Election around the corner - how are we to vote!

Certainly a pastor should not try to tell anyone how to vote. We do have a responsibility to encourage our church family and others to express their voice by participating in the great American experience of voting. We truly are blessed in this great nation to have such a direct part in determining who will lead our cities, state, and nation.
The question arises - what are the factors we should be considering? We certainly, based upon our life experiences have our opinions of what we feel should be priorities - international policies, economic issues, status of our educational system, immigration; to name a few. Whereas each are certainly important and relate to the quality of life there is one area which should guide each of us as we make up our minds and hearts as to who deserves our vote. That area is character! The next question is - how do we make that determination? My advice to all is - "use the Bible as the bedrock of character traits". Judge a candidate's view of life by their adherence to the principles contained in God's Word. For example; their view of family - what is the Biblical structure of a godly family. Their view of the sanctity of life - do they cherish life of all (including life in a mother's womb) - the Bible is clear on this point. Equal opportunity for all regardless of the biases human kind has created - the Bible is the great equalizer regarding the worth of each person. Justice - the Bible the clearest, fairest, and greatest judge and jury.
November 4th will truly be historic in our national life, and, not because of the reasons that have been espoused. Whether we (on Nov. 5th ) have an African American as President Elect or a woman as Vice President Elect is not the primary issue. It will be historic because of the character of the President and Vice President Elect which will set the tone for the next administration. Issues of war, economy, and immigration will always come and go. However, because the gap between biblical character beliefs of these four candidates are so diverse, the character of our nation will be forever altered.
It is up to you to be willing to lay aside your own personal agenda and consider "character" above all.