Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

          What is most magnificent to me about Lincoln’s second inaugural address is the magnanimity that he exhibits toward the South. Under his command, the entire nation was well invested in the most deadly and devastating of American wars. It would have been so easy for him to sound the trump of self-righteousness and assurance. How tempting it might have been, as a leader, to assert the rightness of their cause, and to claim that they had the sanction of God on their side. However, this is not what Lincoln did. He was humble in his declarations, claiming that he knew not entirely what was wrong and what was right. He avoided judging the South for what many would have called their many wicked deeds.

            To me, exhibiting such humility and love for the South in his position says to me that Lincoln was a true Christian, regardless of his religious convictions. He was a man who loved his neighbor as himself, who was willing to forgive, to avoid unrighteous judgment, and to extend peace to his enemies.

            For me, reading his address and considering it in the context in which it was given was a marvelous experience that taught me a great deal about Lincoln, about Christianity, and about the foundational principles upon which this great country stands.