For God is not the author of confusion but of peace… Let all things be done decently and in order. ~ Saint Paul
“Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” ~ Alexander Solzhenitzen
Of two evils, choose neither . ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
This article will not change anyone’s mind about who they are going to vote for. If you are a Hillary hater or a Trump supporter, nothing I am going to say is going to change your mind. If you hate Trump and love Hillary, the same is true of you.
(Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up)
I will not be able to convince what we used to call Yellow Dog Democrats to change their vote. Yellow Dog Democrats was a political term applied to voters in the Southern United States who voted solely for candidates who represented the Democratic Party. The term originated in the late 19th century. These voters would allegedly “vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for any Republican”.
To be fair there are Yellow Dog Republicans too.
So this article is not for the Yellow Dogs or the single issue fanatics (pick an issue: abortion, climate change, gun control, trickledown economics, welfare state, etc.). I am writing more for myself than anyone else, but there is a growing group who are repulsed by both major party candidates and are tired of being shamed and put down with the false argument that to not vote for Hillary is to vote for Trump and vice versa.
To that point, the math is not valid that to fail to vote for candidate A means you are wasting your vote and by default you are voting for candidate B. Someone much smarter than me has written and excellent article about the math in that scenario. You can read it by clicking here.
Both major party candidates are flawed in their character and policies that are beyond the pale. You can read a much better article outlining that position by clicking here.
Here is my position: I cannot vote for Hillary because of her hubris to be President, her untrustworthy character, and her rabid support of even partial birth abortion is chilling. Her unequivocal support of extreme LGBTQ issues is a fundamental assault of the traditional family according to the Judeo-Christian values that I hold dear. Her entire public life is strewn with scandal after scandal. The ACLU’s support of her candidacy alone makes me shudder.
I cannot vote for Trump because he behaves like an immature twelve-year-old boy. (apologies to all twelve-year-old boys) He insults anyone who disagrees with him. He mocks women, speaks of and allegedly has assaulted women, mocks fat women, mocks the disabled. He is part owner of many casinos that promote the sin of gambling (remember when Christians were against that vice?) and inside those casinos are strip clubs where women are exploited and objectified. He brags about his infidelity while married. His equivocation on accepting the results of the election are unprecedented. (His extreme supporters frighten me.)
America’s white nationalists have spoken, and they’ve spoken loud and clear: Donald Trump is their presidential candidate of choice.
From former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke on down, the proudly racist fringe of the American electorate supports Trump.
Trump is unrepentant about his past behavior. He doesn’t believe he needs to apologize for anything.
My Christian convictions will not allow me to vote for either of these immoral people, platform or no; Supreme Court Justices or no; executive orders run amok, or no. Decency still matters to me. To vote for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.
Christians, please. Stop viewing this election through the eyes of pragmatism and start looking at it through the eyes of faith. ~ Carey Green
I recently had a conversation that went as follows:
Big Church Pastor: Joe, don’t you think Donald beat Killary tonight on the debates?
Me: No. In fact, I think America lost in the debate.
Big Church Pastor: Don’t tell me you aren’t voting against Killary.
Me: I’m writing in a candidate I’d be proud to have as a president.
Big Church Pastor: By not voting for Trump, you will be voting for Killary.
Me: No. I will be voting for my candidate and sleeping with a clear conscience.
Big Church Pastor: You *purests* are going to hand her the election.
Me: If I’m a *purest* does that make you an impurest?
Big Church Pastor: ____________.
The other day Lynette and I were driving to town and she made a simple, but profound observation. She said there is going to come a day when God and history will look back on this election and see three columns on the ballot. One column will be all those who voted for Hillary. The second will be all those that voted for Trump. But there will be a third column who said to the Democratic party and the Republican Party and to the American people, “No!”
Then she said, “I want my vote to be in the third column; the column for decency.”
There is a painting in which Faust is playing chess with the Devil. Faust has only a few pieces left on the board and seem to be check-mated. The expression on his face 
foretells his doom. The Devil, who seems to be very much in control, has a sneer of glee.
Through the years people would come to the gallery where the picture was displayed and gaze and ponder the hopelessness of the situation. As they would leave, most left with the sense that the artist had captured the essence of their own situation.
Then one day, a great chess master came into the gallery. He stood for hours focused on the painting and specifically the chessboard. Day after day, he would return studying the portrait. Finally, with a shout that disturbed everyone in the gallery, “It’s a lie! You still have a move.”
Our move is to sign our name in the third column.
Speaking of Faust…
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the White House, and lose his own soul?
Field Notes On The Jesus Way 
I LOVE this. You said exactly what I’ve been wanting to say, but I am not so good with the words.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of the would be “third column” voters could indeed have the courage to stand up and make a statement letting both Democrat leadership and Republican leadership know that we are sicken by the choices that have been presented to the American people in this election cycle. Meanwhile there are great talented people on both sides that would have been far better choices.
Pastor Joe: I agree with you on the character of each of these candidates, however one of them IS going to be our leader for the next four years. As I see it, its not so much about my feelings for either of them, but its more about what they will do. There is going to be at least three to four new supreme court justices appointed during their term. One person (Trump) is going to appoint Judges who uphold my values, and the other (Clinton) in not. The attack on Christianity will be the outcome of a Hillary vote for sure. Don’t believe it? remember they the DNC voted to take the term God out of their platform in their last Primary convention. She also believes and supports abortion up the day of delivery of a baby. I remember what Jesus says in Matthew about what will happen to one who assaults – offends a little one in Christ (remember the mill stone story from Jesus)? Lets remember King Cyrus wasn’t our kind of man either, but he was the man for the times. We are voting for a leader not a Pastor who will lead us in the right direction. God will need to help us for sure if she gets in. A non-vote is a vote for her and her unwitting followers. I will vote for Trump primarily because he tried to shame her on the abortion issue during last night’s debate. She was non verbal and stone faced when he confronted her. But almighty God was listening IMO, and it took character and courage to make a stand in this liberal society we live in. Yes it cost him votes and perhaps the big job, but he stood for my principals too when he said it. Christians can’t stay home this time, your freedom to worship is at stake. Their planned attacks on the platform of all Christianity was recently found in the released WikiLeaks. Don’t believe it? Google it for yourself. Blessings and the hope for your courage to do what’s right to all.
Bob Hooper
Camano Island, Wa
Thanks for commenting, Bob. As I tried to say in the first part of the piece I am not trying to change anyone’s mind who has already decided which candidate they are going to vote for. My purpose was to give voice to a growing silent minority who believe that to vote for either is untenable.
I believe Clinton or Trump will be our next president. I will live with that. I just can’t, in good conscience vote for what I feel are despicable human beings, not matter the cost. The church has weathered worse times in our history. We will survive a Clinton or Trump 4 year term.
Blessings to you, Bob.
Thanks for commenting, Bob. I stand by my article. I feel an obligation to take a stand about the character issue with both of these candidates. I don’t believe a man who will demean fat women and mock the disabled will take a stand for the unborn in any substantive way. He is a recent convert to the pro life position anyway. Beyond that—the GOP have had control of the White House for all but 16 years since 1980 and they have not been able to change Roe v. Wade. I have no confidence that Trump will effect any change. Of course, I would love to be wrong should he win the election and Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Joe,
Wouldn’t it be grand if the write-in votes swept the election? Of course, to do so would require most to agree on a third candidate. Care to suggest one? Please list those parts of their platform that you find worthy.
KSS
Joe! I am with you. I have come to this conclusion sometime back. You have articulated it well.
Thanks for the link on the math of not voting for one of the two most unfit candiates ever.
Kenny
Does your third option vote count?
I am in agreement with Pastor Joe. However, I am more concerned about the person who chooses not to exercise their constitutionally derived right to vote.
I am of the opinion that the more important elections are the local elections and the choice of a particular candidate is extremely important. We have the freedom and right to voice our opinion and desire for the nation’s direction and future. No, we have more than that, we have a responsibility. It is from the local level that springs our nation’s future leaders. It is the local level where our vote carries more weight.
If we go back into our nation’s history one of my favorite stories involves the role of the statehood of Texas in the events leading up to the Civil War. Texas statehood was a pivotal election topic in the 1844 Presidential Election. Slavery was also a hot topic connected to ratification of new states to the union. A result of that election and the one following was the Missouri Compromise of 1850 that included requiring Texas to “sell” off part of its territory. That territory would be divided into states that when added to the union would be done so in a way to keep the balance of slave and free states equal. But there is an interesting story regarding the congressional vote for Texas statehood.
The vote took place in 1845 and a letter was sent to President (of Texas) Sam Houston from his representative in Washington, D.C., Stephen Austin. Would Texas become a state or would it’s application be denied? Many U.S. citizens seemed to want it, but there were still many opposed. Of more importance was how the U.S. Senate felt on the matter, as the deciding factor lay with them. Thirty-six votes were needed to declare Statehood.
The message read something like,
“To the honorable Sam Houston, from his humble servant, Stephen Austin.
Sir, I send greetings from Washington, to you in Texas, the 28th and newest State in the Union. When I return, I shall tell you of the many remarkable events surrounding this news. But I must tell you of one now. As the names were called for the vote, I noticed that a Senator from Indiana, Harrigan by name, a man whom I thought to be against us, cast his ballot in our favor. And when the final count arrived, Texas had indeed become the 28th State by a margin of one vote…I don’t know why Senator Harrigan changed his mind. I only thank God for it, as should all citizens of the new State of Texas.”
Now that may or may not convince you that every vote matters. This man, Senator Harrigan was the deciding vote. But ….
Let’s go back to a day six years earlier in 1839 to the state of Indiana. On that day, legislators across the state gathered in Indianapolis for a very special vote, and one of those legislator’s names was Madison Marsh.
The Indiana State Legislators were meeting to vote on who would become the new State Senator. No one could agree on whether to vote for the two front-runners Democrat Harold Zummwald, or Democrat Benjamin Rothchild. But there was a third option. There was an unknown man named James Harrigan. Madison Marsh was the President Pro-Tempe of the Senate. Advisors kept on trying to tell him to vote for either Zummwald or Rothchild but they couldn’t agree on who would be the best candidate. Marsh suggested the third choice, Harrigan. He was untried and untested. No one knew what he might try to do in Washington. The advisors were vehemently opposed. It came time for the vote, and because of the odd number of legislators, lo and behold, there was a three-way-tie between Zummwald, Rothchild, and Harrigan. The deciding vote lay with President Pro-Tempe of the Senate, Madison Marsh.
Madison Marsh stood before the Legislators and cast his vote for James Harrigan. Harrigan was elected Senator by one vote, the vote of Madison Marsh.
Pretty incredible, wouldn’t you say? Well, now we reach the highlight of the story. Let’s move back a couple of years to a special day in 1837.
Farmer Jamison Shoemaker was, as was his normal routine, plowing his field preparing it for the corn season. Near the end of the day, his neighbor came up to him and started talking to him about Election Day. Shoemaker had thought that Election Day wasn’t until the following day. However, his neighbor told him that he had just come home from voting in town. Shoemaker panicked and rushed towards town as fast as he could to get there before the polls closed.
He made it to town by 4:55 PM where the poll workers were debating whether or not to close the poll early. Jamison Shoemaker stumbled through the door. Since the workers didn’t have any more official ballots, they gave him a piece of paper and told him to write down his selection.
Shoemaker did so and put it in the ballot box. The workers opened up the ballot box, counted the votes, and declared that the new Representative to the Indiana State Legislator was a man named Madison Marsh. Shoemaker was happy because Marsh was the man for which he had just voted. But he wasn’t as happy as Madison Marsh would be when he found out that he was the man who voted for him. As it turns out, Marsh got 218 votes, and his opponent got 217 votes. Jamison Shoemaker’s homemade ballot put Marsh into office. He won by a single vote. History would tell if Shoemaker made the right choice. 😉
Shoemaker voted for Marsh, who won by one vote.
Marsh voted for Harrigan, who won by one vote.
Harrigan voted for Texas Statehood, which won by one vote.
One ordinary man, with one ordinary vote, was directly responsible for Texas becoming a State, a pivotal event in staving off the civil war for another decade.
Still think that one vote doesn’t make a difference?
So is this a random coincidence? I don’t think so. A coincidence is something that happens by chance and something that we don’t have any control over. But none of what happened in the story happened by chance. Each of those men carefully and purposefully cast their vote for a specific man for a specific purpose. They had strong beliefs, and they acted on them.
But isn’t it strange how things worked out, with each decision being determined by just one vote?
The second reason I don’t believe it was coincidental is that I don’t believe anything is coincidental. I prefer to call it: Providential. It was all a part of God’s plan. Those men acted and God used their actions to work His will. That’s the reason it’s so important to keep on trusting in God, no matter what’s going on around us, even elections. We see and hear what’s going on around us, but He sees the big picture. That’s what David meant in Psalm 90 when he said “God is from everlasting to everlasting.” Not only does God see the big picture, but He’s in control of it too.
Make sure you vote whether it is choice #1, #2, or …. #3.
Chris
See the book “Magnificent Destiny” by Paul Wellman for factual information.
Also the article found here:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19941129&id=97YeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Tc8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6332,4520082