It seems people will sell their souls, dignity, self-respect and relationship with God for anything that will ensure their comfort, safety, status quo and self-promotion.

                  

Bill Clinton had forcefully, like Donald, denied any sexual impropriety until confronted with irrefutable evidence. In 1998, because of a good economic climate, most Democrats and Clinton proponents said we should ignore his foibles because they had nothing to do with the larger picture.

                  

The Donald has tapped into the anger, frustration and hopelessness of the American who sees his power and influence waning. He does not feel at home in this America that is changing before his very eyes. For so long, the deck had been stacked in his favor that he is accustomed to being on top. He fears that he may not be able to cope and he is all too willing to accept and believe any claim (no matter how outlandish) that the system is rigged against him.

                  

His arguments -- illegal immigrants raping the welfare system, people from third world countries who essentially are rapists, murderers and thieves here to overrun us, the fraudulent election system, the liberal biased media, are some examples.

                  

Seldom, however, you will hear the voice of logic and reason from either side.

                  

The fact is we have all sinned and come short of the mark. All people are potential hypocrites and will say all the right things until we are faced with our own troubles and difficulties.

                  

When they are called up on their shortcomings, the standard answers are:

                  

• That was a different time and circumstance.        
• That was a horse of a different color.        
• That was just locker room talk.        
• That was just youthful indiscretion.

                  

It is strange that Christians who were so vocal against Bill Clinton are now finding excuses for Donald.

                  

No wonder some people have refused to go to churches.

                  

Hence the stock reply to why--there are too many hypocrites there. This stance, however, is not new. Christians have always used the Bible as a cudgel to browbeat, subdue others, condone and support illicit behavior.

                  

In the times of slavery, they were especially fond of and always eager to share with the illiterate slaves.

                  

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."

                  

 To be fair, ethical and impartial, that which applies to one must apply to the other. God is no respecter of persons. We as Christians cannot condemn one person and excuse another for doing the same thing.

                  

We all know that Hillary and Bill have a problem with, in their words, being entirely forthcoming. My problem is with Donald and the Christians who promote him.

                  

They say that Hillary is the way to darkness and she will appoint Supreme court justices who will take this country sharply left.

                  

We will enter a period of unprecedented godlessness that will spell the end of America.

                  

This vile, wicked, lying woman and her philandering husband must be stopped by all means necessary or we will be doomed.

                  

Any Christian who does not agree or adhere to that point of view is, at best, gullible and, at worst, stupid and non-Christian. It’s tantamount to aiding and abetting the enemy, being compliant and complicit in the downfall and destruction of America.

The Donald's Foibles                  

Yet, to accept Donald and his way of life, we must ignore and disbelieve three marriages, four corporate bankruptcies and 12 women who say he molested them.

                  

Will Muslim Americans, Mexican Americans get a fair shake in his administration?

                  

• He has already said a judge of Mexican heritage could not be fair and impartial.           
• We have already witnessed his dustup with the gold star Muslim American family.   
• What about the fat *&^%$ , flat chested , piggish, ugly  women and bimbos with blood coming out of wherever? Will they stand a chance if they dare to disagree with him.
• He has stated that he agrees with the cries of "lock her up,” referring to Clinton, and will seek to do just that during his administration.
• The 12 ladies who have accused him of sexual molestation, he will sue in court for defamation of character. Hmmmm,  just like Bill Cosby. Not a big subscriber to the Christian ethos of forgiveness is this guy!

                  

We have moved a long way from the following noble sentiments: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds. "

                  

Am I supposed to believe that all these were temporary lapses in judgment and not a true indicator of the man?

                  

Would Christians allow Hillary and Bill to get away with that?

                  

These are not innuendos, unverified gossip and unsubstantiated rumors. They are a matter of public record.

                  

If you recall, in fallout from the scandal of 1998, Dan Burton, Republican Representative from Indiana, stated:  "No one, regardless of what party they serve, no one, regardless of what branch of government they serve, should be allowed to get away with these alleged sexual improprieties...."

                  

Ironically, in 1998, Burton admitted that he himself had had an affair in 1983 that produced a child.

                  

Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Representative from Georgia and leader of the Republican Revolution of 1994, admitted in 1998 to having had an affair with a House intern while he was married to his second wife, at the same time as he was leading the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

                  

Republican Helen Chenoweth-Hage from Idaho aggressively called for the resignation of President Clinton and admitted to her own six-year affair with a married rancher during the 1980s.                 

                 

The Bottom Line

                  

Christians abhor evolution but, apparently, not in all cases.

                  

We have evolved through the passage of time, growth and enlightenment.

                  

That which was unacceptable in 1998 is now en vogue and condoned in 2016.

                  

A sign I saw the other day, succinctly warned, “Have the elephant and the donkey let you down? Look to the lamb.”

                  

We all need to stop fretting and wringing our hands in despair about who gets into the White House and start paying attention to who is in God's house. We need to be focusing on being examples that contradict the experiences of James Peron who called Christian fundamentalism a moral cesspool--a place to escape from.

                  

Here is why:

                  

"You who teach others,do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? For, as it is written, the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.”  - Romans 2:21-24.

                  

No matter how persuasive our words are and how adept we are in quoting scriptures, he can and will always say, "experience beats an argument every time."

                  

We need to stop talking, explaining, arguing, spinning and excusing and start living and doing.

                  

This is my wife scolding me: "You know what I hate about you. Instead of saying I am sorry for a mistake.

                  

You always have an explanation. Just say I am sorry, move on and do the right thing. Stop trying to explain how you were not wrong."

                  

Let’s say they’re right. Let’s say they’re right about the predicted suffering and persecution under the presidency of Hillary Clinton.

                  

True Christianity is revealed and thrives under suffering and persecution. Even if we do everything right, life still happens.

                  

I sense in some American Christians that we should somehow be exempt from suffering instead of expecting and embracing it.

                  

Any difficulty we encounter, they assert, means we do not have enough faith and have fallen short in some area. e.g. voting for Hillary Clinton.

                  

To entertain the belief that we are supposed to avoid suffering, conflict and persecution, we must ignore and disregard all these Biblical statements and characters.

                  

• "Many are the affliction of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of them all."                  
• "Blessed are you when men shall persecute you, revile you and say all manner of wicked things about you."                  
• "The servant is not greater than his master, if they persecuted me they will persecute you also."                  
• "Take up your cross daily and follow me."                  
• "It was good for me to have been afflicted."                  
• "We will be refined not with silver or gold but in the furnace of affliction."                  
• "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."                  
• "My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me , where is thy God?"

                  

To maintain that suffering and persecution are not a part of the Christian walk, we must tear out of the Bible the accounts of Job, Jeremiah, Peter, Stephen and Paul.

                  

This is the recruiting statement and marching orders given to the Apostle Paul at the beginning of his mission: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.  Acts 1:15-16

                  

Definitely not the best sales pitch I have ever heard. No matter who wins this November, God is not dead.

                  

Yes, America and the world will end one day, and I will allow that if Hillary is elected, it could portend the beginning of the end. But, if so, this hasn’t been the first time that the prediction was made.

                  

In the early 1900s, Woodrow Wilson declared that the hordes of men from Southern Italy and Eastern Europe --people of the meaner sort-- would destroy the fabric of America.

                  

In the 1980s, as the flood of Marielitos descended upon Miami, the natives panicked and many fled the impending doom. They predicted utter devastation for Miami, Florida. One billboard proudly stated  'the last American to leave Miami, please bring the flag."

                  

It was far from the end. Instead, Miami survived to become one of the most vibrant cities in the USA with some of the highest real estate prices in the nation.

                  

Only God knows for sure when the end of days will come, and he has not shared that information with any preacher, no matter what he or she says.

                  

But I also know this---I am to occupy till he comes. If I am faithful, I am to remain faithful still.

                  

One will not be evicted out of the kingdom if you choose the wrong candidate in this election. Grace can cover that "sin," too. If troubles like sea billows roll thereafter, he has taught me to say, "It is well with my soul." It is well.

                  

This election season is akin to when you go to the supermarket and they are all out of your favorites, so you must resort to what is left on the shelves.

                  

Is that all there is, you say. How far have the mighty fallen. The nation and its political parties should be ashamed of ourselves.

                  

Is that the best that America can find to offer?

                  

A thrice married man with a host of sexual allegations and an uncertain woman married to a serial cheater.

                  

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama each married only once with no history of sexual drama. They did not present these kinds of headaches and, your choice was clear, no matter which side of the aisle you were standing.

                  

For us as Christians we are faced with a moral dilemma and, for that reason, Christians should avoid spiritual values and questions of character relative to these candidates.

                  

When pressed for a choice, simply state, "I am not voting for…. I am voting against…." and leave it there.

                  

If your pick is not successful in November, do not lament that the sky has fallen, fold up your tent, become a balsero and escape from Key West in the dead of the night.

                  

Instead, get up, stand up for your right and continue doing after election day that what you should be doing the day before.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of Christ for you.

          

V. Knowles is a husband, father and prison minister with an interest in penning issues that serve to uplift mankind. He melds his love for Classic literature, The Bible and pop culture - as sordid as it may be - into highly relatable columns of truth, faith and justice. Hence the name: Just Thinking. If he's not buried in a book or penning his next column, you may find him pinned to his sectional watching a good old Country and Western flick.