Abraham Lincoln: The Man and His Faith
Perhaps no other character in history other than Jesus has been written about as much as Abraham Lincoln. There are literally hundreds of books that trace his life, from its humble beginnings in the backwoods of Kentucky to its conclusion at the hands of an assassin. Abraham Lincoln: The Man and His Faith does not attempt to provide an exhaustive biography of his life. Rather, it traces the growth of Lincoln as a Christian. It traces the roots of his faith in the teachings of his mother and shows how his faith was tested and sharpened through his life. It shows how the wisdom which made him famous was godly wisdom, learned through a lifetime of humility and submission to God.
Perhaps the most striking thing about Lincoln’s life is that while he lived a life of moral purity that would be the envy of man Christians, for the greater part of his life he was not a believer. It was only near the end, riding across the battlefield at Gettysburg to deliver his famous address, that he could say he fully dedicated himself to God. Though he was a good man and a moral man, he did not actually become a Christian until that time. Through his life prior to that time it was his mother’s faith and her teaching that had carried him through life’s trials and temptations.
The author’s extensive research has led him to pivotal moments in Lincoln’s faith. The most important influence was his mother, who raised Lincoln with awe for and respect of the Bible. His mother, who died when Lincoln was just a young boy, made him promise that he would live as she had taught him and to keep the Lord’s commandments. This promise shaped his life as many times in life he overcame temptation by thinking of his mother’s words. Other pivotal moments in his life were the death of his fiancee and the later death of his son. Both of these events shook him to the core of his being, but God sent people into his life to comfort him and minister to him during these times. In the end, we see, these events left him stronger and helped lead him to making a commitment to God.
When we trace Lincoln’s life we can see how God was preparing him for the task He had appointed to him - the task of saving the nation. We see how the development of his character, his faith and his relationships all led to him becoming a great statesman. We see how these elements brought him through this time and how he stood firm in them until the time of his death. It was these elements that made him one of the most beloved men in the nation’s history.
Abraham Lincoln serves as an inspiration to me. I dream of being a man of Lincoln’s character and dream of being able to write and express myself as Lincoln did. I dream of having his simple, humble wisdom.
This book is well-written, well-researched and well-documented. I give it my highest recommendation. Unfortunately it is no longer in print, but you will find it at a variety of used outlets including Amazon:
Comments (24) »
1. Mark Lauterbach
May 28, 2006
7:08 PM
Thanks for pointing me to this — I have a question for you. I have read a number of biographies of Lincoln and no one has indicated much more than Lincoln having faith in God. There has been no reference to clear original source material that Lincoln confessed he was a sinner and looked to Christ as Redeemer. All I have found is that Lincoln became a theist after being nearly an atheist.
Does this book cite orginal source material that Lincoln believed specifically in Jesus as Savior??
Thanks
2. Steve Camp
May 28, 2006
8:29 PM
I was just in Springfield, IL and had the privilege of going to The Lincoln Memorial and the newly opened, Lincoln Museum. It was very stirring though we only had a few hours to visit, which could have gone on for days.
But to piggyback on Mark’s comment: I asked my hosts (a few pastors in Springfield) about Lincoln’s faith. They also told me that though Lincoln was somewhat a religious man later in life that by no means was he a Christian. At best, Lincoln was most likely a Deist in the Jeffersonian tradition (and even that under speculation)—but not a born again believer in Christ.
Based on this book, I have the same question as Mark: does this book anywhere specifically mention Lincoln’s conversion to Christianity by responding in faith and repentance to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Thanks Tim,
Steve
3. Tim Challies
May 28, 2006
9:38 PM
I’d love to find you some exact quotes. Unfortunately, I just loaned it to my sister and she took it with her back to Atlanta. So you’ll have to wait for them.
Having said that, I do believe that he was a genuine believer, but one who was converted late in life, probably only a short time before he was killed. He was a “good” man and a man of character, but by his own admission, was only converted fairly late in life.
4. Jabbok
May 28, 2006
10:37 PM
Springfield, Illinois… Sagamon County. The only place I’ve ever gotten a ticket. The bears aren’t as honest as old Abe!
5. Mike S
May 28, 2006
10:49 PM
Tim,
I, too would like to hear of any original source material for Lincoln’s supposed confession of faith.
My library of Lincolnia (at least 20 scholarly works and always growing) only mentions his moral framework based on his reformed Baptist upbringing. Allen Guelzo’ excellent biography of Lincoln at the end seems quite clear that Guelzo thought Lincoln had NOT crossed the line in believing faith, i.e. becoming a Christian except in the loosest of terms.
It is true that Lincoln regularly attended the Presbyterian church two blocks from his home, but he never became a member due to his own realization of a lack of any evidence of God’s saving grace in his life.
Some authors in the early part of the 20th century have attempted to show Lincoln’s Christian faith, but upon further review their evidence was weak or outright authorial invention on the subject. David Herbert Donald and Allen Guelzo have handled this issue masterfully in the past decade.
Indeed, Harry S. Stout’s book on the moral history of the Civil War lays the genesis of Lincoln’s alleged evangelical faith in the wake of his assassination. Many preachers at the time compared him to Jesus Christ and even went to the point of creating and attributing a child-like confession of faith to him, though they did not know the man. Other preachers compared him to Jonathan Edwards of all people! For many preachers at least, Lincoln apparently carried messianic hopes of a better, more Christian nation.
After all that, I remain open to be convinced. I am aware that even at this date new materials are always being discovered and authenticated concerning Lincoln. I would love to see the man in heaven. Having grown up in his long shadow in Springfield, he may very well be my greatest hero outside of the faith.
6. Brendt
May 29, 2006
12:33 AM
Thank God (literally) that my salvation — or denial thereof — doesn’t rely on the declaration of a man in Springfield. Thank God (again, literally) that it still won’t 141 years after I’m dead.
7. Mark Lauterbach
May 29, 2006
12:27 PM
Thanks for the interaction on this Tim — look forward to hearing what is there.
I have wondered for years why we are so anxious to get Lincoln into the kingdom other than the fact that he was a remarkable man. My concern has been with how easily we evaluate the likelihood of someone’s faith — though we are not the final judge, we do this all the timewith everyone from Wilberforce to Thomas Jefferson.
My greatest concern is the clarity of the Gospel — having listened to hundreds of baptism testimonies over the years in which there was not enough Gospel to save a fly. People stood and said lots of things about God and not much about Jesus as the Savior who bore our sins upon the cross. Some of them were simply imprecise — some were downright ignorant of the Gospel.
If Lincoln speaks specifically of faith toward the Redeemer Jesus, then Hallelujah! If he is vague about God, then we will wait for God’s final judgment.
I know you share this concern and look forward to what references you may have.
8. Brendt
May 29, 2006
1:22 PM
To paraphrase: I have wondered for years why we are so anxious to keep [whomever] out of the kingdom…
9. Randy
May 30, 2006
8:15 AM
Hmm… my understanding is thay Lincoln never professed to be a Christian and that writings that state the supposed “Gettysburg conversion” is a myth. It is a fact that Lincoln was never baptized
“Mr. Lincoln’s maxim and philosophy were: ‘What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.’ He never joined any Church. He was a religious man always, I think, but was not a technical Christian.”
— Mary Todd Lincoln in William Herndon’s Religion of Lincoln, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beleifs of Our Presidents, p. 118
10. Dave Taylor
May 30, 2006
9:03 AM
For someone who can scrutinize, say, something written by an Emerging church leader like an attorney cross-examining a witness, this is a pretty credulous take on Lincoln’s faith. It’s hard to escape the conclusion that you employ more than one standard when judging another’s faith. (I’m not part of the Emerging church, btw.)
Perhaps you ought to consider Jesus’ words: “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” Also, with regard to how you judge, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
11. Nate
May 31, 2006
1:01 PM
For a balancing look at Lincoln I would recommend The Real Lincoln by Thomas Dilorenzo. It is an excellent read and he does an superb job of debuking the common myths about Lincoln. This book will cause you to re-think most of what you have heard about Lincoln since you were in grade school. Here’s a quote from honest Abe himself…
“I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the two, which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality; and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary.”
12. Ray
May 31, 2006
4:51 PM
Nate:
In response to your last quote I would like to recommend that you view the PBS documentary
on the life of Abraham Lincoln.
It is well known that Lincoln views on race and religion changed and evolved over time. Throughout
the civil war he interacted frequently with the leaders Of the free African American community of the time over these issues, and was rebuked by them for these and other opinions that he had voiced
on a potential solution to the slavery question. Whether it was these interactions or some other influence that brought about an evolution of his opinions is not something we can determine.
It would have been nice if no such growth had been necessary, but even the leaders of the African American Community who participated in the documentary admited that there had been that change.
Starting in the 1960’s an increasing number of writers have sought to selectively quote Lincoln, ( usually without respect to the historical, or personnel context ) in order either exalt him into a paragon or dam him as a pariah because he had to grow into views that we take for granted.
While ” The Real Lincoln” doesn’t go that far the authors use of quotes does demonstrate a string desire to chop Lincoln down to size.
As for whether or not Lincoln ever became a Christian, all I can say is that no one has ever produced definitive proof one way or the other.
13. Tim Challies
May 31, 2006
4:59 PM
“As for whether or not Lincoln ever became a Christian, all I can say is that no one has ever produced definitive proof one way or the other.”
I don’t suppose anyone could provide proof enough to satisfy everyone. I have been continually surprised at how many people seem to want to ensure that he is not considered a believer.
Anyways, I suppose we’ll all know soon enough! But I’m expecting to see him in heaven.
14. James H
May 31, 2006
6:06 PM
Tim:
Did this book do anything to detail the events of the Civil War and the development of a more centralized Federal Government? Having lived through the American public school system, it is so rare to find critiques of the man’s vision and the detrimental effects of the Yankee invasion of the South (BTW: I’m living in California). What does this all mean for his fealty to Christ? Not much. I don’t want to jump on the wagon on one side or another (don’t know that the issue really *requires* our discussion—last I checked God was the potter, Lincoln and all men alike are the clay…). I’m just wondering how political this book is, or is it more of a moral picture of the man’s life?
SDG
James H
15. Tim Challies
May 31, 2006
6:55 PM
James - In a word, no. The book is far more moral than political.
16. Parker
June 1, 2006
10:33 AM
“We don’t outright invent history, but often it is made by the questions we ask. ” So began an article that ran in Time magazine last summer. The article basically talked about how people had reinvented Lincoln after he died, especially his faith. According to the article, one of his close confidants created material about Lincoln’s faith, posthumously. I can’t remember the guys name, but its in this article, which I can’t log in to because I don’t have a subscription.
http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1077281,00.html
Any doubters can probably find the article at their local library, its in the June 4, 2005 volume.
I think we can all agree that we would like to see as many people as possible in heaven, but I think it is more responsible and honest to reveal the truth, even if it means honest Abe wasn’t so orthodox.
17. Brian Thornton
June 1, 2006
1:27 PM
Should it be this difficult to determine if someone was a true disciple of Christ or not? If it is this hard to determine, does that say anything about what is being used to make that determination?
Does this say anything about how and where we draw the line today as to who is considered a part of the body and who is not?
18. Richard
June 2, 2006
1:51 PM
Tim, I do recommend you read Allen Guelzo’s “Redeemer President,” as mentioned by Mike S. above. Guelzo is awfully thorough and convincing that, though a great leader and statesman, Lincoln could in no way be considered an “evangelical” Christian, no matter what guys like D. James Kennedy or the author of your book say. Guelzo’s book is worth a read.
19. Brendt
June 3, 2006
3:03 PM
Brian, I would think that determining the salvation of a man who has been dead for 140 years says pretty much nothing about the method of determination. All we have to go on is what other men wrote about him.
I wouldn’t put a whole lot of stock in any man’s determination of the salvation of a man who is alive today, either. But that’s another story.
20. Mike S
June 6, 2006
6:28 PM
Tim,
The thing that I most appreciate about Gulezo’s bio. of Lincoln is that he seems to approach the subject from a reformed perspective of religion and morals. I’m not sure where Guelzo stands on that issue, but his filtering of Lincoln seems spot on.
For a reasonable perspective on Lincoln’s political leadership on the see Dorin Kearns Goodwin’s, Team of Rivals. She does a fair job of describing Lincoln’s evolution in thought concerning the slave issue and his handling of the political situation in the U.S.
Michael P. Johnson has also published a series of books on Lincoln’s paers and writings on this subject that demonstrate the development of his thinking on this issue.
21. Botanica
June 8, 2006
10:39 PM
“[Abraham Lincoln] was without faith in the Bible or its teachings. On this point the testimony is so overwhelming that there is no basis for doubt. In his early life Lincoln exhibited a powerful tendency to aggressive infidelity. But when he grew to be a politician he became secretive and non-committal in his religious belief… It must be accepted as final by every reasonable mind that in religion Mr. Lincoln was a skeptic.” ~ an 1892 editorial in the Chicago Herald
22. Ken Abbott
June 9, 2006
8:34 AM
An anonymous editorial published 27 years after Lincoln’s death is a credible source?
Why was the editorial written at that time? Who was the writer, and what were the bases for his conclusions?
A great deal of new information has come to light in the century since that editorial appeared. While it should not be dismissed lightly it should also not be accepted as the final word on the subject.
23. Richard
June 9, 2006
10:24 AM
Mike S.,
Something tells me—maybe I’ve read it somewhere, that Guelzo is Reformed Epsicopal. He has also written a mammoth book on Jonathan Edwards’ “Freedom of the Will.”
You are right, “Team of Rivals” is a terrific book too.There is so much we can learn from Lincoln, even if he wasn’t one of “us.”
24. Botanica
June 9, 2006
10:39 PM
What is it that we can learn from Lincoln, Richard?