George Washington's Sacred Fire [Paperback]

Peter A. Lillback (Author), Jerry Newcombe (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0978605268 | ISBN-13: 978-0978605261 | Edition: 1st

What sets "George Washington's Sacred Fire" apart from all previous works on this man for the ages, is the exhaustive fifteen years of Dr. Peter Lillback's research, revealing a unique icon driven by the highest of ideals. Only do George Washington's own writings, journals, letters, manuscripts, and those of his closest family and confidants reveal the truth of this awe-inspiring role model for all generations. Dr. Lillback paints a picture of a man, who, faced with unprecedented challenges and circumstances, ultimately drew upon his persistent qualities of character - honesty, justice, equity, perseverence, piety, forgiveness, humility, and servant leadership, to become one of the most revered figures in world history. George Washington set the cornerstone for what would become one of the most prosperous, free nations in the history of civilization. Through this book, Dr. Lillback, assisted by Jerry Newcombe, will reveal to the reader a newly inspirational image of General and President George Washington.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An enlightening, engaging, and long overdue correction of the falsehood that Washington lacked faith. --Rodney Stark, Baylor University

. . . . Dr. Lillback burries the myth that Washington was an unbeliever - at most a "deist" - under an avalanche of facts . . . . --Robert P. George, Princeton University

Secular historians ignore George Washington's ward Nelly Custis, who wrote that doubting his Christian faith was as absurd as doubting his patriotism. But they cannot ignore this mountain of evidence suggesting Washington's religion was not Deism, but just the sort of low-church Anglicanism one would expect in an 18th century Virginia gentleman. His "sacred fire" lit America's path toward civil and religious liberty. --Walter A. McDougall, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author

About the Author

Peter A. Lillback, Ph.D., is the President of Westminster Theological Seminary, where he is also Professor of Historical Theology. He is also President of The Providence Forum and Senior Pastor at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He is the voice of "Proclaiming the Word," a daily syndicated radio program, as well as the "Proclamation Worship Hour." Dr. Lillback received a Ph.D. from Westminster Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Cedarville University in Ohio. He is the author of "The Binding of God: Calvin's Role in the Development of Covenant Theology" (Baker), "Freedom's Holy Light - With a Firm Reliance on Divine Providence" (Providence Forum Press) and "Proclaim Liberty: A Broken Bell Rings Freedom to the World" (Providence Forum Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 1208 pages
• Publisher: Providence Forum Press; 1st edition (July 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978605268
• ISBN-13: 978-0978605261
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( W ) > Washington, George
  • #41 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Colonial Period
  • #70 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Revolution & Founding

More About the Author

Peter A. Lillback, Ph.D., is the president of The Providence Forum, the non-profit scholarly organization committed to preserve, defend and advance the faith and values of America's founding and founders. He is also the president of Westminster Theological Seminary, one of the world's leading institutes of higher reformed theological education. He has also been Professor of Church History at Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia.

Dr. Lillback holds degrees from Cedarville University (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and Westminster Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). He is the author of the USA Today, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon.com national bestseller "George Washington's Sacred Fire," representing the culmination of 20 years of primary-source research and scholarship on the life of George Washington. He is most recently the author of the children's book "Lessons on Liberty - A Primer for Young Patriots," which has received a Silver Medal from the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards; as well as the bestselling "Wall of Misconception - Does the Separation of Church and State Mean the Separation of God and Government?," a Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. He is also the author of "The Binding of God: Calvin's Role in the Development of Covenant Theology," co-author of "The Theological Guide to Calvin's Institutes," and the editor of and contributor to "The Practical Calvinist: An Introduction to the Presbyterian and Reformed Heritage." He has published many articles, including as a contributor to The Washington Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Bulletin.

In July 2005 Dr. Lillback became only the fourth president of Westminster Theological Seminary in its rich 80-year history. He is a tenured Professor of Historical Theology and has taught courses through the whole range of church history, with a special interest in the Reformation and early modern era.

Living between Philadelphia and Valley Forge for many years, Dr. Lillback has pursued an avid interest in the history of the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United States. He has performed research and study on the founding and founders of America through examination of original source documents in countless libraries and archives worldwide. Among the outgrowths of his research are the books "Freedom's Holy Light...with a firm reliance on Divine Providence," and "Proclaim Liberty... a Broken Bell Rings Freedom to the World."

Beyond his historical interests, Dr. Lillback is a very popular speaker and writer on many worldview issues, and has participated in many highly popular debates with Christians, atheists, government, and secular leaders and personalities. He is a leading expert on the foundational history of the United States, the intersection of faith, politics, and government, and the separation of church and state, and is a frequent guest and spokesperson on television, radio, and in the mass media. His unparalleled scholarship, warm disposition, and unique style have made him a much sought-after speaker at secular, religious, historical, and academic events and venues around the world.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

913 of 989 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful, Engaging & Poignant Book About the Faith of Washington September 28, 2006

By Stacy Harp

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Peter Lillback and co-author Jerry Newcombe, have hit a smashing home run with this extraordinarily powerful book on George Washington.

After spending over a decade of research going through all the original documents of George Washington, Lillback has exposed the myths about this true man of Christian faith, and proven without a doubt that Washington was a follower of Christ Jesus and not merely a Deist.

This must have book is broken up into seven sections that cover the controversy over George Washington, the historical background of Washington, Washington's life, and Washington as a churchman, and even the debate over Washington and communion.

My favorite part of the book was the ten appendices at the end that cover the rules of civility and decent behavior that Washington abided by, as well as representative biblical quotations and allusions that Washington used all of the time. The other appendices cover sermons, and other prayers by others that were impacting to Washington.

This book also has beautiful photographs within its pages and a few hundred pages of endnotes so that you can go directly to the source and see for yourself the truth about Washington.

In this day of revisionist history, where the liberals are trying to convince the world that faith was not a part of the founding of this country, Dr. Lillback's work is a two fisted punch in the nose to prove otherwise.

This is a much needed book in the public schools, universities, pulpit and church libraries and every patriot in America. Buy it today, you won't be disappointed.

271 of 305 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a Christian January 14, 2009

By Al From Virginia

Format:Paperback

"we have presented the evidence that proves that George Washington was, without doubt, a Christian."

Earlier in the book, Lillback is more circumspect:

"The only honest standard that can be employed in historical research is the same that is used in a legal process, namely, `beyond a reasonable doubt.'"

The authors' certitude has a better basis than other authors who make alternate claims, such as Ellis' claim to know Washington's deathbed mindset. Now and then Lillback pushes some evidence the way he wants it to go (that Washington recommended a Christian to the post of chaplain isn't quite proof of Washington's Christianity, though Lillback argues it to be) he makes a very good argument for Washington's Anglican orthodoxy, a far better argument than those who argue for his Deism.

For me, I enjoyed absorbing the wealth of information Lillback brings - I enjoyed the footnotes (though in my copy the type is annoyingly small) and the appendices.

A lot of information is irrelevant to the major theme of Washington's spiritual life. Lillback makes an effective case without much Weems input, yet he includes an entire chapter on Weems and Washington. Lillback also includes much on the 110 Rules of Civility, where God is mentioned exactly once, and though many rules have biblical origin, they're purely behavioral instructions, not theological, and Washington's interest in them is compatible with deism or Christianity.

But they're great to read anyway.

In addition, Lillback includes a passage on how Washington's sickness in Barbados saved the USA by giving Washington a resistance to smallpox - yet Lillback gives no evidence that Washington believed that this was divine intervention designed to create a United States, so it's apparently more relevant to Lillback's religious faith than to Washington's. The authors also slip at least once, including the questionable "so help me God" inaugural story without question. And there's this acontextual cut and paste hodge-podge of Washington quotes patched together by the authors that they call "Washingtonian Creed." Skip that and move on to the hard information.

Which there's plenty of. The basic arguments of the book are sound. There are only a handful of quotations that pin Washington as a Christian, but they're not as easily dismissed as some would like. Washington would have had to have been a systematic liar to recite creeds in church, state oaths of the godparent, etc. Also, he'd have to have been deeply cynical to command divine services for his men, promote spreading Christianity to the Indians, and advise personal friends to behave in a Christian fashion while believing it was just something to keep the rabble in line. Lillback also points out a handful of much more convincing witnesses for Washington's prayer than Parson Weems' Quaker. Additionally, the testimony of Nelly Custis and of Martha Washington is very difficult for anyone to explain away.

The only serious omission I found was the letter Ashbel Green wrote to Washington on behalf of a group of Philadelphia ministers. In that incident, Green hoped Washington's would reply would state his Christianity more explicitly. It didn't. Martha Washington and Nelly Custis were in a better position to discern his faith, but here are people who knew and spoke with Washington - why did they believe that Washington was not a Christian? This confusion is one of the primary reasons for the existence of George Washington's Sacred Fire and that the authors don't fully address the issue is a weakness.

George Washington's Sacred Fire is a terrific pile of information on George Washington and his spirituality. I enjoyed the pure volume of information. And Lillback has made an excellent case for Washington's Christianity - if not absolutely, his argument is beyond any reasonable doubts that I'm aware of.

56 of 62 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars sacred fire, scarred text July 5, 2010

By Michael Thompson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are many who have asserted (academically), and many who have accepted the premise (popularly) that George Washington, along with the rest of the Founders, were Deists. Although this is true, and easily verifiable, for some of them (e.g., Thomas Jefferson), such a sweeping historical statement refuses to hold water. And that is where Lillback's volume comes into the discussion.

At first blush it is an impressive book: 725 pages of text, 228 pages of appendices, and 198 pages of footnotes (the print of which strains the naked eye). The weight of this volume has no doubt already sent many curious readers heading the other direction. But this is part of the problem one will encounter when publishing within one's own organization. Lillback is the the president of Providence Forum, and thus probably did not receive an honest and challenging editorial process for his own work (Providence Forum Press should be concerned with other volumes being produced, which would have helped this book become more solid and would have helped clear the air of editorial bias and charges of self-publishing).

Indeed, the writing style of this book is often redundant and repetitive. Often the primary source material is presented two or three times as though it were unique. Those who would wish to challenge the book's credibility could easily point to this as an attempt to make the source material appear more abundant than it actually is. Further, such writing style is frustrating to the reader who quickly begins to gloss over and lose portions of the argument. Certainly, a more strenuous editorial process would have caught and challenged this disappointing aspect of the book.

In terms of content, the book does well at providing a good amount of source material which allows Washington to speak for himself when he can. The difficulty here is that Washington doesn't always speak for himself, and it becomes the role of historical scholarship to fill in the gaps with speculation - hopefully informed and responsible speculation. Lillback is no exception to this, although he perhaps could have demonstrated more scholarly humility in this fact. For as much as he charges other Washington scholars (most notably Boller and Flexner) for their theorization, he does not always accomplish a greater method.

My point in challenging Lillback is this: The argument he presents should have (and could have) been presented better, seeking a more sound case for the faith of George Washington. There are many points at which I think Lillback gets it right, and a few places where his assertions wear thin and are not supported by the evidence in front of us. Although I am a biblical scholar, I do know how to evaluate an argument, consider evidence and understand the historical method. Hence, I believe that my comments are justified here - there is a better case to be made.

Lillback succeeds in making the case for George Washington to be separated from the Deists. Simply, this can be done by setting him next to Hume and Jefferson and watching the worldviews quickly part ways. Many look to the context of the Age of Reason and dismiss the impact which it held on the entire world, even the church. I learned a long time ago that every age has its impact on the faith of those who live through it, and the Founders are more apt to look like Deists from our perspective than from their own. We are examining Christianity in conversation with the Age of Reason, a world that we do not experience.

The words and deeds that survive George Washington (along with the testimonies of those who knew him well) give us a strong probability that he was a Christian in his belief, though a few disappointing unanswered questions linger. Perhaps the strongest conclusion which Lillback makes is the founding of the United States as a whole, with a figure like George Washington leading the way: A nation with these values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, defined in the manner which the Founders have demonstrated in their own work could not have come about by people who believed that God was not present in the daily affairs of the world.

George Washington's words captured this often throughout his life as he demonstrated a strong faith in Divine Providence for the forging of this new nation. Overall, I recommend this book - even with its shortcomings and disappointments - to those who would be interested in understanding Washington's faith from the inside, as we see his own words exhibit a deeply rooted and embedded faith.

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