As of the time I began writing this article, Roy Moore, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from Alabama, has been accused by six women of sexual misconduct. Although all fifty-two Republican senators have urged Moore to step down, there are many individuals around the nation, and in Moore's camp specifically, that speculate these allegations are simply the result of a political smear campaign against him.

What I want to do from here is outline two separate arguments, one that supports the calls for Moore to drop out of the race and one that argues against that. Once I establish both cases, I will provide my personal opinion on what I think the best course of action in this situation is.

For Roy Moore Dropping Out:

I just have one question in response to the mentality that these allegations are politically motivated: so what?

Let's say these five women are stepping forward due to politically motivated reasons; even for the sole reason that they want to prevent Roy Moore from being elected to the U.S. Senate. The thing is, if the allegations are true, it doesn't matter that they're only coming out now and are politically motivated.

When considering something as horrendous and unconscionable as pedophilia and sexual assault, what matters more: the timing of the accusations, or whether they're true?

Let me pose the question in a different way: if these allegations were released prior to Moore winning the nomination, would people still be advocating to vote for him or would they have cast their votes for the current incumbent, Luther Strange?

My point in this is that backing Roy Moore simply because he won the nomination and is the only chance for Republicans to win the Senate seat is the wrong way to approach this situation.

This isn't an endorsement for his Democratic counterpart, Doug Jones, however. Nor is this me telling Alabama Republicans that they should cast their vote for him instead.

But this is me saying that the voters in Alabama, and across our great nation, need to use this to take a moment for some introspective contemplation. If these allegations are true, is this the kind of person that we want to represent us? In terms of the people of Alabama, within the Republican Party, and in American politics in general.

The answer, for most of us anyway, should be no; and I think that if these accusations surfaced before Moore won the nomination, the attitudes regarding him and his innocence would be much, much different. Not to mention that I highly doubt he would've won the nomination at all.

Against Roy Moore Dropping Out:

One of the most convincing arguments that I've personally heard in regard to Roy Moore staying in the senatorial race comes from an interview on CNN with Steve Guede, Moore's Calhoun County Coordinator, "You're telling the voters of Alabama, if you choose your Senator, then we are going to try and nullify your vote. Therefore, you don't have a constitutional right to vote in Alabama, because we are going to work our best to nullify your vote if you vote for Roy Moore."

Honestly, this argument completely blew me away. Why? Because Guede is right. If the voters in Alabama still choose to vote for Moore to represent them in the U.S. Senate, even in the wake of these allegations, and the Senate votes to expel or block Moore from his seat, then they are telling the people of Alabama that their votes don't matter. That they don't have a constitutional right to vote for the person they want to represent them, and that ultimately the decision of who gets to represent Alabama rests with the federal government, not with the voters in Alabama.

Now, let's address the allegations: according to the Washington Post, "In Alabama, the statute of limitations for bringing felony charges involving sexual abuse of a minor in 1979 would have run out three years later, and the time frame for filing a civil complaint would have ended when the alleged victim turned 21."

Based on this information, Moore faces no legal ramifications from the onset of these allegations, which begs the question: are allegations alone enough to derail someone's career, or will we still cling to the old adage of being innocent until proven guilty?

Because these women will not be pursuing legal action against Moore, we will never get a definitive answer as to whether or not they are true, even though they have provided substantial evidence to aid their claims.

So, if they're not true, then, of course, they should have no merit on whether or not Moore should stay in the race. But if they are true, then it is up to the people of Alabama to decide whether or not he deserves to represent them, and whether or not allegations alone are enough to derail someone's career.

My Opinion:

Let me preface this by saying, my opinion is worth as much as you paid to hear it: nothing. But, as a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican, I believe the moral thing for Roy Moore to do is step aside (because his name cannot be removed from the ballot) and endorse a write-in campaign for another Republican.

The reason that I mentioned my being a Christian, aside from the fact that it influences every other aspect of who I identify as, is because I take great offense to the allegations against Roy Moore being compared to the false allegations that were placed on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is both God and man, and is the only human being to walk the Earth apart from sin. So the comparison that Moore is being accused the same way that Jesus was accused does not sit well with me. It speaks of a prideful ignorance of what sin is and that Moore, as a man, is capable of living apart from sin, like Jesus did. Which is completely antithetical to biblical truth.

The only people who know whether or not these allegations are true are Roy Moore, the women accusing him, and God. So if Moore is as devout a Christian as he claims to be, and these allegations are true, then he absolutely needs to do the right thing and step down.

Due to the mountain of evidence against him, which I cited earlier in the article, I don't think his innocence is boding well. For that reason, I think it's best for him to renounce his campaign and urge his supporters to write-in Luther Strange, since he is the incumbent and the runoff election was between him and Moore.

At the end of the day, I do believe that this decision ultimately belongs to the people of Alabama. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried about the message it will send if they do end up electing Roy Moore.