With an ominous tone, a politician gave a speech that was deemed radical. He suggested using federal power to force the states to accomplish what he believed was needed in our country. After the speech, several of his friends spoke out against it, saying the man’s suggestion of using military force was “unfortunate and inappropriate.”1 Years later, one of those friends admitted that this man was right.
You might think I’m talking about President Trump. However, this man was giving a speech as he sought the Republican nomination for a seat in the Senate. He would lose this race to his Democratic challenger but in three years, he would become the 16th President of the United States.
His name is Mr. Abraham Lincoln.
The subject of Lincoln’s speech was about ending slavery. “Lincoln firmly believed that slavery was immoral and was wholly incompatible with the principles of the Declaration of Independence embodied in the phrase “all men are created equal.”2 Consider the opening words of his speech spoken on this day in 1858.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention.
If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation.
Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly augmented.
In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed –
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.
Either the opponents of slavery, will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new-North as well as South.3
It took the Civil War, the assassination of a president, and many years after that to achieve equal rights. But it all began with one man being willing to speak up for the oppressed. Why would Lincoln have taken up this fight?
State historian Samuel Wheeler shares how Lincoln’s spiritual life developed and grew, aided by this conflict. He writes, “[Lincoln] believed that God was using him to end American slavery.”4 “To Albert Hodges, a Kentucky editor, Lincoln stated, “I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, [then] nothing is wrong.”5
From the Senate races and throughout his presidency, history records the growing faith of Lincoln. He became a faithful attender of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Hours were spent talking with his pastor, Rev. Phineas Densmore Gurley, seeking guidance and understanding of the will of God. The more Lincoln’s faith grew, the bolder he became to speak out for the Lord and what was right according to God’s Word.
Christians of all ages are called to speak up for the Lord. Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar, they were told to either bow and worship before the golden image or they would die. They took this opportunity to speak up for the Lord and do what was right. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
If we are going to live for the Lord in the culture of the day, we are going to have to speak up for the Lord and take our stands. They spoke with grace and kindness towards the ones they were defying but they wouldn’t back down on God’s Word. It’s the right thing to do but will we? Let’s be willing to speak up for the Lord today.
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-16/lincoln-warns-that-america-is-becoming-a-house-divided
2Ibid.
3https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/housedivided.htm
4https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-aaee8aafb93a4e9482b6ab1b9d7fd839
5https://acwm.org/blog/myths-misunderstandings-emancipation-proclamation/
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
