We are in a unique position as Americans in that we have the right to vote for our leaders. Throughout most of human history, that was not a right most humans had. Their leaders inherited power and authority. But we have the privilege in our country to leverage our vote to make choices. This should produce gratitude in us.

However, while we are privileged to live in a time and place where we get to vote, we should not treat our vote as a religious sacrament or make it an idol. No candidate is going to be the embodiment of Jesus. There is no political Savior or Messiah coming to eradicate evil or change the hearts of men. No politician’s agenda or platform lines up with everything Christians care about, nor to the degree we care about them. But none of those things should prevent us from engaging in the public square of ideas or voting.

The ability to vote for our governmental leaders is unique and the Bible doesn’t provide us explicit instructions on the subject, but this doesn't mean the Scriptures don't provide us insights and direction for thinking about such things.

For example: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). God judges the nations. And what is the standard of judgment? Righteousness. That the people and the land operate according to His Word. That they don't call good evil or evil good. One of the ways government leaders participate in this is that their policies and laws shape how justice and ethics are promoted or punished. We should seek leaders who will promote justice and righteousness.

Similarly, Proverbs 16:12 says, "It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness." Kings are not to do, or be, evil. The leadership of a governing official is established by righteousness. We know it’s possible for no candidate to meet this requirement, but we must keep the requirement in mind.

Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan." When the wicked rule the nation, the people groan. Why? It diminishes flourishing. They lead with wickedness. They fight against God's law and commands. They pervert justice. They exploit people. One of the ways the Bible says God judges a nation is by giving them wicked rulers.

Proverbs 28:16 says, "A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days." A leader without understanding/wisdom becomes a cruel oppressor. Leaders that serve themselves and not their people will be a tyrant. But those who hate injustice prolong their days. God approves of their leadership.

We should think about engagement in the public square from the lenses of glorifying God and loving our neighbor. We also should think about politics through the lenses of truth and justice.

Nobody in this presidential election is qualified to be an elder or pastor at our church (or any biblical church). However, that is not what we are voting on. We are voting on a political leader. The Bible is filled with imperfect leaders used by God to achieve His purposes. Figures like King David, who committed serious sins, were still considered men after God's own heart and used for great things. That doesn't mean we celebrate imperfections or lapse in character. It means we remember not to invest our hopes in them to be role models or saviors.

There are many factors that we as Christians must consider as we approach voting and making political choices. We have to think about their policy views on issues like abortion, religious freedom, judicial appointments, economic philosophy, taxation, foreign policy, and more. These things don't just affect "the country," but they affect us, our families, and our neighbors we are told by Jesus to love. What politician has the policies that we believe leads to more flourishing? This question matters in our decision-making.

When all those things are considered, both candidates have flaws. But I do not believe they are equal and opposite errors. One party stokes racial resentment, is anti-marriage and family, is for unrestricted termination of children in the womb, transing kids, open borders, expanding government welfare, censorship of free speech, and more. I do not believe the Republican platform is somehow given by God to Moses and delivered to us. But I do not believe the errors between the parties and their candidates are equal and opposite errors.

But one of the main questions that has been debated since 2015 when Trump announced he was running for President is: Should Christians vote for Donald Trump? Trump is unlike almost every candidate we've had in our country's history, and especially in my lifetime. He is a wrecking ball that defies all decorum and historical precedent. He speaks bluntly and not politically correct. He stands up to the media and calls them out. Yet he often goes off the rails in his speech, both in crassness and in mockery. One friend of mine who is a political operative in D.C. says Trump is someone that the Regime hates because he doesn't follow their rules or cower for their support. He's his own man (for better or for worse).

So how should we think about this question? Christians hear people shame them for voting Trump or shame them for not voting Trump. How should we think about these things? Paul once spoke to the church in Corinth and said, "This of me, not the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:12). His point was to say that he was giving his opinion, and not necessarily a word from God. That's what I'm going to do here. I'm trying to reason from the Scriptures implicitly here, rather than explicitly.

So should Christians vote for Donald Trump? I'd like to rephrase the question differently because "should" implies a moral imperative. I think the better question is: Can Christians—with clear consciences—vote for Donald Trump? My answer to the question is yes. Christians can vote with a clear conscience for Donald Trump. Do Christians have to vote for Donald Trump, if their consciences struggle? My answer is no. Nobody should bind anyone’s conscience on this matter. Why do I think these things? Here are 4 reasons I believe it is reasonable for a Christian to vote for Trump:

First, the person at the top of the ticket is not a dictator. He will have a cabinet and appoint 20,000 leaders throughout the government. Between these two candidates, which one do I believe will appoint the most Christians in these positions? It's Donald Trump. I'm not saying he'll exclusively appoint Christians. I'm saying he won't hesitate to put qualified Christians in position. I do not have confidence Harris will do that at all. Why does this matter? Because I believe everyone leads according to their beliefs and worldview. There is no such thing as a neutral view. Everyone legislates and leads according to what they think is good, beautiful, and true. So the more Christians in positions of influence and power, the more I believe their decisions will align with my values and worldview. And by voting, I'm participating in the direction this country goes.

Second, Trump and his party are not trying to actively destroy my values. The same cannot be said of Harris and most Democrats. Trump may not share my values, but he's not actively waging war against them. Harris is. Trump's stance against political correctness and the progressive agenda is a helpful resistance to the cultural shifts that threaten our values. I believe if Kamala Harris wins, she will seek to institute policies that are antithetical to Christian beliefs and values. She will seek to suppress opposition to her causes. She would have no problem with labeling Christian positions on gender and sexuality as hate speech. Trump would never do that. He may be fine with gay marriage and even people who want to identify as the opposite gender, but he wouldn't seek to take away Christians' voices of opposition against it.

Third, a Christian has to think about commands from God's Word. Love your neighbor: what economic policies lead to flourishing - free markets, foreign policy, education, justice system. Thou shall not steal: taxation philosophy. Thou shall not bear false witness: concealing your policy positions, spreading hoaxes about Russian collusion, or pressuring media and social media companies to suppress stories that would make you look bad - one party and candidate have actively done those things. When we think about those things that are clear from Scripture it shapes the grid and filter or how to interpret the validity of a candidate’s policies. Many Christians see Trump as a defender of law and order, crucial in times when societal stability feels threatened. His focus on national security, economic growth, and the protection of traditional values is viewed as essential for maintaining a society where Christian beliefs can thrive.

Fourth, our country is in desperate need of strong leadership. Voting is not isolated from the time, circumstances, and events surrounding the election. Currently in our nation we need a strong leader. Our current President Joe Biden has not offered that. I do not believe Vice President Kamala Harris is a leader that can carry the weight of responsibility and demand place that is in this office. She was loathed by her own party just over a month ago and many in Democratic circles were lobbying the Biden administration to replace her on the ticket.

For that reason, I believe it is reasonable for a Christian to vote for Trump.

Those are my current reasons for why I think many Christian can/will vote for Donald Trump as President. My framework goes like this:

1. It is not reasonable—with the current platform and trajectory—for Christians to vote for Democrats. I know some do. I'm not questioning whether they are truly Christians. But I cannot understand how a thoughtful Christian can support abortion, the mutilation of children's genitals, the undermining of the family, or prosecuting people who do not hold to LGBTQ ideology.
2. It is reasonable for Christians to vote for Trump.
3. It is reasonable for Christians to not vote for Trump. I've provided reasons and justification for why I think Christians can vote for Trump without trying to pretend he is greater than he is. He doesn't hold all of our values. He can be crude, crass, and prideful. For those reasons, I believe it is justifiable for Christians to choose to not vote for him. I would never bind your conscience and say you must vote for him. I think there are reasons for doing so, but I acknowledge there are reasons for not doing so. Should you vote for an independent candidate or write in someone? You can. But in our system of government, it is an exercise in futility. You may be exercising your right to vote, but your vote is as good as a non-vote. If you know that, then have at it. Trump voters should be slow to condemn people whose conscience won't let them do it. And Christians who can't bring themselves to vote for Trump shouldn't condemn those who do.

On this side of Heaven, and with how far our country has fallen away from trust in the Lord and submission to His Word, our candidates and their platforms will likely grow further and further distant from our values in the days ahead. These kinds of decisions and complexities with how Christians should engage politically will need ongoing discussion and debate. We should seek the Lord's guidance for wisdom about how to think about politics. We should do so with humility, not pride. We should seek to listen to people who differ from us and not demonize them or impugn their motives.

We live in a country that our grandchildren and our great great great grandchildren will live in. We will not be here 100 or 150 years from now. They will. But the decisions, direction, and policies our country adopts and deploys today will absolutely shape what kind of country they inherit. So our vote matters a lot. You can choose to protest these two candidates by not participating in the process. It’s your right to do that. But I think Christians should consider what is at stake in elections.

The country is always in the process of becoming something. It doesn't stay static. Our votes, which determine our leaders, is how we participate in what we’re becoming. Your vote is not a personal endorsement of everything a person has said, done, or believes. Vote for candidates and policies that help our nation glorify God, love our neighbor, and leave a better country for our great great great grandchildren.