Gettysburg Address: A Civil Spirituality

One hundred fifty years ago today...Abraham Lincoln shuffled with head bowed on to the wooden platform at Gettysburg. Turning is tired eyes toward a war torn audience, he delivered what has probably become the most famous two minute speech. (I'm not sure if there was really shuffling, head bowing, and tired eyes, but...there probably was)

Since that time Christians, conservative and liberal alike, have claimed the speaker and his speech for God Himself.

With all due respect to Abraham Lincoln, who I believe was one of our greatest presidents, I'd like to remind Christiandom of a few things.

While Lincoln grew up in a very religious family, according to our knowledge, he was never a confessing believer. In fact he was quite skeptical as a young man and never joined the church. In spite of this, Lincoln was very familiar with the Bible and eloquent in religious language as a result of his upbringing and endless reading. As he grew older he attended church with his wife and certainly seemed to believe in the existence of an all powerful God.

Incredible power is embodied in a potent civil spirituality. The historians among us know what I'm talking about. A huge portion of Lincoln's lasting presence as a leader is sourced in his incredibly potent civil spirituality. This potent civil spirituality is woven into the fabric of his most famous speech..."that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."


Quoting another blogger... "For the Christian, the new birth speaks of forgiveness, conversion, and eternal salvation through Christ alone. Lincoln’s new birth served the purposes of nation, civil spirituality, and war, however noble that war’s aims. Lincoln was probably the most skillful proponent of that kind of civil spirituality in American history. But what is lost when the new birth becomes tied to a nation’s history, rather than a redeemer’s saving work?"