Documentary ‘Lincoln’s Dilemma’ Shows President’s Belief In God And Need For Repentance

(REVIEW) It’s difficult to feel neutral about Abraham Lincoln.

He’s been called one of the greatest orators of all time, the greatest U.S. president of all time, the man who ended slavery. The man has been placed on a high pedestal as what the American ideal should be. 

Others have rightly criticized this idolization, calling attention to the fact that Lincoln wasn’t the only person involved in ending slavery — and in fact, Black Americans living in the South are responsible for creating real change. Other critics say Lincoln doesn’t deserve any of the praise he gets, citing other documents in which Lincoln expressed racism and hesitancy to abolish slavery.

Either way, Lincoln is one of the most important men — and presidents — in history, and in studying him it becomes easier to study American history and the way our political beliefs have developed. 

“Lincoln’s Dilemma,” a new four-part documentary series streaming on Apple TV+, chronicles the trajectory of Lincoln’s morality and political ideology from his early career to his death. 

The documentary is devoted to presenting a thorough portrait of Lincoln as both man and politician, neither idolizing him for the Emancipation Proclamation nor demonizing him because he wasn’t enough of an activist. 

It also expertly discusses Lincoln’s perception of God’s influence on the Civil War and slavery, revealing a man who cared deeply for others and who was concerned with repentance for the sins of slavery. 

“Lincoln’s Dilemma” is based on the book “Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times” by historian David S. Reynolds. In the book’s preface, Reynolds remarks — as many have — that the only historical figure with more books written about him than Lincoln is Jesus Christ. 

Reynolds made his biography different by focusing on Lincoln in his full cultural context, arguing that Lincoln consumed culture and learned from it constantly. The documentary adopts this lens also, looking at the way Lincoln’s beliefs changed over time and marking events in his life and the Civil War that would have influenced these changes. 

“Lincoln’s Dilemma” makes for a soothing and contemplative watch, not relying on flashy reveals or gimmicks to create shock at face value. It’s still plenty engaging, especially for those who have an interest in Lincoln and American history. 

The documentary says the fact Lincoln’s beliefs changed at all is a remarkable feat, especially for a politician and a president — most of whom are too stubborn or concerned with appearing “strong” to budge on their views, even when they’re in the wrong.

A genuine care for people and a belief in the righteous judgment of God are the two main influences responsible for Lincoln’s shift from an occasionally conservative moderate to something more like an abolitionist.

On occasion, Lincoln visited sites of the war to learn and become a better advisor. The documentary recounts his visit to one of the many refugee camps set up during the Civil War, made temporary homes for escaped slaves or those wanting to find family members they’d been separated from. 

It was this visit that made Lincoln particularly determined to achieve emancipation, spurred on by the suffering of those he met. He may have politically held less kind views of slavery, but “Lincoln’s Dilemma” makes clear that the president was driven by a strong sense of morality.

While Lincoln didn’t claim to be a strong Christian, he no doubt factored God into his life. During a pivotal moment in the Civil War, he wrote about going to his knees in worried prayer: “Never before had I prayed with so much earnestness.” 

In his speeches and letters, he sometimes spoke God’s name to ponder what his will was for the country or call upon his help to bring unity and freedom. 

It was in Lincoln’s second inaugural speech that he spoke explicitly and publicly about the kind of repentance he thought the U.S. must deserve: 

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with a lash shall be paid by another drawn with a sword, the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous.

It was a sharp and difficult statement to make, but it made clear Lincoln’s belief that the Civil War was divine judgment for the sin of slavery — and every bit of it was deserved. 

This viewpoint, particularly coming from a U.S. president, shows the depth of Lincoln’s complex morality and proves again he’s a figure worth studying. 

“Lincoln’s Dilemma” is available to stream on Apple TV+.

Jillian Cheney is a contributing culture writer for Religion Unplugged. She also writes on American Protestantism and evangelical Christianity and was Religion Unplugged’s 2020-21 Poynter-Koch fellow. You can find her on Twitter @_jilliancheney.