It is an abuse of power for anyone to use a pulpit to convince you that you are immoral if you vote. The immoral thing is for a pastor of any gender, ethnicity, or class to use the power vested in him or her by God to sway people to not vote due to their personal engagement with Scripture or tradition. When I preach, I know that I have done my job when someone challenges my interpretation, or tells me that they will have to go home and study the Scripture presented for themselves. This is what we are called to be as faithful people; we are called to understand that faithfulness does not mean giving over your intelligence or ability to think for yourselves to be "saved".
Vote! Our foreparents didn't have the luxury of choosing "between two evils", if that is your perception of this election. While they were asked to count the bubbles in a bar of soap, or guess the number of beans in a jar, or charged poll taxes, they simply wanted to vote. Their choices, the representatives, may not have even cared that they existed; still they knew it was a right that they must seek to exercise.
In this day and time, as Representative John Lewis stated, voting is sacred. It is a holy thing. I think we are in a dangerous place if we will throw everything away because you may disagree. Going to a church that asks for everyone to do as the leader asks is simply a social club, and has lost the gift of power, voice on behalf of the oppressed, and the diversity in which God relishes.
*This is not a partisan request; simply my stance against some pastors who I believe are misusing their pulpits in asking their congregations not to vote this election cycle.
