“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

Never in my lifetime have I witnessed two major party candidates who so utterly and unashamedly embrace the idolatry described in that verse. Whose willingness to pathologically lie, cheat, insult, demean, to be vile, vulgar, narcissistic, petty and vindictive was so obvious, blatant and relentless.

Where one candidate claims to be a Christian yet blasphemes God’s mercy by saying he’s never felt the need to ask Him for forgiveness. Who brags about sexually assaulting women and whose view of women throughout his entire life has been that they exist solely for his carnal pleasure. (I’ve been in plenty of locker rooms and as bad as it is, bragging about sexual assault by 60 year old men is not the norm) Whose idea of contrition is to say that he would never grope women as ugly as his accusers; and who told Howard Stern that he was all good with Howard calling his daughter “a piece of ass.” (my father’s heart is trying to wrap it’s arms around how dark and hedonistic a man’s heart has to be to countenance, nay encourage that type of vulgar, demeaning description of his daughter)

Is it any wonder that both these candidates became rich, one by taking bribes and the other paying them? Or that both cared more about lining their pockets their entire lives even if it cost people their jobs, their businesses or their lives? Should I be surprised that one candidate donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the candidate he now calls “crooked”, or that the other scooped up those dollars from a candidate she now calls vile? Is it any wonder that they were besty friends and shared the same political views…right until they both decided to run for President? Is it any surprise that both have changed their positions on so many issues so many times it’s virtually impossible to keep track? And now they both claim they will follow through on their latest promises, despite a lifetime of lies, deceit and their acceptance of/engaging in serial adultery. What incentive does either major party have to nominate worthy candidates when we’ve given them the certainty that we’ll vote for their guy (or gal) no matter how vile, disgusting and corrupt they may be?

I’ve heard countless times this election season that I must vote for one of these hedonists because the other is even worse. And I must ask “why?” What kind of witness do I give as a Christian when I give my assent to an individual(s) who so blantantly mocks all that I claim to believe in? Am I that fearful that I must vote for Godless immorality to stop Godless immorality? Or is succumbing to my fears really telling God that I must support behavior He despises because I’m afraid of what the future holds if I don’t?

According to the kids, my favorite (and most tiresome) saying when they were growing up was “if it looks like a duck, and it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it’s probably not a swan.” By their actions over a lifetime, I can only conclude that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are exactly what they appear to be. To vote for either of these individuals out of fear the other will be even worse is to vote my fears rather than my faith because at the end of the day, a duck is still a duck, no matter how much I wish it wasn’t, and a pig is still a pig, no matter how much lipstick I put on it. I’m not looking for perfect; that doesn’t exist. But I believe I am to look for leaders whose entire lives are not a complete, total and willful mockery of the Lord whom I worship.

So I will be voting for Evan McMullin, not because he’s perfect, or even because he’ll necessarily win, but because I believe casting my vote is giving my assent to the behaviors and ideas of the person for whom I voted. Because over the years I’ve said repeatedly to friends and family that character matters when choosing a candidate, and to now say it doesn’t would be the height of hypocrisy. Because I cannot bring myself to vote for either of the two major party candidates simply because I fear what the other candidate might do to our nation rather than remembering the Almighty Lord who said “Trust not in princes” and who asked “why do the nations and people plot in vain against me?”

Because at the end of the day, neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton or any other mere mortal can destroy our country…unless God wills it.

Or, in the much shorter, more succinct words of my wife: “In a race between Ahab and Jezebel, I choose neither.”