Choosing Between Two Shades of Gray
When my brothers and I were very young, we amused ourselves with a rather morbid game we called “How would you like to die?”. It went something like this:
Brother: “Would you rather freeze to death on an iceberg, or drown at the bottom of the ocean?”
Me: Hmm… I hate being cold. The iceberg would be very cold. But, I am terrified of water. You can’t breathe under water. On the iceberg I would be breathing up until the end. There are sharks, eels, and whales in the water, so …. “I would rather freeze on the iceberg. Now for you, would you rather burn up in a house fire or be run over by a bus?”
And, so we would go back and forth. As we used up the more obvious means of dying, we became more creative… “Would you rather be shot through with a poison arrow, or be eaten alive by a piranha?” “Would you rather slowly sink in quicksand, or be squeezed by a boa constrictor?”
While we didn’t realize it at the time, we were practicing the art of choosing the lesser of two evils.
“The lesser of two evils” is a concept that in my adult life has surfaced most often at election time. It seems that for quite a few elections now, we are told that we must choose the lesser of two evils. While candidate A is bad, he/she is not as bad as candidate B. Therefore, if you don’t vote for A, it is just like you are giving you vote to B. Even though C might be a decent, worthy candidate, if the polls show him/her to be “unelectable”, the lesser of two evils says that you cannot vote for C.
I admit that I have taken this route. There have been elections in which I clenched my teeth, held my nose, breathed a prayer for forgiveness and checked the box for a candidate that I considered “not quite as bad” as another candidate. But, as a Christian this bothers me. My vote is my tiny consent to give power to a person to rule, and I don’t give that consent lightly. It is my approval, and Philippians 1:9-10 says that I am to use knowledge and discernment to approve things that are excellent.
However, I realize that, since Jesus isn’t running in the election, there are no perfect candidates. So, in one sense, every vote is choosing the “least bad” option. What am I, as a Christian, to do?
- Look at the position of the candidate– there are many issues that are important to me because I am a Christian. My incomplete list involves: sanctity of life, promotion of families, freedom to worship and practice my faith, creation of meaningful jobs, furtherance of peace in the world, care of the poor, etc. Do any of the candidates have positions on these Biblical issues that I can approve?
- Look at the character of the candidate– What is the person known for? Are they honest? If not, then it doesn’t really matter what their stated positions are, since they can simply change them. Do they profess faith? How well do they seem to live it out? Are they decent, honorable, of good reputation?
What if the candidates do not match up on the issues test or the character test? Now, I find myself with two contrary desires… the desire to participate as a Christian in the political freedom that God has granted me in this country and the desire to not approve someone that is sinful, indecent, dishonest, or… not excellent. Somewhere I must draw a line, a no compromise line, in each of these areas. I must study the Bible and pray to inform my conscience. Then, if I do not have a clear conscience about voting for a candidate, I will not cast that vote. Maybe I will vote for an unelectable candidate “C”. Maybe I will just skip that box. Ephesians 5:11 says “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
In my childhood game, whether I chose the iceberg or the ocean, I was still choosing death. So also, in lesser of two evils politics, I am still choosing evil.
Some further thoughts from other sources:
Houston Chronicles article — Should Christians vote for the lesser of two evils?
Christianity Today — Should Christians vote for the lesser of two evils?
With Joy,
Kathleen
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Kathleen,
I am following you from Titus 2 Tuesdays. I am Canadian so our election has passed. I liked what our pastor said on Sunday (we are snowbird living in Arizona for the winter). He said that we must remember Who is on the Throne – not be panic, feel hopeless, or despair. He told the congregation to vote but to be sure we are counter cultural. Smile, and know that our God has the authority – the true authority.
Blessings,
Janis
Janis, thank you for that comment. I love what your pastor said!
Thanks as I have been struggling with this election – it’s embarrassing as a Christian and as an American – like a three ring circus. The only thing that keeps me from going over the edge is that God is sovereign over all and if we are to get an evil “king” then so be it – it’s what we deserve.
PS – few people spell their name the way “we” do – Janis C.
Thank you so, so much!! I have done the same the past several elections, but I refuse to do it anymore. Let people criticize me for a “half-vote for Hillary” when I write in a candidate, if it comes to that. I’ve been criticized before, so I really don’t care anymore. At the end of the day, my conscience must be clear before God. Great article!
Thank you Rosilind! I have come to the point that I realize that I must live with my conscience for the rest of my life, while I only have to live with the next president for the next 4 years. Yes, we must have clear consciences before God.
I haven’t voted since Bill Clinton was elected for a second term. I am not fearful or worried about who will be our next President. God allows whom He wants in for His reasons, regardless of my voting or not really. I’m not so convinced either that everything is done nowadays on the up and up. Yes, I can vote, but I have been choosing not to lately. I haven’t had a clear conscience to do so. Thank you for the article.