In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Peter Lillback—church historian, theologian, and longtime student of George Washington’s life—to discuss the faith of America’s first president and the research behind his book, George Washington’s Sacred Fire: Abridged Edition. Dr. Lillback explained the difference between Christianity and deism, argued that Washington does not fit the deist label often assigned to him, and walked through the primary-source evidence he believes shows Washington’s deep belief in providence, prayer, Scripture, and the Christian faith. We also talked about how Washington compares to other founders such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, and why Lillback believes many modern historians ignore key evidence that challenges the secularized version of Washington’s legacy.We also explored what surprised Dr. Lillback most during his years of research, including Washington’s extensive biblical literacy, his habit of collecting and reading sermons, and the role of providence in his worldview. The conversation then turned to Washington’s views on public morality, debt, liberty, chaplains, and the spiritual foundations of the republic, along with a discussion of slavery and Washington’s decision to free his slaves in his will. Throughout, Dr. Lillback made the case that if we want to understand George Washington honestly, we have to listen first to Washington’s own words rather than later assumptions imposed on his life.George Washington’s Sacred Fire: Abridged Edition: https://www.prpbooks.com/book/george-washingtons-sacred-fireDr. Peter Lillback: https://wm.wts.edu/faculty/peter-lillbackWestminster Theological Seminary: https://www.wts.edu/The Providence Forum: https://providenceforum.org/about-us/Real Truth for Today With Jeff Schreve: https://afr.net/podcasts/real-truth-for-today-with-jeff-schreve/From His Heart Ministries: https://fromhisheart.org/First Baptist Church Texarkana: https://fbctexarkana.org/Bill Federer / American Minute: https://americanminute.com/pages/aboutCoral Ridge Presbyterian Church (referenced in connection with D. James Kennedy): https://crpc.org/history/George Washington’s Mount Vernon: https://www.mountvernon.org/