The Ultimate Justice: What a President Knew About the Power of the Cross
When we think of President William Howard Taft, we might recall a few historical facts. We might know he’s the only person in history to serve as both President of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. We might even smile at the famous trivia that he had a special, oversized bathtub installed in the White House. But to only remember these details is to miss the profound spiritual and philosophical foundation that guided the man who held the highest offices in our government.
As we reflect on his life, born on September 15, 1857, we find a powerful reminder of a truth we cherish at The Cross Works Ministries: The Cross Works. It works not just to save individual souls, but to lay the very groundwork for justice, equality, and hope in a nation.
The Foundation of Hope
In a world searching for stability, what is our basis for hope? Is it a political party, an economic system, or a charismatic leader? Taft, speaking from a position of immense worldly power, pointed elsewhere.
"No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint and not realize that Christianity, and the spread of Christianity, are the basis of hope of modern civilization..."
This wasn't just a casual platitude; it was a deep conviction. Taft understood that the principles of self-government, liberty, and progress were not accidental. They grew from the fertile soil of a Christian worldview—a worldview centered on the transformative power of the Gospel. Why? Because the Cross works. It provides a hope that is not subject to changing political winds. It is an eternal hope that provides the moral courage to build a just society.
Our nation's ideals are rooted in a divine standard.
The Great Equalizer
Perhaps Taft's most powerful insight comes from his understanding of justice. As the man who would eventually lead the highest court in the land, he knew that human laws are imperfect attempts to reflect a divine standard. He connected our nation's ideals directly back to the foot of the Cross:
"The spirit of Christianity is pure democracy. It is the equality of man before God - the equality of man before the law, which is the most God-like manifestation that man has been able to make."
The Cross is the ultimate leveler. Before it, all human titles—President, Chief Justice, CEO, laborer, rich, poor—fade into irrelevance. The ground is perfectly level at the foot of the Cross, where every single person stands as equal: equally loved, equally fallen, and equally in need of a Savior.
This is the bedrock of all true justice. Our nation’s creed that all are "created equal" is not a human invention. It is a reflection of a spiritual reality established by God through Christ. The Cross works to tear down the walls of pride and status that divide us, reminding us that our ultimate identity is found not in our position, but in our standing before God.
A Gratitude That Overflows
Finally, Taft understood that a nation blessed by God has a duty to recognize the source of those blessings. In a Thanksgiving proclamation, he declared that "a God-fearing nation, like ours, owes it to its inborn and sincere sense of moral duty to testify its devout gratitude to the All-Giver..."
This spirit of gratitude flows directly from a heart that understands the Cross. When we truly grasp the immensity of the gift we've been given in Jesus—forgiveness, redemption, eternal life—thankfulness ceases to be a duty and becomes a joyful reflex. President Taft's legacy is more than a list of titles; it’s a powerful reminder that the best of our nation's ideals are rooted in the timeless truth of the Gospel. And that truth is simple: The Cross Works.