would rather vote third party or abstain from voting if they believe they are violating their conscience. If called to vote between Hitler and Stalin, they will vote for Churchill…even if he isn’t on the ballot.

So who is right? What should Christians do in the upcoming election?

To be honest, my concern is not so much with who wins the next Presidential election (as important as that may be). I’m more deeply concerned with how Christians act in the face of this decision.

There is so much division within the Christian community over this election. There is anger, fear and vitriol. It seems that how you cast your vote (or your failure to do so), may become a kind of litmus test by which your spirituality will be judged by your fellow Christians.

We are reminded in Psalm 2 that there is always a conspiratorial nature to human government. Often, human leaders consider themselves to be little gods, and they desire to set up their little kingdoms on earth. They offer promises of hope, security and liberation. Rather than bend the knee to God, they seek the adulation and worship of the masses.

How does God feel about this? We are told in verse four that the one who is enthroned in Heaven laughs at these petty little rulers, and views them with scorn and derision. He reminds us of the One who ultimately controls all things.

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus tells us that, “All authority has been given to me, in Heaven and on earth.”

Philippians 2:9 informs us that God has exalted Jesus to the highest place, and has given Him a name (which reflects His authority), that is above every other name. Every knee will bow to this name, and every tongue will confess His supremacy.

Far from being discouraged by the attempts of humans to thwart God’s plans, the Psalmist informs us (chapter 2:10-12):

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

This is a prophetic reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

There is no political news that will frighten the Almighty. There is no elected offical who can thwart His eternal plans. There is no scheme of humankind that can overthrow God’s kingdom.

With this in mind, as it relates to the upcoming election, I would like for you to consider this:

Jesus did not say people will know you are His disciples by how you vote. He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

I would strongly encourage you to vote (or abstain) the way you feel compelled by your conscience. I would also advise you to show charity to those within the Body of Christ who disagree with you (and they will be legion). The one thing we dare not do is to disrupt the unity we have in Christ over a political election.

“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15).

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

I am deeply concerned for the future of our country, as I’m sure you are as well. We need to pray, vote as we feel led by God, and be willing to lovingly express our views in the marketplace of ideas. But we must never allow a political election to create unneeded disunity and strife within the Church.

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).

May this pivotal time in our nation’s history remind us that the ultimate solution to every poitical crisis is to “kiss the Son.” It is ultimately only when people bow their knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ that they will truly love their neighbor as themselves. Our greatest need is for spiritual revival and awakening, but this will not happen if we alllow ourselves to be so angry at our brother over his political views, that we cannot break bread together and pray for God’s Spirit to work in our midst.

Let’s pray for more humilty, spiritual brokenness and despration in our own hearts and in the hearts of our brothers and sisters. May God be merciful to us and to those we love. May God grant us maximum liberty to live a quiet life, and share the gospel with others. Thank you for hearing me out. God bless you!

Israel Wayne is a co-Founder of Family Renewal Ministries (www.FamilyRenewal.org). He is an author and conference speaker, and Site Editor for www.ChristianWorldview.net. He and his wife, Brook, are raising their nine children in SW Michigan.

This article was originally posted at ChristianPost.com