As a Christian voting in the 2016 election, I have faced a lot of confusion, frustration, and anger. I am astounded at both of the top two candidates, but I am even more astounded by the passion and support Americans are giving each of them on BOTH sides of the aisle. I feel as though, at this point, we as a country are more concerned with a political party, rather than policy, and we are more inclined to spew hate, as opposed to showing love. You can sit there and tell me that you're voting for "insert crappy candidate" so the other "insert crappy candidate" won't get it. But that does not cut it for me. As a Christ follower, you aren't voting just for a political party, you are voting for an actual person, as well. No matter what the media tells you about open seats in congress, you are still voting for that person at the end of the day.

I have come to the conclusion that Americans have cast aside their morals, simply because they want to prevent the opposing candidate from becoming the Commander in Chief. I fully understand trying to prevent someone evil from "taking the throne", but what do we do when both candidates are evil?

Aside from my solid suggestion of voting for a third party candidate like Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, or Evan McMullin; I also suggest that we take a step back, and remember the most important figure in our society, and that is Jesus Christ.

As Christians, I feel like we have somehow set aside our values, principles, and love for others all at the expense of this disgusting political race. I was raised to love everyone, to find the best in everyone, and to never judge anyone. However, the older I got, the more I realized how detached these biblical principles had become from society entirely, but more specifically, how detached these principles had become from most Christians. It seems like these days, people care more about the "rule book" of The Bible, as opposed to what God expects from us (as leaders in the Christian faith). They read The Bible with a judging heart, ready to cast a stone on the person standing next to them, instead of reading The Bible with an open heart ready for conviction.

Matthew 22:37-40 says this "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” If Jesus, the Son of God states that these are the first and second greatest commandments that we have to follow, then how can we ignore them? If there are no other "rules" that we choose to follow, these are the two that we must abide by as Christians. That means loving someone who is gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender or anything in between. It also means loving unconditionally someone who has had an abortion, not because you fully support abortion, but because you support women in general. For they are just as much children of God as their fetus' are. Should we not love and forgive them, too? This might also entail loving the convicts of this country, the felons, the prostitutes, the drug dealers, and the gang members. This means loving the people who are screaming "black lives matter" on the side of the road, begging for justice for their loved ones. And do not forget the immigrants or refugees who have miraculously made their way to this country by the grace of God. In case you are confused, Jesus Christ wants us to love without question and without strings attached every single time. That is what it means to love like Christ, and this is what we must strive for every day.

By the time this article is released, our new found leader of the free world will most likely already be determined. I am hopeful that most of the Facebook bickering will be done by that point, but if I am realistic, I know that the bickering will never truly come to a close. So the next time you want to bash on someone for their views or the things that might make them different, please, think again. We were all created equally in the eyes of God, no matter who we are voting for in the 2016 Presidential Election. We as Christians, are called to a higher purpose, we are called to love. Nonbelievers do not share our belief system, so they may not fully understand or respect this thing called love, however, we are still called to love those people, just as well.

In Luke 6:27-31, Jesus says this,“But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.Do to others as you would have them do to you." Any questions, guys? Do you think you know more than Jesus Christ? Are you rewriting your own transcript for The Bible? Be honest.

The election is nearly over, but that does not mean it's too late to love others, and it is certainly never too late to give Jesus Christ the full reign in our kingdom that we call the United States. So whether or not the "rule book" of this country matches the "rule book" of The Bible, we are still called to love first and ask questions later. Political parties and crappy candidates aside, can you honestly say that you have loved unconditionally during the 2016 election season?

After watching so many people from both sides call their candidate the Savior, I have had enough. No presidential candidate can save us, no political party can save us, at this point, only Jesus Christ can save us.