Who to Vote for, If At All?

 Joel Belz’ commentary on World Magazine’s podcast, The World and Everything in It, on October 14 (at the end, 30:00 mark), about who to vote for is a classic case of evangelical Christian naivete, when it comes to politics.

He rightly rules out Biden, as every faithful Christian must, given his ardent support for abortion alone.  But he then goes on to give Trump deniers a righteous sense of rejecting rudeness and being careless with the truth.

Christians have struggled with perfectionism in politics for a long time.  Joel Belz still falls into it.  Your vote is not a valentine for a candidate, nor is it a religious action that before the Lord you believe this candidate has done nothing wrong before God (or even that he is in good standing with the Lord). 

No, your vote is a chess move on a political board.  It doesn’t endorse every imperfection of the candidate, not even unconfessed ones!  Votes should take account of the policies a candidate pursues long term, and the viable alternatives.

Don’t strain out the gnat and swallow the camel.  We’ll take a rough character who effects Christian policies over a nicer-appearing guy aggressively promoting abortion, sodomy, insistence that 8 year-old’s be allowed to transition their gender only on their say-so, and more.  Trump’s immigration policy has been very unhelpful and saddens me, but it pales in comparison to the good judges he has appointed, using the bully pulpit for pro-life, tax cuts, toughness to China, Iran and Russia, and more.

I believe personally that not voting for Trump in this election would be a sin of omission for the Christian.  Faithful Christians can disagree on several things I've listed above, but cannot vote for things God calls an abomination.  (There are three of those above, if you're counting.)  As a pastor, it isn’t something I’m going to go after members for.  Many are caught up in Belz’ perfectionism, and just can't pull the lever for Trump.  Teaching is the need of the day.  

Every non-vote for Trump is a boost for Biden and his wicked policies.  It would be failing to act when you could, to avert serious negative consequences to our country.