Allow me to use a local colloquialism in referencing what Indiana Governor and Trump VP toady, Mike Pence is doing.

Nothing gripes my rump more than somebody using fear and emotional blackmail in an attempt to influence support. It’s particularly annoying when they use that tactic against people of faith, namely, Christians.

Speaking at a Liberty University convocation earlier on Wednesday, Pence stumped for Trump, and pushed a familiar refrain.

“Nowhere does it teach in the Bible that we are to sit on the sidelines of history, and this is no time for people of faith to sit on the sidelines,” Pence said. “Shortcomings are no excuse for inaction. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need Jesus.”

I’ve said that same thing myself, many times. If any of us were capable of perfection, we’d not need a risen savior.

The implication here is that Trump, though flawed, is the only choice for Christians, lest the wicked forces of Clinton overtake us.

Pence is right about one thing: Hillary Clinton as president would be awful. They don’t come more corrupt.

What he left out in his attempts to peddle fear to a Christian crowd, is that Trump is no better, and would likely prove to be just as corrupt and incompetent in office, if his business career is any indicator.

Trump has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and bankruptcies, and even now has cases in court for fraud, surrounding Trump University, and a suit for a child rape.

Pence pressed the crowd to look past the recent 2005 hot mic leak, which caused so many to rescind their support.

“It’s not about condoning what is said and done, it’s about believing in grace and forgiveness,” Pence told the crowd. “For me, for my family, we choose a stronger America, we choose a more prosperous America … and so we choose to stand with Donald Trump.”

Grace and forgiveness are wonderful things, and the very point of the Christian faith.

That being said, then couldn’t he be applying those same things to Hillary Clinton? Does she not deserve grace and forgiveness, as well?

She does. Trump does. None of that is reliant on our vote.

Where Pence went wrong, and the thing that I find most abhorrent, is that he is using his status as a Christian to influence people to go against Biblical teaching.

Proverbs 8:13 NIV instructs Christians:

“To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.”

In this instance, “fear” means to respect, with reverence.

Pride, arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Do these things remind you of anyone?

I can think of a few who fit this category.

Further, I’ve been imploring Christians to consider Proverbs 3:5 (AMP) a lot, lately:

“Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.”

Pence, and others are pushing this idea, based on what they know about the current political climate or what we’ve seen in the past.

It’s trust in worldly knowledge, experience, and a manmade system that has failed us, time and again.

Am I suggesting that Christians sit this one out?

I absolutely am not. I strongly feel that people of faith should become even more involved in our political system, not just in their vote, but by running for public office and working in areas of public policy.

What I am suggesting is that Pence should not be trying to use shared values as a weapon of fear on Christian voters. He should be imploring them to prayerfully consider their vote.

I know I have prayed, and I will not support either candidate, because neither represent my faith, nor do either offer sound solutions to the problems our nation faces.

I will vote third party, even if I have to write in a candidate, and I will put my trust in God that when I wake up on November 9, 2016, no matter who wins the election, God is still sovereign. He appoints rulers to carry out His will, but I have no doubt that He watches to see if His people will honor His words and the faith they profess, while casting their vote.

I wonder if Mike Pence has ever read Psalm 146:3 (AMP)?

“Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help).”