The Gettysburg Address Stunk

No matter what you do, someone is going to find fault with it. When I feel unfairly rebuked, I remember what was said about a speech of Abraham Lincoln. The Harrisburg Patriot and Union said of his speech, “We pass over the silly remarks of the President; for the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them and that they shall no more be repeated or thought of.” The Chicago Times said, “The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dishwatery utterances” and the London Times remarked, “Anything more dull and commonplace it would not be easy to produce.” Well you might have heard of that speech, it is now know as the Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches in American history. It just goes to show that the critic doesn’t always have any idea what they are talking about. Paul understood that. The Corinthians said of Paul, “his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible” (2 Corinthians 10:10) Moses knew it as well. The Israelites were constantly complaining about his leadership. Jesus himself was accused of being in league with the devil. (Luke 11:15) Just remember when you are chided, you are in good company.

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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