It is my estimation that 90% of the people who clicked on this link did so to openly mock and ridicule the redneck, Biblically illiterate, idiot who would dare to put the words, “Bible” and “Trump” in the same sentence. If this is you, congratulations to me for getting you to read this article, and congratulations to you because I am neither an idiot nor a heretic. The following is not some poorly-patched together, theological treatise that attempts to warp the Word of God in order to justify my political sacrilege.

But since I’ve got you reading, let’s make a wager shall we? You read this article all the way through and as Cruz said, allow your “conscience” to be swayed, or not swayed, by what I believe to be Biblical wisdom. You have the right to judge for yourself.

I fit the classic profile of a “Never Trumper.” I am a highly educated, staunchly theologically and politically conservative pastor’s wife, who plans to one day homeschool her children. I even want to be a “Never Trumper.” I really do. It sounds so principled, so brave, to be a political nonconformist who refuses to buckle under the weight of societal temptation, or fall under the spell of the big mouthed billionaire with his lofty promises for a better future. I CANNOT, however, allow myself ignore the principles laid out in the Word of God for situations such as the political debacle Americans have unfortunately found themselves in.

In Luke 9, we find the disciples recovering from a serious blow to their pride. Despite their best combined efforts, they had been unable to drive a demon out of a troubled young man, and had been reprimanded by Christ for their lack of faith. Just a few verses later, we find the dejected 12 incensed that another man, an outsider, was able to do what they had not. I believe Jesus’ surprising answer to their protests has great ramifications for today’s political conundrum.

Verses 49-50 read, “ ‘Master,‘ said John, ‘we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’” (1)

I can sense your hackles immediately rising from across the screen. “But Trump is NOT for us!” you object, “his essence oozes the opposite of Christian values!” I would first ask you to remember that we are NOT electing Trump to a sacred or ecclesiastical office. We are electing him to a political office. If this was a question of placing Trump in charge of my church or Christian organization, you would have to hogtie and hold me down in order to get me to vote for him. I am not arguing for Trump’s morality here.

I am simply stating that in this specific office, as President, he has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that he will protect and champion the rights of the American evangelical if he were to be elected, even if he does not personally embrace those values. I would think that his promise to appoint a conservative Supreme Court Justice should “Trump” (excuse the pun), our other hesitations. He has even organized a “faith advisory committee” comprised of some of the most respected Christian leaders in America. As a side note, I am appalled at the way the Body has treated the members of this committee and other evangelical heavy hitters who have endorsed Trump. We are willing to let Dr. Dobson dictate the way we raise our children, yet the instant he speaks out on a political issue, we mock him and call him a coward? We make Kirk Cameron our Hollywood hero, pay big bucks to go see his films, and then call him a sell out when he makes a comment about where we should place our vote? Maybe we should let our ruffled egos settle down for a moment and consider that we would willingly adhere to the wisdom of these men on any other issue. Even if you disagree with their political choice, please have the decency to treat them with the respect that their years of faithful service to the Kingdom have warranted.

This is the point in which many of you will be tempted to stop reading. I am going to take a moment to appeal to your common sense, and to address a few of the popular arguments that Christians throw out against Trump. No, these next few paragraphs are not from the Bible, but certainly practical wisdom is a Biblical precept.

PLEASE stop saying that failing to vote for Trump is not a vote for Hillary…it is. I am truly not trying to insult your intelligence here. I simply fear you may be over thinking things. No matter how much you attempt to pad your argument with mathematical or philosophical meanderings, the simple truth is that a third party NEVER has and CANNOT win the presidency, at least not in this election cycle’s 2 party system, broken as it may be. (Yes, I am aware of Abraham Lincoln, but please don’t forget that his election was not a three way split, it was a four way split.) Some of you have offered an unlikely equation that would enable a third party to steal enough votes to give the House the right to choose the president from among the top contenders. Maybe that would have worked if the Never Trump camp had been able to unify and rally around a singular third party candidate earlier on in the election cycle. This simply hasn’t happened. Logically following, if only two viable contenders are in a competition, your failure to endorse one is implicit endorsement of the other.

Some of you have answered this argument by claiming that, “A vote for no one is a vote for no one,” or, “by this logic, a failure to vote for Hillary would be a vote for Trump,” and thus, will choose to forgo the vote entirely. I would answer this contention by pointing out that a failure to proactively cast your vote against Hillary means that she is one vote closer to winning the election. Your vote does matter. You are either helping to push her one step forward, or one step backwards by your failure to act. You choose.

For those of you who argue that, “A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil,” I urge you to stop and think about the fallacious foundation of that statement as it applies to this circumstance. If abstaining from the vote entirely were a viable option in this election, then perhaps your well intentioned claim would hold its ground. As I have already demonstrated above, by not voting for one “evil” you ARE, like it or not, casting your vote for the other. Even if I accept your terms and define Hillary as the “big” evil and Trump as the “little” evil, you are going to be endorsing an “evil” no matter WHAT you do on Election Day. The difference is that one “evil” has promised to do his best to protect your right to worship freely, and one has promised to do everything within her power to suppress them. You may argue that Trump will turn tail and act against Christians once elected. You are absolutely right. He could. We can be CERTAIN, however, that Hillary will do her best to destroy what little sense of decency we have left.

“But, but..” I can hear your continued protests and growing disgust, “Trump is so, so…pompous, so brash, so unfit for office.” The disciples didn’t approve of the outsider who was doing their job either. Jesus helped to correct their perspective. This wasn’t about them. This was about the future of the Kingdom. (I can still feel your eyes rolling at me but please listen…)

I believe that a lot of the discontent over Trump is due to his brash nature, yes, but also because of the blow that was dealt to your pride when an outsider was able to come in and usurp the leadership of your party. This may not be true of you personally at all, but I am certain that it is a large part of the driving force behind the Never Trump movement. I am simply asking that you examine your motives. If you detect pride as a motivating factor, please pray to be released from it and follow the example of Ben Carson. If anyone had a bone to pick with Trump, it was Dr. Carson, but as he so wisely stated in a Fox interview when asked how he was able to get over the personal insults dealt him by Trump, “If this was about me, I could never get over it. This is about the future of our country.”

This isn’t about your personal likes or dislikes. This is about the future of your children. If you aren’t willing to overcome your personal chagrin that an outsider could come in and do your job for you, then you have no one to blame but yourself when Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected.

You will have lost the right to act as a martyr when she comes after your right to speak freely about issues such as homosexuality and the exclusivity of the Gospel because you had your chance to do something about it and you did NOTHING. 

Some of you have chosen to avoid the conflict entirely, and have decided to abstain from voting because no matter the outcome, “God is in control.” I agree 100% that God is in control and that no matter who is president, Jesus Christ is King. This overarching fact that God reigns has NEVER been an excuse for inaction. In 1 Timothy 2:2 we are commanded to pray, “For kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (2) If we are to pray for a political environment that fosters peaceful Gospel conversations, does it not logically follow that if given the opportunity to help make this a reality, we should act?

This situation reminds of the fable of the drowning man who turned down three rescue attempts with the rationale that, “God would come and save him.” When he drowned, he questioned God about why He would allow him to die. God responded with, “I sent you three boats!”

Whether we like it or not, America is drowning and the Trump boat, though less than desirable, is the only viable option for rescue we have to keep us afloat for the time being.

In Cruz’s address to the Republican convention, he repeatedly acknowledged the fact that this may be America’s last chance to save herself. I beg you to consider the words of your own hero and make the only sensible choice.

If we do not vote for Trump and therefore vote for Hillary, we will have lost our right to complain about the escalating murders of third trimester, unborn lives in America and the increasing span of The Parental Rights Organization, because we had our chance to do something and we did nothing. 

If we do not vote for Trump and therefore vote for Hillary, we will have lost your right to complain about future, liberal Supreme Court Rulings, because we had our chance to do something and we did nothing.

If we do not vote for Trump and therefore vote for Hillary, we will have lost our right to complain when our pastors are imprisoned for hate speech crimes, because we had our chance to do something and we did nothing. 

If we do not vote for Trump and therefore vote for Hillary, we will have lost our right to complain when we lose our right to bear arms and fret over the safety of our families, because we had the chance to do something and we did nothing.

I am not arguing that Trump is a great man.

I am not even arguing that Trump is a good man.

I am arguing that in the words of Christ Himself, God can use an individual that is “not one of us” to further His purposes and protect His people.

I am arguing that in this time, and in this particular circumstance as the only nominee for Republican Party, Trump is the RIGHT man to serve as President of the United States.

Unless something cataclysmic occurrs between then and now, he will be receiving my vote in November.

DISCLAIMER: As a friend of mine noted in her thought provoking blog, “This election season has been especially difficult for believers…Believers who are actively walking with Christ, and sincerely seeking His face on this issue, have come away with completely different conclusions on how they should vote in November.” This being said, I understand that many fellow Christians will completely disagree with my interpretation of Scripture and will in sincere conscience, choose to not vote for Trump. I want you to know that I still deeply respect and love you. My allegiance to the Kingdom of God completely outweighs my allegiance to any political party or leader. Let’s not “eat other alive in front of the world” guys. We are going to be Americans for only a short while. We are going to citizens of the Kingdom of God forever.

Unfortunately, I have been forced to publish this note anonymously to avoid the violent backlash that is certain to ensue. I am also certain some will call my intense tone throughout this article, “bullying.” It is not my intent to bully. It is my intent to demonstrate what I believe to be the seriousness of this situation. Please do not equate my heartfelt cry with harassment. I, as well as you, have the right to be passionate in the expression of your beliefs. That’s what America is supposed to be all about isn’t it? Despite our differing opinions, as stated above, I will continue to love, respect, and enjoy the friendship of my “Never Trumper” friends throughout and after the conclusion of this election cycle.

My conscience is clear before God because I have done all that I believe He has called me to in regards to this issue. Can you say the same?

P. S. If you don’t find my arguments to be a solid enough Biblical case, please take the time to check out the wisdom of Wayne Grudem, renown theologian and his thoughts on “Why Voting For Trump Is A Morally Good Choice.”

(1) Luke 9:49-50, NIV

(2) 1 Timothy 2:1-4, NIV