A Balanced Faith: Jesus & Honest Abe
by Rev. Drew Kirtley
Sometimes a film comes along that demands more attention than the average hour and a half runtime in a theater. For me, that film was 2012’s Lincoln[1], which was directed by Academy Award winner, Steven Spielberg, and starred Daniel Day-Lewis in one of his three Oscar-winning roles
I remember watching this movie on the “big screen” upon its release, and the feeling of uncertainty that entered my mind as the lights dimmed and the opening credits began to roll across the screen. After all, this was the first time I could remember seeing anyone portray the 16th American President on screen. Anything I knew about him before then I read in textbooks, and the only image I had in my mind was the same as everyone else’s… a tall, skinny man with a beard and a top hat. Then I saw Lincoln and that all changed. This performance was mesmerizing. The things I’d heard about the man began to make sense because the character onscreen brought all the stories and historical facts to life. And the result has given me a glimpse into what Jesus the person may have been like.
The movie opens with President Lincoln visiting soldiers during the end of the Civil War in January 1865. This is where most of the movie exists, in conversations. This is the focus of the story while the political and historical events serve as backdrop. This is where the Christ-like attributes begin to surface.
The President displays a balanced, graceful, tenderhearted, yet fierce persona, all while maintaining his character in the process. The more the story progresses, the more this seems less like an accident, and more like the result of a lifetime of practicing a similar lifestyle and moral code as that of Jesus of Nazareth. Abraham Lincoln comes across as a kind, gentle, and caring man. When he is in conversation (which is most of the movie), he looks people in the eye, seeks to better understand their lives, asks questions about their thoughts and beliefs, and truly lives life with the people around him, whether family, friends, advisors, colleagues, or complete strangers. Even his enemies can’t seem to comprehend how his steady, calm personality and confident, firm leadership style (all blended with great humor) can be so consistently cohesive.
Some of the most tense, chaotic scenes come in the form of the heated debates on the floor of the House of Representatives. People yelling at one another, Republicans and Democrats insulting each other, name-calling and even threats being posed seem like the accepted norm. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, we never hear or see Lincoln become mean-spirited toward a single individual. He loves people and accepts them as friends first. He treats everyone equally as a neighbor and a fellow human being. After he establishes his sincerity and genuine concern for someone, he then allows himself to engage people with whom he disagrees.
After each viewing, I reconsider how I interact with others. Watching this portrayal of a historical icon unfold reminds me that no matter what position I may hold or what I consider my place in society to be, as a follower of the way of Jesus, I need to be reminded of the importance of people. Loving God, self, and neighbor is a lifestyle. Every person is deserving of my time, my authentic concern, and my unconditional love. May you explore the joy of real, human encounters by being faithful to the way of Jesus.
________
[1] Day-Lewis, Daniel. Lincoln. Blu-ray Disc. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Burbank: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2012.
