There have been many great and charismatic leaders and famous personalities in the history of America. However, what distinguishes both the culture and the mentality of Americans from the rest of the world is their close connection with faith and the divine. Together, these two phenomena—spirituality and religiosity and charisma and leadership—gave rise to one of the most significant figures of his time, Abraham Lincoln. His ideas and expression in speeches reflected the American spirit of the Civil War, horrified by what was happening around him but retaining the faith and strength to go further.
In his second inaugural speech on March 4, 1865, Lincoln addresses the people of America. For a long time, America has been at war with its brothers in both culture and faith. This short speech by Lincoln reflects the real significance of his figure in history and the whole of America in its faith and culture. Speaking openly and concisely, without hiding his sorrow, Lincoln passed on to his people the words of the Bible, directly quoting it. Reasoning, he connects slavery as an idea with what Scripture describes as offenses and believes that war is a punishment for both sides for the war they have drawn each other. Lincoln reflects in his speech on the mood of the entire Union and all the good Americans who follow him (Abraham Lincoln Online, n.d.). Their anger and anger towards the slave owners of the South, and at the same time grief and sorrow for their countrymen, is the very essence of American Christians who humble their feelings by faith.
The President also speaks to the people about the importance of denouncing slavery. Considering war as a punishment of the Lord, he denies slavery, considering it a sin that has incurred the wrath of the Highest. While the slave owners do not pay for the blood spilled by the slaves, the war will not end in strength and life; Lincoln indicates the essence of the conflict and expresses a clear opinion about it (Abraham Lincoln Online, n.d.). Thus, for its time, when the nation was divided politically, geographically, and perhaps culturally, it was still united in its belief in one God and one Bible, as the President himself said.
Lincoln’s words show direct quotes from the Bible, as well as the ideas coming from Scripture. So, for example, in humiliating anger towards southerners, Lincoln quotes the Bible, stating: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). By linking slavery to offenses of man, he implies other biblical words: “Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must need be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” (Matthew 18:7). Thus, Lincoln recalls the Bible in words about the offenses of humanity.
For modern America, this speech is of tremendous importance, reflecting those ideas from the past of the American nation, when it was forged in the grief and wrath of the civil war. President Lincoln’s words had a tremendous impact on people’s perception of war. Also giving the nation hope for an end to the fratricidal war and that the nation will bind its wounds, he quotes the Bible, giving his people a connection to spiritual unity. It was a reminder of the values that bind all of America, regardless of the side in the war. Regardless of whether the person was a planter from the South or a worker from the North, they prayed to one God and read the same Bible. This part of the American nation is the foundation of what modern America stands on—freedom, democracy, and faith.
Reference
Abraham Lincoln Online. (n.d.). Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration. Web.