Though I have never written much on politics before, this will be my fifth article on the 2016 Election. The reason I've written these articles on the 2016 Election is because of the grave effect its had on my brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the first election I can recall in my 47 years, that has caused such strong fear and deep division among Christians. And honestly, I'm quite perplexed by it all. I'm grieved to the core about how fearful many Christians have become. I'm heartbroken over the self-preservation that's overtaken so many saints in Christ, that they're willing...no, more than willing...they are fully committed to sacrifice biblical precepts and mandates to save their personal agendas and interests.
The two prominent serenades evangelicals who are voting for Donald Trump keep singing to lull/dull our consciences are, "We're not voting for a pastor, we're voting for a president!" and "At least Donald Trump is pro-life!"
I know we're not voting for a pastor. And I agree. However, agreeing that I am not voting for a pastor, but a Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America, doesn't mean I've lost all my discernment as a Christian. Just because I'm not voting for a religious office doesn't mean that I throw away God's Word, disregard the Holy Spirit's leading, and abandon my love for Christ and His commands of how one of His disciples ought to think, feel, and live in this world.
Because I am #ProGospel #ProJesus and #ProLife I could never vote for a megalomaniacal con-artist like Donald Trump who changes his mind as often and as easily as the wind blows. Trump will say/promise anything as long as it gets him whatever he wants to feed his already overweening ego. Many have said that NOT voting for Trump is like voting for Hillary. But the truth is, voting for Trump IS voting for Hillary. They are both megalomaniacal con-artists with self-centered agendas. They both support only what aligns with their personal desires. Both have proven records that show their primary concern is themselves; not other people, and certainly not the welfare of our country.
And though I've shared previously that Trump is not pro-life, a few friends and readers have tried to convince me to vote for Trump because they're deceived to believe that he is pro-life. So that you can hear it from his own blasphemous mouth, I'm sharing this interview Trump had in April with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie of the Today Show. At the 9:56 minute mark of the interview, Trump is asked about his stance on abortion...and he is for it.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (on abortion):
Guthrie: Republican platform every four years has a provision that states that the right of the unborn child shall not be infringed, and it makes no exceptions for rape for incest, for the life of the mother. Would you want to change the Republican platform so that exceptions would be made on abortions in the case of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother?
Trump: Yes, I would. Yes I would. Absolutely, for the three exceptions, I would.
Guthrie: Would you have an exception for the health of the mother?
Trump: I would leave it for the life of the mother, but I would absolutely have the three exceptions.
Dr. Robert Jeffress has proclaimed that any Christian who doesn't vote for Donald Trump is a fool. Jack Graham and many other notable name brand Christian "leaders" agree. To make things worse, Jerry Falwell, Jr. (President of Liberty University) has gone so far as to compare Donald Trump's reprehensible character, to that of King David's. What?! Perhaps Falwell meant King Saul? I know their reigns were one after another. Perhaps he got these two kings mixed up? Because who in their right mind would compare a megalomaniacal, unashamedly and boastingly immoral, and flagrant liar to be like King David—the only sinner whom God proclaimed has a heart after His?
Now, a comparison to Barabbas (which I've already written about) or King Saul, I would agree. King Saul is the man that the ungrateful, entitled, and rebellious people of Israel asked for from the LORD. He's the one whom God warned the Israelites, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and olive orchards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." (1 Samuel 8:11-18) Now this sounds more like the character and actions of Donald Trump.
The main arguments to vote for Trump have been summarized and supported by Jack Graham in an article he wrote for a Fox News Opinion piece (June 22, 2016):
Now, a comparison to Barabbas (which I've already written about) or King Saul, I would agree. King Saul is the man that the ungrateful, entitled, and rebellious people of Israel asked for from the LORD. He's the one whom God warned the Israelites, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and olive orchards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." (1 Samuel 8:11-18) Now this sounds more like the character and actions of Donald Trump.
The main arguments to vote for Trump have been summarized and supported by Jack Graham in an article he wrote for a Fox News Opinion piece (June 22, 2016):
- "[H]is core appeal resiliently overshadows his flaws"
- "[H]e will fight for the issues that matter most to conservatives...Supreme Court Nominees, protection and sanctity of life, Religious Liberty..."
- "Donald Trump says he will support those issues that conservative evangelicals care about. Hillary Clinton promises she won’t."
I am not convinced to do anything because a man said I should...except if that man is Jesus Christ...then I'm convinced. And since I can't find anything in Scripture that supports anything Jack Graham, Robert Jeffress, Jerry Falwell, Jr., James Dobson and all the other name brand Christians and false teachers (e.g., Paula White, Jentezen Franklin, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, etc.) on Trump's "Evangelical Advisory Board" have purported as solidly "biblical" reasons, I refuse to acquiesce.
I am deeply saddened to hear that Jack Graham and others believe that the things that Christians care most about are the things of this earth. Yes, I care about the sanctity of life. I care about religious liberty. I care about the sanctity of marriage as God has ordained. But all these are secondary issues. The primary issue I care most about is the one that Christ my Lord has told me to care most about—the sanctity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And this is what is being attacked by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. This is why they are, in my eyes, the equal of two evils.
Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton openly mock the Gospel of Christ by proclaiming to have a form of Christianity, while they deny the power of Christ in salvation (2 Tim 3:5). Trump has openly and unashamedly proclaimed that he has never repented (asked God for forgiveness) because he doesn't feel he needs to be forgiven of anything here and here.
Furthermore, near the end of an interview with Cal Thomas in June 2016, Thomas asks Trump, "Who do you say Jesus is?" Trump says, "Jesus to me is somebody I can think about for security and confidence. Somebody I can revere in terms of bravery and in terms of courage and, because I consider the Christian religion so important, somebody I can totally rely on in my own mind." Prior to this question, Cal Thomas asked, "You have said you never felt the need to ask for God’s forgiveness, and yet repentance for one’s sins is a precondition to salvation. I ask you the question Jesus asked of Peter: Who do you say He is?" Trump's response, "I will be asking for forgiveness, but hopefully I won’t have to be asking for much forgiveness. As you know, I am Presbyterian and Protestant. I’ve had great relationships and developed even greater relationships with ministers. We have tremendous support from the clergy. I think I will be doing very well during the election with evangelicals and with Christians...I’m going to treat my religion, which is Christian, with great respect and care."
Below is a clip from Trump's CNN interview with Anderson Cooper where Trump proudly proclaims his false gospel of the false jesus he believes in.
It would be better if Donald Trump never claimed to be a Christian, and never maligns the Gospel. But he does. And therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, cast a vote "for" someone who openly mocks the life, death, and resurrection of my Savior. I cannot cast a vote "for" a Judas who betrays my Master with a kiss. But what I can do is vote my conscience as my Lord and Savior leads. And though I had previously stated that I would not vote at all if it's down to Trump and Hillary as the Presidential candidates, after much prayer, I have changed my mind. I will go to the voting booths next week (for early voting) for the 2016 Elections because there is more on the ballot than the Presidential nominees. On this year's ballot, I will have the opportunity, in my state, to vote for a U.S. Representative, Texas State Representative, Texas Railroad Commissioner, Texas Supreme Court Justices, other state judicial offices, and County offices (e.g., Sheriff, District Clerk, Constable, etc.). All of these offices matter just as much to me as the office of President because one day, one of these people may be running for President.
My husband and I have chosen an eligible write-in candidate for President, Tom Hoefling (thanks to faithful friends and readers who suggest him). And I highly commend him and his platform to you. My husband wisely said that we should not leave that area blank because we don't want anyone to mistakenly think that we merely forgot. We want to make our votes matter. And they won't matter if we don't vote at all, but they will matter if we vote for a candidate with whom our conscience allows.
I strongly encourage every Christian to go to the polls and vote. Vote for your state and local offices that are just as important as the office in the White House. And write in a vote for presidency for the the person who doesn't violate your conscience that has been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Please read psalms 55, 56, and 106; Proverbs 8 and Acts 3:19-21 and 9:31.
I am deeply saddened to hear that Jack Graham and others believe that the things that Christians care most about are the things of this earth. Yes, I care about the sanctity of life. I care about religious liberty. I care about the sanctity of marriage as God has ordained. But all these are secondary issues. The primary issue I care most about is the one that Christ my Lord has told me to care most about—the sanctity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And this is what is being attacked by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. This is why they are, in my eyes, the equal of two evils.
Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton openly mock the Gospel of Christ by proclaiming to have a form of Christianity, while they deny the power of Christ in salvation (2 Tim 3:5). Trump has openly and unashamedly proclaimed that he has never repented (asked God for forgiveness) because he doesn't feel he needs to be forgiven of anything here and here.
Furthermore, near the end of an interview with Cal Thomas in June 2016, Thomas asks Trump, "Who do you say Jesus is?" Trump says, "Jesus to me is somebody I can think about for security and confidence. Somebody I can revere in terms of bravery and in terms of courage and, because I consider the Christian religion so important, somebody I can totally rely on in my own mind." Prior to this question, Cal Thomas asked, "You have said you never felt the need to ask for God’s forgiveness, and yet repentance for one’s sins is a precondition to salvation. I ask you the question Jesus asked of Peter: Who do you say He is?" Trump's response, "I will be asking for forgiveness, but hopefully I won’t have to be asking for much forgiveness. As you know, I am Presbyterian and Protestant. I’ve had great relationships and developed even greater relationships with ministers. We have tremendous support from the clergy. I think I will be doing very well during the election with evangelicals and with Christians...I’m going to treat my religion, which is Christian, with great respect and care."
Below is a clip from Trump's CNN interview with Anderson Cooper where Trump proudly proclaims his false gospel of the false jesus he believes in.
It would be better if Donald Trump never claimed to be a Christian, and never maligns the Gospel. But he does. And therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, cast a vote "for" someone who openly mocks the life, death, and resurrection of my Savior. I cannot cast a vote "for" a Judas who betrays my Master with a kiss. But what I can do is vote my conscience as my Lord and Savior leads. And though I had previously stated that I would not vote at all if it's down to Trump and Hillary as the Presidential candidates, after much prayer, I have changed my mind. I will go to the voting booths next week (for early voting) for the 2016 Elections because there is more on the ballot than the Presidential nominees. On this year's ballot, I will have the opportunity, in my state, to vote for a U.S. Representative, Texas State Representative, Texas Railroad Commissioner, Texas Supreme Court Justices, other state judicial offices, and County offices (e.g., Sheriff, District Clerk, Constable, etc.). All of these offices matter just as much to me as the office of President because one day, one of these people may be running for President.
My husband and I have chosen an eligible write-in candidate for President, Tom Hoefling (thanks to faithful friends and readers who suggest him). And I highly commend him and his platform to you. My husband wisely said that we should not leave that area blank because we don't want anyone to mistakenly think that we merely forgot. We want to make our votes matter. And they won't matter if we don't vote at all, but they will matter if we vote for a candidate with whom our conscience allows.
I strongly encourage every Christian to go to the polls and vote. Vote for your state and local offices that are just as important as the office in the White House. And write in a vote for presidency for the the person who doesn't violate your conscience that has been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Please read psalms 55, 56, and 106; Proverbs 8 and Acts 3:19-21 and 9:31.
