People argue that Jesus was neither a republican nor a democrat… Okay then, so who might Jesus want us to vote for?

The United States presidential elections boil down to a two-party race, republican vs. democrat (third parties seldom get far in presidential elections, so to vote for one would be a waste). It is important to not vote blindly, but know the candidates and what they stand for.

There are many factors which differentiate republicans from democrats. One of the biggest defining issues is abortion. Republicans historically vote against it, while democrats historically vote for it. So, what is abortion?

According to Texas Department of State Health Services, the legal definition of an abortion is “the use of any means to terminate the pregnancy of a female known by the attending physician to be pregnant with the intention that the termination of the pregnancy by those means will with reasonable likelihood result in the death of the fetus” (“A Woman’s Right to Know”). In truth, we can logically gather that abortion is murder. And not just any murder, but the murder of completely innocent, helpless, God-given lives.

Even if you are not a Christian or don’t believe in God, any scientific journal makes it clear that upon conception a new life has been created. Not “a blob of tissue” or something that can simply be removed like an appendix. Once the egg meets the sperm, it is no longer egg-and-sperm, it is a human being in its earliest form of life. When uninterrupted and unharmed, the new creation will continue to develop into a more baby-like resemblance like outside the womb. Whether immediately upon conception, one week into development, or three months along, the being is still a human growing and developing. Location should not determine the value of a life. Just like those in prison should have decent food and living conditions (regardless of the fact that they are INSIDE of a prison), so too, should unborn humans be viewed with the same value inside the womb as they would be outside the womb.

Here are a few Biblical verses that promote life:

It is clear that God is the Giver of Life, and in Jerimiah 1:5 God declares, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." God has a plan for each of His children, and loves each with unfathomable love.

Matthew 18:5 states, "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;” Additionally, it is written in Matthew 25:40: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Aborting an unborn child (still a child) is as if you are aborting Jesus Himself.

The Sixth Commandment is “thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). God especially detests the shedding of innocent blood (the unborn and other innocents). Proverbs 6:16-19 states, “There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

If Hilary Clinton doesn’t immediately come to mind while reading this (for more reasons than one), she should.

As Christians, we should cast our vote for the candidate we think will best represent what Jesus stands for, and Jesus stands for LIFE. In John 14:6Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

We will never have a perfect candidate for the presidency, as we all have our weaknesses and faults, but through discernment and prayer we can determine who, out of the options we have, would be the best leader for our nation.

A candidate that does not support all life as God does, could not possibly be the candidate He would want us to elect as our next president.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”

-Deuteronomy 30:19