As a Missouri pastor, my faith guides my vote for president. Yours should, too | Opinion

It’s impossible to vote for either party, or any major party’s presidential nominees, without engaging in moral compromise.

The Kingdom of God is not on the ballot. Neither is Jesus Christ my Lord and savior, the ultimate king.

If one were basing their vote solely on the basis of which party, or which candidate is the best moral choice, one would have to conclude: There is none righteous — no, not one.

If one had to qualify to vote on the basis of sinless perfection, or righteousness in the flesh, who could vote? If, as Jesus said, “Those among you without sin” should cast the first vote, we’d all have to drop our ballots if sinless perfection were the requirement.

Therefore, to appear that voting for one party or person on the basis of one party’s or one nominee’s morality is more pleasing to God than another is simply a matter of tolerating or accommodating one set of sins, or immoral thinking and actions or behavior, over another. Trust me, the phrase “moral majority” that one party uses is more about marketing than it is about substantive scriptural meaning.

The Bible says, “All unrighteousness is sin.” Neither party has a monopoly on unrighteousness. They’re both guilty.

Our voting decision ought to be based on our perception of which party would best govern the country and fulfill the responsibilities of government as spelled out in our founding governance and aspirational documents.

As for me, I would sleep far better at night with the wheel of government in Vice President Kamala Harris’ hands than in Donald Trump’s.

For me, Trump’s Jan. 6 assault on our Capitol, his 34 felony convictions, the racial discrimination suit he’s settled with a monetary payout, his jury verdict for sexual abuse and his own admission of sexual assault are enough evidence for me to not feel anywhere close to confident in placing the government back into his hands. I am still trying to understand how my Missouri Baptist rural clergy friends can vote for him. I’m willing to learn. I look forward to reading your own commentaries soon.

However, I also acknowledge that if left unchecked — and without the required and necessary checks and balances inherent in federal governance and decision making required by our Founding Fathers — certain platform planks and stated beliefs of both parties and nominees give me pause.

In truth, I have burdens in my bosom regarding them all this year, and in others.

At the end of the day, though, I’m casting my ballot for the nominee who I believe would be better for the country as a whole, while maintaining my own strong disagreements and biblical convictions. I’m trusting the mandatory checks and balances of government would keep either candidate who wins to keep us from going off the rails.

Once again, I’m limiting my voting this year to one of the two major party nominees: Kamala Harris. She will receive my vote.

If you’ll refrain from judging me and questioning my morality and commitment to the Christian faith for voting for Harris, I’ll refrain from questioning your morality and commitment to your own faith for voting for Trump.

Clergy friends, you cannot evangelize what you constantly and consistently antagonize. We are contributing to the brokenness in our world from our stately pulpits.

My major point: Neither party represents the Kingdom of God. So vote your preference with a clear conscience. There is no preferred or God-ordained, morally better choice in this election. Certain choices God leaves in our hands and say, “Choose ye.”

So stop it. You are not more than. Others are not less than. It’s not the elephant. It’s not the donkey. It’s the Lamb of God.

Darron LaMonte Edwards is lead pastor of United Believers Community Church in Kansas City.