This past weekend Pam and I attended the local Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner. Our Representative in Congress, Jim Jordan spoke, and shared some thoughts on Lincoln. Among them, a paraphrased quote from Lincoln regarding God being on the side of the Union during the Civil War. I was intrigued by the quote, did some digging, and found this:
No nobler reply ever fell from the lips of a ruler, than that uttered by President Lincoln, in response to the clergyman who ventured to say, in his presence, that he hoped, "the Lord was on our side."
I found many variations on this same quote, but as the once cited is from 1866, by a biographer who spent time close to Lincoln, it seems most reliable."I am not at all concerned about that," replied Mr. Lincoln, "For I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side"1
As we often hear both sides invoking God in their cause, I think Lincoln had it right, we should spend more time seeking the Lord, and less convincing others that we have His backing.
1Carpenter, F.B. (1866). Six Months at the White House. p. 282
I honestly doubt that God or President Lincoln would agree with the masses subjects like no gun control (or pro second amendment) or abortion. If God begat all peoples, how we would not think that he has the other sides backs too? Just pondering.....
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