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As followers of Christ, we are always witnesses to Him. We don't get to take that hat off when entering the voting booth. "Lesser of two evils" still results in evil, and as we've seen, damages the witness of the church. I fail to see how "lesser of two evils" is a valid justification to embrace antichrist worldviews. We don't have to choose a lesser evil. We have Christ as our King.
Retired, I don't find myself disagreeing with you often but I'm not following some of these statements.
1. "Lesser of two evils" still results in evil.
- Not voting still results in evil. However by not voting the opportunity to restrain evil is forfeited.
2. "damages the witness of the church"
- Not if we make our case. Example: DT and HC both have made decisions that I disagree with which causes me to have a difficult time trusting either. However when I consider things like abortion, taxes, wars, honesty, same sex marriage, which of those values does God value most. I'm convinced that human life is more important than taxes. Given the option between two imperfect candidates I'm going to vote for the one that is most in line with what I think God values most. In my opinion Jesus would be the only perfect candidate because He is perfect in power yet humble, a Mighty King yet He serves, Holy, righteous, and just yet gracious and merciful. In this election, Jesus is not on the ballot and I have a free choice to try and make a difference.
3. The antichrist world view: steal, kill, destroy, lie, cheat, deceive, blind people from placing their faith in Jesus.
- I believe there's one party that wants to silence Christian teaching, praying, etc more than the other.
- I believe there's one party that more in favor than killing the innocent than the other.
- Voting doesn't guarantee that all will be perfect but it gives us a chance to make a difference for the good.
4. If all Christians didn't vote, what view would be guaranteed to flourish?
Pay special attention to the word "Restrain" below. There's a difference between supporting evil and restraining the inevitable evil.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for
it will not comeunless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
6 And you know
what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:3