Today is election day in America. Today, the American people will choose a new leader, a new president, a new commander-in-chief to lead our nation for the next four years. This is a big day in American history that comes as the culmination of a very negative and confusing political cycle. Voting is a privilege that we should take seriously, and as a follower of Christ, it’s vital to make responsible and Christ-exalting decisions in the voting booth. Many people have not yet decided who they’re voting for to lead our nation, but one thing’s for sure, you should never vote for someone based on some really bad reasons some people use in choosing a president.
The Wealth of the Political Candidate
Just because a person is wealthy doesn’t mean he or she is capable of solving the economic problems of the United States of America. For those over 40, you likely remember the man with the charts who promised to solve all of America’s financial problems – Texas billionaire Ross Perot. However, the American people found that although Perot was a wealthy man, his wealth alone was not enough to prepare him to lead the nation. If you take a look a the list of wealthy political candidates from presidential history, you will see that many of our previous presidential candidates (and elected presidents) were wealthy at the time of their presidential bid.
While understanding how money works is an extremely vital part of leading our nation, it’s not the only factor that should qualify (or disqualify) a person from the office of president. The office of president is not a throne of a dictator. The president uses advisors, assistants, and team members to make decisions that the individual’s weak areas.
Because a Candidate will be the First __________ President
In 2008, it’s an undeniable fact that many people went to the polls and voted for Barack Obama to become the president of the United States based solely on his skin color. For many people in America, it was all about electing the first African-American president. However, when it comes to choosing a leader for the United States, the people can’t afford to make choices based on skin color, sex, or other leading factors that often rouse voters to make their choice based on an emotionally charged cultural wave.
It feels good to be a part of history, but if “making history” is the driving factor of your vote, you’ve missed the point of the election and you don’t understand the magnitude of your decisions. Don’t go to the polls and choose a president based on the fact that your political candidate will “make history.” Be a responsible and informed voter.
The Coolest Presidential Candidate
Let’s face it, the presidential candidate with the most swag or bling is not necessarily the best choice for our nation. Today’s political candidates try to use methods that make them look culturally relevant and cool in the eyes of the people in order to gain voters. Barack Obama used social media platforms in ways that have never been done in American history. This strategy connected him to young voters who felt connected to him due to social media (Facebook and Twitter). During this campaign, we’ve seen Donald Trump’s success driven by his star profile as a businessman and a reality television star. He is also connected to many people in the pop-culture world. Just recently, Hillary Clinton received help from Beyoncé and Jay Z in an attempt to connect to younger millennials.
If you’re choosing a presidential candidate based on their connection to a group of rappers, artists, or actors — you obviously don’t understand the enormous responsibility of voting for president. There have been ads online in the past that asked, “What President Would You Have a Beer With?” Perhaps the reason our nation is in the state it’s in today is because we’re going to the polls and choosing a candidate based on such trivial nonsense.
The Presidential Candidate of Your Political Party
What if a presidential candidate is quite capable, and yet the individual does not appear on the ballot beneath your political party? Should you only vote for the candidate within your party or should you consider looking beyond your party to find the candidate that’s most capable and has the values and dignity to lead the United States of America? As an American citizen, you are free to vote outside of party lines and this freedom falls within the lawful rights of all citizens. However, many people remain slaves to broken systems in order to select a president. The responsible voter will look over and outside of party lines to select the most capable candidate.
Don’t Make Your Decision Based on Commercials
The majority of all presidential political commercials stretch the truth in order to make their candidate look good. From swelling words of achievement to trash talking about the other candidate – the majority of such political ads contain material that isn’t exactly true. It would be wise to choose a candidate based on verified facts rather than a series of political commercials. Likewise, just because a pastor or evangelical leader appeared on television in support of a candidate doesn’t mean that the person is fit for office.
As a Christian, it’s essential to consider your responsibility in choosing a president. Don’t make your choice based on trivial nonsense. Consider the following factors as you cast your vote today:
- Will my choice of presidential candidate violate my conscience in any way?
- Where do the candidates stand on the subject of abortion?
- Will my choice of presidential candidate possess the dignity and respect due the office of POTUS?
- Will my choice of presidential candidate be a capable military leader?
- Will my choice of presidential candidate be a capable economic leader?
- Remember these verses as you vote:
- Proverbs 21:1 – The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
- Psalm 146:3 – Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
- Exodus 20:13 – You shall not murder.
- Romans 13:1-7 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
- 1 Peter 2:17 – Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
- Philippians 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
- Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
