Land, Patterson discuss politics and 2016 presidential election

As the 2016 general election nears, many Christians are asking the question: “Who do I vote for?” During the Grindstone Q&A, March 29, Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Seminary, and Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and former president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, answered this question and discussed politics, the upcoming election, and religious liberty.

Discussing the possibility of having to choose between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the November election, Land said voters must first acknowledge that such a choice reflects the state of the country as a whole. He then elaborated on how both Trump and Clinton represent the current cultural morality, one that highly deviates from biblical character traits of truth, servant leadership, humility, and solidarity of covenant marriage.

Despite Land’s disapproval of Trump, he said the election of Clinton would ultimately be worse for the country, particularly for the future of the Supreme Court. “If Clinton gets to pick the next Supreme Court justices, the court will be lost for a generation,” Land said. Referring to political “progressives,” he added, “They want to weaponize our government against us. And they want us not to just accept deviant behavior, but they are going to compel us to affirm it.”

In light of what Land said is inevitable if Clinton is elected president, he plans to vote for Trump if he is the Republican nominee. To clarify, he added, “I’m not voting for Trump. I’m voting against Hillary.”

Next, Evan Lenow, assistant professor of ethics and the panel’s moderator, prompted the topic of religious liberty. He asked Patterson to explain its importance for society as well as its biblical justification.

“Religious liberty is one of the greatest assets that the Great Commission has,” Patterson said. “We have no choice but to carry out the Great Commission. That becomes much more difficult, but not impossible, in a totalitarian state.”

“The second reason for it is that men ought not try to force a man’s conscience,” Patterson continued. “Any attempt to do so is inevitably met with difficulty.”

Then fielding questions from the audience, a student asked if the time was right for a permanent third political party. Both Patterson and Land agreed that, while it might appear to be an appealing option, it ultimately would not work. Land explained that, even if political parties change or are replaced by new parties, the United States is predisposed to a two-party system.

“I think the Republican Party is in the process of changing radically, whether Trump is nominated or not,” Land said. “And the Democratic Party is going further left.”

Another student then asked how panelists would advise Christians who believe they are called to enter politics. Patterson said such a calling is to be taken very seriously, as the temptation to compromise one’s beliefs is great.

“If one feels God leading him to use his life or a portion of it in political service, that is good,” Patterson said. “You better walk with [God] very clearly and resist the constant temptation to misrepresent the truth in your own favor.”