Clinton, Trump, or Neither? 3 Views on the 2016 Presidential Election

Ron Sider, James Dobson, and Sho Baraka make the best Christian case for each choice.

In this series

As most readers know, a not-for-profit publishing company like Christianity Today has to remain not-for-prophet when it comes to (prophetically) endorsing a presidential candidate. That’s why in presidential elections of the past, CT magazine has opted to simply note the issues that divide the major candidates, or to feature profiles of candidates from the major parties. This year, we’re trying something completely different: advocacy pieces for each of the major party candidates from three evangelical leaders.

Some might wonder if we are legitimizing one or the other candidate by doing so. Not quite: For better or worse, our political system and fellow Americans have legitimized them. They are the major parties’ nominees. But given the unique controversies surrounding each candidate, more Christians than ever are seriously entertaining the idea of voting for neither candidate—thus the third article in the package.

Such election features are designed to help readers make “informed decisions.” (Also see our new election book, How to Pick a President.) We trust that this package will do just that. Yet given the complexities of this election, we’re sure our readers will need not just information but also some unearthly wisdom. —The Editors

Also in this series

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The World Is Yearning for Beautiful Orthodoxy

Putting Our Money Where Our Eyes Are

A Decade of Change

Harold B. Smith

Where Kids Get Their Political Views

You Are the Manure of the Earth

Anthony B. Bradley

The Other 'Christianity Today'

The New Baptist Covenant: Will It Work?

News

Charity Navigator's Overhead Overhaul

News

Manga Mania

Alanna Foxwell-Barajas

News

Gleanings: October 2016

CT Staff

‘Why Christianity Today’ Revisited

The Cosmos Is Vaster than the Ancients Imagined

Chad Meeks

The Future of the Church Is Analog, Not Digital

Read Mercer Schuchardt

Do We Really Need More Breast Cancer ‘Awareness’?

Matthew Loftus

Reply All

Art Advocates

Testimony

I Found the Gospel in Communist Romania

Virginia Prodan

The Value of Friends Who Don’t Look, Think, or Vote Like You Do

Jimmy Carter: Pursuing an Arc of Reconciliation

Review

When Modern Medicine Becomes a False God

Rob Moll

5 Books to Read Before Voting in a Presidential Election

Peter Wehner

New & Noteworthy Books

Matt Reynolds

Excerpt

Why God Doesn’t Let Us In On Everything

James Dobson: Why I Am Voting for Donald Trump

Interview by CT Editors

Sho Baraka: Why I Can't Vote for Either Trump or Clinton

Sho Baraka

Ron Sider: Why I Am Voting for Hillary Clinton

View issue

Our Latest

The Bulletin

No Iran Deal, Russell Brand Reads the Bible, and Ben Sasse’s Public Dying

Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Trump insists on nuclear deal with Iran, Brand’s viral Bible faux pas, and Senator Sasse shares his dying and his faith.

The Algorithm Is Changing How We Speak—and Strive

Griffin Gooch

“Algospeak” capitalizes on our desire for attention and status. We should turn to God for both.

Review

When Faith Feels Cloudy

Three books for the doubting Christian.

News

The Christian Migrants Feeding the Displaced in Lebanon

Ghinwa Akiki and Hunter Williamson in Beirut, Lebanon

The war left many domestic workers jobless and homeless. Some Christians see a chance to serve their community.

Desperately Seeking Alternatives to Arrogance

The Trump administration’s critique of elite universities is worthwhile, but government control is problematic. Good news: Christian study centers are multiplying at major universities.

News

Black Churches Urge Congregants to Mobilize After Supreme Court Ruling

Denominational leaders say the latest weakening of protections for minority voters is discouraging but not cause for despair.

We Need the Doctrine of Hell

The harsh reality shows us our depths of depravity and the depth of Christ’s redemption.

News

Extremist Attacks Leave Dozens of Christians Dead in Afghanistan

A Pakistani pastor who baptized several of the victims continues shepherding church members living under Taliban rule.

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