The right and wrong ways to approach the voting booth and why principles are superior to personalities.

Modern presidential contests are often described as the choice between the lesser of two evils. Certainly, if uninformed and shallow-thinking voters focus their attention on the candidates rather than the policies promoted and the promises made by them, the cliche will be generally  accurate. But this is always the wrong approach.

Contrary to the regular misrepresentations of our government by politicians and media pundits, the United States of America is a constitutional republic—not a democracy. As such, we willingly submit ourselves to a venerable set of basic rules that provide honorable people with the most robust collection of freedoms available anywhere in the world. The Constitution purposely restricts the power of government so that it cannot be used to dominate and control the lives of its good citizens.

The recent condemnation of President Trump by former Baptist pastor, John Piper, is indicative of a woeful lack of discernment on the part of many church leaders and professing Christians today. Piper blasted the president for his human flaws, while conveniently refusing to address the stark contrast in ideological philosophies and policies promoted by the two presidential candidates. In a Twitter statement, Piper subsequently stated that he would not be voting for either Joe Biden or President Trump. For that, we can probably be grateful.

Former Vice-president, Joe Biden, and the party he represents seek to break down the constitutional restrictions on government overreach, promising a mostly peaceful and prosperous utopia that liberals have consistently offered, but cannot deliver. From among the poor, the ignorant, and the ignoble, radical leftists make their proselytes.

Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, are deeply embroiled in controversy over credible accusations of international corruption involving Ukraine, Russia, China, and other countries that are hostile to the United States. But far more troubling for Christians, should be Biden’s support of taxpayer-funded abortion and infanticide, the economy-crushing “Green New Deal” and Medicare-for-all. These reckless policies would drastically weaken or remove the Constitutional safeguards wisely written to protect the citizens of the United States from an oppressive government.

Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, has promised to suspend the Second Amendment right to private firearm ownership by executive order. As California Attorney General, Democrat Harris reacted to the ghastly revelation that Planned Parenthood clinics were marketing aborted fetal organs by prosecuting—not the butchers, but the pro-life detectives who exposed them.

The chasm between the two major parties continues to widen and deepen as the Democrat party pulls farther and faster away from the essential defining principles of American freedom. Radical elements within liberal party have forced their leaders to embrace fundamentally-wrong socialist ideals. By design, liberal policies appeal to the basest desires of human nature in direct opposition to the principles that excite and inspire nobler spirits.

President Trump has been the target of the longest political campaign in history. Lies of omission, lies of commission, lies by false implication, and relentless deceitful mischaracterizations have been provided by Washington Democrats to their colleagues in news media networks for nationwide publication. This is price that President Trump has willingly paid for shielding the people of the United States from a hostile takeover by treacherous freedom-busting domestic enemies.

Throughout the constant vile barrage of baseless attacks, the president has been an unwavering benefactor to the U.S. military, a champion of the rule of law, and defender of personal liberty including the fundamental right-to-life. He has been called the most pro-life president of the past sixty years. President Trump has proven with action, the often-forgotten promises of previous Republican presidents and numerous members of Congress, past and present.

Over the past century, a series of man-made economic disasters, international wars, Islamic terrorist attacks, and global diseases brought about a rapid explosion of government power and its requisite imposing influence. These have resulted in new and often, bizarre interpretations of the Constitution and, in many cases, an outright rejection of the rule of law, which tends to suit the radical liberal world-view. But when the rule of law collapses, the rule of force must and will take its place.   
           
Excessive emphasis on personalities to the exclusion of principles is fatal to the prospect of long-standing personal freedom and economic prosperity. From his profession as well as his own private challenges, John Piper and every other Christian leader should recognize the super-importance of high principle over human personality.

Rightly perceived, the 2020 presidential election is far from a choice between the lesser of two evils. Rather, it is a competition between two world-views—one good, stable, and free—the other, deadly, chaotic, and oppressive.

It’s been said that America gets the kind of government that it deserves. And that is generally true . Perhaps, John Piper and his fellow Trump contemners should stop whining about the quality of candidates who run for public office, and instead, become people worthy of more honorable leaders.

In the meantime, may God help us to choose the noble American principles espoused by President Trump over the depraved socialist goals of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.