The book of Ecclesiastes says, "There is a time to speak and a time to be silent." And I am certain that I will spend the rest of my life figuring out when to do either. 

I have always regarded Ecclesiastes (along with James and Proverbs) as a book full of practical wisdom. When I am torn on a decision, or don't know what to do in a situation - I often turn to one of these books for help on what is wise. Sometimes this wisdom means confronting the problem and coming face-to-face with the issue at hand. And sometimes, it means stepping away and spending time in prayer, allowing God to do what He does best - taking the issue from my hand.

This has been a life-long, learning process for me. Because my first instinct is always to DO or SAY something. I'm an advocate for injustice. If I believe something is wrong - those close to me will most definitely know about it. 

Yet, while advocating is a good thing - arguing isn't (I even wrote a post on this very topic last year). And especially, for followers of Jesus, this can be damaging to our faith and witness if we are not careful. 

Last week, I made the mistake of sharing my opinion of this election season on social media. Listen to me when I say - it was a mistake. What I thought would just be an opportunity to offer a different perspective for my friends and family on the election - turned out to just be an opportunity for them to have a different perspective of me. Because, like it or not, people associate you with your opinions. Insults were fired and blame was casted - all because of the way I was choosing to vote/or not vote.

It got so bad that I had to deactivate my Facebook account, for fear of receiving another discouraging Facebook message. My heart just couldn't handle it anymore. I'm sure I'll be back eventually, just probably not until after the heat of this election is over.

There's a reason people say the two things you should never discuss are religion and politics. Because when people tie their identity into something - any criticism towards the subject becomes directed at the person. 

And while, for the sake of eternity, I can take the insults about my faith. And for that reason, I will never choose to be silent about what I believe about Jesus.

Politics, on the other hand, is temporary. Not eternal. And my identity and hope will never be found in who I'm voting for. Keeping that in mind, I think this is what Ecclesiastes would refer to as the time to be silent. 

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

There was a time in my life when I would have considered myself a political 'junkie.' I watched the news and listened to talk radio, constantly. I volunteered in 2004 and 2008 with the Republican Party. And actually enjoyed it. I hugged George W. Bush at one rally and shook John McCain's hand at another (see picture to the left? That was me dressed in red, white and blue at a McCain rally in Jacksonville, FL. Just in case you needed proof of the political "junkie-level" I'm talking here). I still remember the time that I had a "very important" question to ask (regarding the support and endorsement of Mike Huckabee) and I called in to Sean Hannity's radio show and was put on the air to discuss the 2008 election season for all to hear.

Judge me if you will, but I blame a lot of that part of my life on the fact that I worked a job in a cubicle. Being cooped up like that can do crazy things to the brain. 

But the truth is, for many years I put my hope in who I wanted and believed should become president. 

Honestly, I've debated blogging about this election season for two reasons: 

1) I don't, particularly, enjoy being controversial.
2) I don't really care who wins.

Now let me explain.

First of all, it may come as a surprise to many of you that I truly DO NOT like controversy. I can understand that. I mean, I'm currently writing a post on politics and mostly everything else I write about is on my faith - and everyone knows that those two things combined is a recipe for controversy. 

But on the flip side, I am a passionate person. Particularly one who is passionate about what I believe about the gospel. That Jesus Christ is the son of God, our atonement, the Savior who came to save us from evil/darkness/sin. And if what I believe about the gospel of Jesus is true, I must speak out. 

Especially when the rest of the world is chiming in and deceiving people. (I got yo number, Satan!) 

So anyway, I hope that answers the first reason.

Now, to explain why I said "I don't really care" who wins the nomination as the Democatic/Republican candidate and eventually, the presidential election. That is not completely true, because if i didn't care AT ALL I wouldn't be taking the time to write this post. But by "I don't really care" who wins, I mean this...

My hope is NOT in who becomes the President of the United States.

Amen! Praise Jesus. If you want, you could stop reading right now. Just that one line will change your life. I promise.

But to all my brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are still not convinced, let me put it to you this way - while this may not have been true just a few decades ago, it certainly is evident that this is the truth in 2016 - there is no longer a chance for a political candidate that could represent our country in a God-fearing, God-honoring, God-pleasing way to be elected as the President of the Unites States. In fact, they won't even get a chance at the nomination for the Republican Party. Not in this culture. Not in this day and age. Maybe, not ever again.

And please understand, I'm not saying this because I am bitter. I have no reason to be bitter. My candidate of choice has not lost, because I still don't know with certain who I'm going to vote for. 

I'm saying this because I believe it to be true. And I believe that the Bible (and Revelation, specifically) predicted it long ago. 

The problem with America (and the world, in general) does not lie in who is President of the United States. The problem with America (and the world, more importantly) lies in the heart of man. 

No matter what the history books say, our nation is no longer a Christian nation and we should not expect a Christian president. 

It's easy to blame the way our country and world is heading when we don't like the person in the "driver's seat." But, if you haven't noticed already, every politician is just saying what they believe people want to hear! They are trying to woo and win an audience. They are salesman. If it's not obvious to you by how many times candidates swap stances on issues, or mince words, or straight-up lie when the circumstance calls for it, then I don't know what will convince you.

You don't have to possess the gift of spiritual discernment to recognize that these men (and woman) running for office are not being completely truthful. Perhaps the one that is being the most truthful, the Trumpster himself, is actually the least presidential of them all. And by truthful, I am only speaking in the sense that he says all the dumb things without packaging it in a box of shiny, "politician" hogwash. 

There is a reason he is leading in the race for the Republican nomination and that's because people believe him. 

And maybe more than anything else, maybe more than even caring what values or plans of action the political candidates say they stand for, people just want to BELIEVE in something. In someone. 

So we may get Donald Trump as our President. Ridiculous as it sounds to write that, I am not even that concerned. Is he my choice? Hardly. But what I do know is that people are seeking authenticity. People are seeking someone who doesn't give a care about "political correctness" and is what they are. No more or less. 

I know many will say Donald Trump is far from authentic. And I'm not saying he isn't, but even the appearance of authenticity is enough for the cynics in our country. 

But in all of this I still have hope, because I believe God has a plan to use even this to draw more and more people to Himself. I mean, He planned for the fall of man, I think he can handle a Donald Trump presidency. And if you want some biblical comfort to that fact, if Trump does become president, Romans 13 says God actually placed him there. 

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”

— Romans 13:1

If our world is searching for someone to believe in, someone who holds to His promises time and time again, then they look no farther than the God of the Bible. He has never failed on a promise! And even when things look dark, He promises to be with us. 

So while I agree that we should prayerfully vote and prayerfully support the candidate we believe aligns with our values the most, let us not be hopeless when the choice appears to be the lesser of evils. 

I know the end of the story, and while I'm still studying to try and understand the details, I can tell you for certain - the world isn't supposed to start looking any godlier anytime soon. We know the only One who can change the hearts of man. Let's not try and pretend a presidential candidate can do that. Or more importantly, stop that. 

“Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.”

— Psalms 146:3, 5