The Conversion of General Andrew Jackson

Not too long ago, I read the one volume biography of Andrew Jackson by Robert Remini. (Part of my ongoing goal to read at least one bio of every U.S. President).

I enjoyed the book, and the man, more than I expected to. I had come in with a negative disposition towards Jackson, shaped in part by what I learned in high school. (I guess I was more of a Federalist back then). I can still hear my 11th grade American Studies teacher, Ms. Gallagher, vividly recalling Jackson’s words: “The Bank is trying to kill me, Mr. Van Buren, BUT I WILL KILL IT!”

Jackson’s wife Rachel was well-known as a very pious woman. Remini makes the case that her piety was at least in part due to the shady circumstances of their marriage, perhaps as penitential overcompensation. It seems likely that the General and Rachel were married before her first marriage was legally ended.

This charge, and the nasty aspersions that accompanied it, would follow the Jacksons for the rest of their lives. Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Michael Moore, Bill Maher–these guys have nothing on the mudslingers of the 1820s-1830s. Political discourse is NOT at an all-time low. Many believe that stress and grief from all the personal attacks ultimately killed Rachel.

For much of his life, Jackson was not pious in the least. But he loved Rachel, and so arranged for a Presbyterian church to be built for her at the Hermitage, their estate in Tennessee, in 1823. However, he did not join the church.

Remini then recounts his change of heart, in 1838, and late in life (70 years old, and after Rachel had passed away):

One happy event of 1838 occurred on July 15. It was a Sunday, and on that day General Andrew Jackson joined the Presbyterian Church. The act of joining had been in his mind for many years since both his wife and mother were members of the Presbyterian church. Also, he had promised his wife to join but had postponed it because he felt that a public display of his religion would be regarded as hypocritical. He would be accused of joining the church ‘for political effect.’ So he put off this ‘public act’ until he had retired ‘when no false imputations could be made that might be injurious to religion’…

Then one Sunday… [Rev. Dr. John Todd Edgar] preached on the interposition of Providence in human affairs–a matter of irrefutable truth in Jackson’s private canon–and seeing the old gentleman come alive to his words, Edgar began sketching the career of a ‘hypothetical’ man who had escaped the hazards of the wilderness, war, the attack of Indians, the invasion of his country, the vicissitudes of political strife, and the determination of an assassin. How can such a man pass through all these scenes unharmed, said the clergyman, and not see the protecting hand of Providence in his deliverance?

Jackson stirred in his pew. When the service ended he was deep in thought. He brooded all the way home and spent the greater part of the day and evening in meditation and prayer. Part of the time he conversed with Sarah, his daughter-in-law, about joining the church and together they knelt and prayed.

Dr. Edgar visited him shortly thereafter. Jackson told him of his experience and how he had undergone what might be called a ‘conversion.’ Thereupon he asked to be admitted to the church along with his daughter-in-law.

Edgar questioned him about his conversion. Most of the answers met an approving nod of the head. Finally Edgar asked the  most important question of all.

‘General, there is one more question which it is my duty to ask you. Can you forgive all your enemies?’

The question came as a shock. For a moment  the General stood silent. The two men stared at each other.

Jackson breathed deeply. His eyes glittered. ‘My political enemies,’ he said at last, ‘I can freely forgive ; but as for those  who abused me when I was serving my country in the field, and those who attacked me for serving my country–Doctor, that is a different case.’

Edgar rejected the argument. There was no difference, he replied. Christians must forgive all. This was absolute. Without a general amnesty for all his enemies, Andrew Jackson could not join the church. [Remini does not state it, but this requirement was not a particular hangup of Dr. Edgar's, the church, or Presbyterianism. Rather, forgiveness of others is a mark of genuine conversion. More on this below.]

The stricken man sighed. There was a ‘considerable pause.’ Then Jackson spoke again. Upon reflection, he began, he thought he could forgive all who had injured him, even those who reviled him for his services to his country on the battlefield. He was at long last prepared to grant amnesty to all the scoundrels  and poltroons who had ever crossed his path.

Edgar smiled his approval. He left the room to inform Sarah. A moment later the woman rushed into the room and embraced the old man. There was a flood of tears…

[The following Sunday] the regular Sabbath services commenced, and at their conclusion General Andrew Jackson rose in his place to announce that he desired to join the church. He further declared his belief in its doctrines, and he resolved to obey its precepts…And so Andrew Jackson was formally admitted into the Presbyterian Church and received communion. ‘To see this aged veteran, whose head had stood erect in battle, and through scenes of fearful bearing, bending that head in humble and adoring reverence at the table of his divine Master, while tears of penitence and joy, trickled down his careworn cheeks, was indeed a spectacle of most intense moral interest.’

For the remainder of his life General Jackson conducted himself as a true believer. It was a faith more uniquely his own than anyone might recognize in the Presbyterian Church–he could never accept the notion of an ‘elect’ chosen by God, for example, because it offended his democratic soul–but it would have been most uncharacteristic of him had he submitted totally to all the precise teachings of his church. Still he attended services regularly…and he read a portion of the Bible each day, along with biblical commentaries and the hymn book…Each night he read prayers in the presence of his family and servants, and sometimes he offered short homilies of his own. The Life of Andrew Jackson, Robert Remini, p. 340-341.

It’s a great story, one which Remini notes may have been embellished in subsequently tellings by Edgar. But it has all the marks of genuine conversion.

The most notable aspect of the story is Edgar’s pushing Jackson so hard on forgiving his enemies. Why did he do this? Was it a quirk or particular requirement of his? Not so. The first reason is that it is a biblical command, and one of the recurring themes of Jesus’ teaching.  It’s likely that Dr. Edgar cited numerous passages, such as those in the Sermon on the Mount:

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)

¹²Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ ¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:12-15)

But there’s more to Dr. Edgar’s method than merely following Sciptural precept and procedure. Dr. Edgar, I believe, was showing some real pastoral sensitivity–and courage–here. To be sure, landing a “catch” like General Jackson would be significant. If that had been his motive, he surely would have smiled and gladly received Jackson into the church. But he risks it all by pushing Jackson on this point of forgiveness. Knowing how acrimonious and vindictive Jackson’s life had been, and how he had made more enemies than anyone else alive, Edgar pushed him on the one point that would be impossible for Jackson to budge on, if the Gospel had not taken root.

With the “Rich Young Ruler” (Matthew 19; Mark 10), Jesus challenged the man to leave his riches behind. The man could not, because they were too precious to him.  With Jackson, Edgar essentially does the same thing. Edgar knew that Jackson’s enemies could be too “precious” to him. They had been part of his life and identity for too long. His whole identity, as “Old Hickory,” was based on standing up to anyone and everyone. His enemies had formed him. Like Bono says in “Cedars of Lebanon,”

Choose your enemies carefully ‘cause they will define you
Make them interesting ‘cause in some ways they will mind you
They’re not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Gonna last with you longer than your friends

Yes, even our enemies can become “Counterfeit Gods,” which ultimately keep us from the real thing. Dr. Edgar knew this was there the crux of gospel transformation lay for Jackson. He knew that when Jackson was willing to lay these down, he had experienced genuine, transforming grace.

Three lessons I’m taking from this story, as a minister:

1. The Power of Patience. What must it have been like to pastor this church where–for 15 years!–the man who built it sat in the first pew, but  did not join, did not receive communion, indeed, did not make any profession of faith? How easy it would have been to either write him off, or to rush God’s timetable and bring things to a crisis before Jackson’s heart was softened. God is not slow, as we think of slowness. His timing is perfect and we are wise to wait on him.

2. The Power of Pastoral Sensitivity. Dr. Edgar clearly knew this sheep of his. He had likely prayerfully imagined this conversation many times. He knew enough about the inner workings of Jackson to raise the issue of Providence and the “hypothetical man,” as a point of contact. He knew to ask the necessary questions, and to push him where he needed to be pushed. It raises an interesting question: when confronted with someone who wants to make a profession of faith, could I be so eager to help them cross the line that I fail to ask the necessary questions, or will I act with sensitivity and discernment?

3. The Power of Courage. This point is best appreciated if you know about the life and character of “Old Hickory,” but Jackson was a man who bent for NO ONE. For Edgar to not simply accept Jackson’s profession of faith, but to challenge him–even shock him–in a way he would surely feel, demonstrated tremendous courage. It showed that Edgar did not fear man–even a man as fearsome and formidable as Jackson–but feared God. The fear of God will make us courageous against any man.

This is why I love reading history. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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