In time when politics feels louder, angrier, and more divided than ever, Lincoln's wisdom sounds almost revolutionary. Too often today, we're asked to defend people, parties, or positions no matter what because they're ours. But Lincoln reminds us that our first loyalty should never be to a tribe or a team. Our first loyalty should be to what is right. Standing for what's right means we support leaders when they pursue justice, compassion, and truth, even if they come from a different side than we expected.
And it means we are willing to step away from those same leaders when they move toward division, cruelty, or dishonesty. In a world shaped by conflict, misinformation, and deep political polarization, moral courage may look less like shouting louder and more like holding our values steady. Lincoln's words remind us that integrity isn't about who we follow, it's about what we stand for and having the courage to stand there no matter who is beside us. This is Dr. Scott Morris for Church Health.