Haeralis
Puritan Board Freshman
Recently, I reviewed a book about President Andrew Jackson for TheFederalist.com (available here), and that got me quite interested in Jackson's religious views. It is often assumed that Jackson, who was an unruly frontiersman for most of his life, was just another irreligious deist of the Thomas Jefferson mold. This, however, is not true. Though he did have an irreligious phase at some points of his life (correlating with the time in which he was involved in Freemasonry), he was raised in an evangelical Presbyterian household and had a firm appreciation for the faith of his family. As he aged, he became an unwavering believer in Christianity and became very involved in his Calvinist Presbyterian church.
An interesting story involves the fact that Jackson, immediately after becoming a communicant member of the Hermitage Presbyterian Church in Nashville, was unanimously nominated to be a ruling elder! Jackson, however, declined this offer on biblical grounds. He said:
"No, the Bible says, “Be not hasty on of hands.” I am too young in the church for such an office. My countrymen have given me high honors, but I should esteem the office of ruling elder in the Church of Christ a far higher honor than any I have ever received.”
Other compiled quotes testifying to Jackson's Christian faith:
“I nightly offer up my prayers to the Throne of Grace for the health and safety of you all, and that we ought all to rely with confidence on the promises of our dear Redeemer, and give Him our hearts. This is all He requires and all that we can do, and if we sincerely do this, we are sure of salvation through His atonement.” [To his son, Andrew Jr., 1834]
“Rely on our dear Saviour. He will be father to the fatherless and husband to the widow. Trust in the mercy and goodness of Christ, and always be ready to say with heartfelt resignation, “may the Lord's will be done.” [Letter of comfort to the family of General Coffee, who had recently died, 1834]
“My dear Hutchings... I am truly happy to find that you both have met this severe bereavement with that Christian meekness and submission as was your duty. This charming babe was only given you from your Creator and benefactor... He has a right to take away, and we ought to humbly submit to His will and be always ready to say, blessed be His name. We have one consolation under this severe bereavement, that this babe is now in the bosom of its Saviour.” [To Mary Hutchings after the death of their firstborn, 1834]
“I must soon follow him, and hope to meet him and those friends who have gone before me in the realms of bliss through the mediation of a dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” [Letter upon the death of his friend, Ralph Earl, 1838]
“Sir, I am in the hands of a merciful God. I have full confidence in his goodness and mercy. The Bible is true. I have tried to conform to its spirit as near as possible. Upon that Sacred Volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. First, I bequeath my body to the dust whence it comes, and my soul to God who gave it, hoping for a happy immortality through the atoning merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.” [Andrew Jackson's Last Will, 1845].
“When I have Suffered sufficiently, the Lord will then take me to himself—but what are all my sufferings compared to those of the blessed Savior, who died upon that cursed tree for me? Mine are nothing.” [Moments before his death, 1845]
Jackson's statements about Christianity are really quite remarkable. It is extremely rare to ever hear any American president talk about Jesus Christ in explicit terms as Lord, Redeemer, and their atoning Savior. Most of the time, they opt for the vague, impersonal and undefined "Providence," "Supreme Architect" or "Creator." It is always very encouraging to find an American president who was likely a redeemed Christian.
An interesting story involves the fact that Jackson, immediately after becoming a communicant member of the Hermitage Presbyterian Church in Nashville, was unanimously nominated to be a ruling elder! Jackson, however, declined this offer on biblical grounds. He said:
"No, the Bible says, “Be not hasty on of hands.” I am too young in the church for such an office. My countrymen have given me high honors, but I should esteem the office of ruling elder in the Church of Christ a far higher honor than any I have ever received.”
Other compiled quotes testifying to Jackson's Christian faith:
“I nightly offer up my prayers to the Throne of Grace for the health and safety of you all, and that we ought all to rely with confidence on the promises of our dear Redeemer, and give Him our hearts. This is all He requires and all that we can do, and if we sincerely do this, we are sure of salvation through His atonement.” [To his son, Andrew Jr., 1834]
“Rely on our dear Saviour. He will be father to the fatherless and husband to the widow. Trust in the mercy and goodness of Christ, and always be ready to say with heartfelt resignation, “may the Lord's will be done.” [Letter of comfort to the family of General Coffee, who had recently died, 1834]
“My dear Hutchings... I am truly happy to find that you both have met this severe bereavement with that Christian meekness and submission as was your duty. This charming babe was only given you from your Creator and benefactor... He has a right to take away, and we ought to humbly submit to His will and be always ready to say, blessed be His name. We have one consolation under this severe bereavement, that this babe is now in the bosom of its Saviour.” [To Mary Hutchings after the death of their firstborn, 1834]
“I must soon follow him, and hope to meet him and those friends who have gone before me in the realms of bliss through the mediation of a dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” [Letter upon the death of his friend, Ralph Earl, 1838]
“Sir, I am in the hands of a merciful God. I have full confidence in his goodness and mercy. The Bible is true. I have tried to conform to its spirit as near as possible. Upon that Sacred Volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. First, I bequeath my body to the dust whence it comes, and my soul to God who gave it, hoping for a happy immortality through the atoning merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.” [Andrew Jackson's Last Will, 1845].
“When I have Suffered sufficiently, the Lord will then take me to himself—but what are all my sufferings compared to those of the blessed Savior, who died upon that cursed tree for me? Mine are nothing.” [Moments before his death, 1845]
Jackson's statements about Christianity are really quite remarkable. It is extremely rare to ever hear any American president talk about Jesus Christ in explicit terms as Lord, Redeemer, and their atoning Savior. Most of the time, they opt for the vague, impersonal and undefined "Providence," "Supreme Architect" or "Creator." It is always very encouraging to find an American president who was likely a redeemed Christian.
Last edited: