Were we wrong about Bill Clinton?

You probably think that question is some kind of joke.  But it's not.  I seriously want to know the answer.  Why you ask?  Well, let me tell you why.  Eighteen years ago...ONLY 18 years ago...every last Christian conservative I know of maintained that Bill Clinton was unfit to lead the United States. The reason had nothing to do with his being accused of obstruction of justice nor his being accused of perjury.  Those are certainly major accusations to make against any ruler.  But again, that's not it.  Based on his moral character alone - nothing else - every Christian conservative I knew felt Bill Clinton was unfit to lead.  Because Bill seemingly had an affair with an intern - an affair he was unwilling to admit to - Christians everywhere were outspoken critics of his.  Did I mention that was only 18 years ago???!  You'd think it was a century ago based on what I am seeing today.

Many of the exact same people have pledged allegiance to Donald Trump.  Even Mike Huckabee has come out and pledged to back Donald Trump and has even told the "Never Trump" crowd to get over it.  Jerry Falwell Jr has endorsed Trump.  The odd thing about the whole issue is that if there's a person that has ever run for President whose moral integrity meter is lower than Bill Clinton, it's Donald Trump.  In fact, from all HE HAS SAID, it's far worse.  We actually know far less of Bill Clinton's escapades than Donald Trump.  And it's certainly not because the tabloids haven't looked for Bill Clinton's character flaws.  They have.  But nobody has to look far for Trump's moral shortcomings.  He's been more than willing to talk about them.  This is the man who was on the cover of Playboy, has profited from strip clubs, has cheated on his wife and has cheated with other men's wives often.  And again, this is not hearsay. This is what we have learned from the man himself.  So seriously...were we wrong about Clinton?  Because from all I see, moral character isn't the same barometer it was 18 years ago.  Have we corrected it?  Or have we corrupted it?

I understand people's willingness to vote for Donald Trump.  Well, understand may be a strong term.  I understand the explanation...I guess.  I don't agree with it...at all.  But I get it.  I mean, a vote for Trump is a vote against Hillary, right?  Not so much.  A vote for Trump is a vote for Trump.  Nothing more.  In our society, you may make yourself feel better by saying you are just voting against Hillary.  However, that's not the case.  Like it or not, you are voting for the candidate you vote for.  We don't have a system to vote against candidates.  We have a system where you (are supposed to) look for the best candidate and vote for him.  So, when you vote for Donald Trump, believe me you are voting for him - nothing more.

It is odd that Trump supporters are already dogging those believers whose conscience will not allow them to vote for the man.  Now, Biblically we are to respect another man's conscience (Romans 15).  However, all I've seen from outspoken believers that are voting for Trump is that if you vote 3rd party, you are voting for Hillary.  But that's simply not how the system works.  Our system is full of checks and balances.  One of those is that if the two main candidates are unfit in the eyes of some voters, another party candidate may run as well.  Now, there will most likely be a better man running for President than the two on the major parties' tickets.  However, because some Christians refuse to vote for a non-big party guy, this better candidate cannot be elected.  So, it could be argued that Christians are actually voting against the best candidate when they vote for Donald Trump.  It's not the case.  But it could be argued.

But Donald is the lesser of two evils right?  I mean, that's what we are supposed to do, RIGHT?  Uh...in a word...no.  I mean, not from the Christian perspective.  It's like the Christian Alabama fan willing to sing Rammer Jammer at the end of an Alabama win which declares to the other team, "we just beat the #%!! out of you!".  I mean, we can separate our Christianity from a sport right?  We can still be a faithful Christian and let it slip for this purpose, right?  Negatory.  It doesn't work that way.  And when you walk in a voting booth, it's the same thing.  You are a Christian who is called to do the right thing...period.  We are instructed, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).  Even in the sloppiest translations I've never seen this phrased as "overcome evil with lesser evil".  It's an argument...it's a dogma...it is not compatible with Biblical instruction.  

Clearly God's Word says, "When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2).  I challenge any conservative, Bible believing Christian to name one common value they have with Donald Trump.  Before you say "defeating Hillary Clinton", that is not a value.  I honestly would like to know.  I cannot think of one common value we have.  I have a Christian worldview perspective where sin is sin...right is right...wrong is wrong...Jesus is Savior...abortion is abortion...and on and on and on.  My daily life is to be guided by God's Word.  Mr. Trump has not even tried to hide the fact that he is not so concerned.  Despite his various escapades, he said he had never asked God for forgiveness.  He's a wicked man and seemingly proud of it.  The Bible says plainly "when the wicked rule, the people groan".  That doesn't mean less wicked than the other person.  That means wicked.  From all we have seen then, if Donald reigns, the people will mourn.  Is that not Biblical?

King after king in Israel and many in Judah were wicked.  Prophet after prophet were sent to prophesy to them and the people that supported them.  Only wicked people followed the wicked kings.  Never do we find the godly prophets siding with a ruler because he was "less evil" than the other one.  I cannot even fathom one doing so.  They were approved by God because they refused to side with evil.  God and His Word remains constant, right?  I read that somewhere.  

But you don't get it Pastor Todd...we are the United States.  We are the greatest country in the world.  It's different here.  I'm shocked at how often I hear this and I'm even more shocked that the people saying it actually believe it.  We...WE...as a country murder 4000 children a day legally through abortion.  We have legalized unbiblical marriage and even before that, we had certainly destroyed the institution with a 50% divorce rate - among Christians as well.  Anything that remotely looks Christian is looked down on at best.  We may soon see laws requiring churches to take members and pastors to perform services that the Bible condemns...all in the guise of political correctness.  We are not great.  We are great sinners.  

But Donald is going to make America great again!!  It's a great slogan.  And I certainly wish it were true.  However, I cannot fathom God blessing a country that elects a morally bankrupt man who has made it plain that abortion will continue and Planned Parenthood will continue to be funded if he is elected.  He has made it plain that he is for those that live an "alternate" lifestyle.  I guess this is why he has supported Hillary numerous times, right?  I'm sure we will hear more of that soon enough.  

Now it sounds like I'm a political type.  I am not.  I never watch FoxNews (gasp!!).  I spend very little time thinking about politics and voting.  I will vote, Lord willing.  I just am not a political type.  I'm not so much concerned politics as I am of lost souls.  I am, however, concerned with how the whole deal looks to unbelievers.  Good, Bible believing Christians have stood against the Democratic Party for 3 decades because of their liberal tendencies as it relates to social issues.  One vote for Donald Trump, and we...YES WE...lose respect and our integrity will be questioned.  You cannot have stood against Democrats for years because of their stance on abortion and other social issues and then vote for Donald Trump who agrees with them and be consistent.  To do so is hypocritical, really.  And I can assure you, unbelievers will call us on it.

Worse yet, perhaps is the willingness of believers to do wrong and even justify it.  Christians have done all they can to talk themselves into voting for a wicked candidate - the very kind of ruler that the Bible condemns - only because the candidate on the other ticket is a notch more wicked (maybe - but that's another issue).  Is that how we preach?  No...a thousand times no.  "Overcome evil with good" must drive us.  We must retain our moral character and our integrity if we are ever to reach the lost.  We must show ourselves as in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-17).  We must show that we are not going to be drawn into a false, depraved argument by the slight of men.  Wicked rulers cause the people to groan - that's what the Bible says.    

Ok...that's enough.  My views are plain enough.  The Bible really is plain enough.  But my question remains - were we, as conservative Christians, wrong about Bill Clinton?  Because if we are willing to rally around Donald Trump, we truly owe Bill an apology.