Learning from "Lincoln"

I got to see the movie “Lincoln” recently. I really enjoyed the movie. I found the decisions that the characters made to be morally challenging, and I enjoyed watching them work through the process to make their decisions. I will not share the details of the movie for those who have not seen it. But, I was struck by one thought at the movie’s conclusion. That thought is that every decision we make is a significant decision. All of our decisions have ramifications not only for us, but for many others as well. While we may not be deciding law for our country, those things that we do decide matter. Also, consider that a decision not to do anything is still a decision that can have significant repercussions.

            In one pivotal scene, Lincoln explains to his cabinet why he is pushing for the passage of the 13^th Amendment. He tells them that he made an oath to uphold the Constitution, and he believes that many of the decisions he made during wartime were made to fulfill his oath. But, he also fears that some of those decisions will be overturned at the conclusion of the war – specifically his Emancipation Proclamation that has freed the slaves. Passage of the 13^th Amendment would guarantee freedom for the slaves. It was a great scene, and it did get me thinking about our responsibility for the decisions we make.

            Play a “what if” game with me. While I know that God is sovereign and these “what if's” could not have happened, just indulge me. What if Abram chose not to leave his homeland and travel until God told him to stop? What if Moses had not led the Hebrew people out of Egypt? What if Samuel did not heed the call to go to the house of Jesse and anoint the next leader of the Israelites? What if Nehemiah had heard of Jerusalem’s poor defenses, and had not asked the Persian king to return to his homeland and rebuild the walls? What if Esther and Mordecai did not stand up for their people? What if Daniel had not gone up to his rooftop and prayed openly to God when it was forbidden by the Babylonian king? What if an unnamed person or persons had not prepared a room for Jesus and His disciples to take their last Passover meal together? What if Ananias did not obey God and befriend the newly converted Saul (Paul)?

            All of these choices, whether big or small, had great ramifications on the history of the world and the history of God’s people. Were some of these decisions monumental? Yes. But, some of these decisions were ones that seem simple or easy to avoid. Yet, even these decisions had a great impact on history.

            My decisions may not have the same weight on the world landscape. A decision I make will probably not change the course of world history, or save a people group from extermination. But, that does not mean that my decisions do not have weight on me and many around me. My decisions may in fact play a role in generations to come. Those things that I chose to advocate may change the life of a child, grandchild, or great grandchild.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” So, just as my active decisions have importance, so also my lack of decision can be just as important. If I do not fight for my children, what legacy will I leave for them? If I do not stand up for what is right and true, it is possible that no one else will. If I chose to be lazy or to hide my faith or to shelter myself from things that I find challenging, these decisions may indeed have great ramifications. It is easy to be complacent. It is easy to let someone else do the difficult stuff. But Bonhoeffer is undoubtedly correct, God will not hold us guiltless if we are silent and allow evil to grow.

Romans 14:12 reads, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” That’s a sobering word. I am accountable for my decisions and for my indecision. So I ask, what decision have you been putting off? What has God called you to do which you have avoided up to now? What decisions do you need to go back to and correct so that from this day forward you are acting in a way that is right and true? It may not be easy to act on these things, but it is necessary. 


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