George Washington's Sacred Fire (Abridged Edition)

Book Description

George Washington—commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States—shaped America’s history. What values and beliefs formed Washington’s godly character so that he has become one of the most revered figures in world history?

Dr. Peter Lillback’s painstaking research into Washington’s journals, letters, manuscripts, and correspondence—and those of his closest family and confidants—reveal the deep role that faith, Scripture, and Christianity played in Washington’s private and public lives.

Author

Peter A. Lillback is president and professor of historical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He has served in pastoral ministry for over thirty years as well as authored books and numerous articles in the fields of the Reformation and the post-Reformation era.

Endorsements

“[The United States] distorts its own character because it misses the faith of its father, George Washington. Peter Lillback is here to correct that distortion. I commend this book to everyone who wants to know the truth.”
—Larry Arnn, President, Hillsdale College

“George Washington’s life was replete with religious overtones. This book answers the question whether he was a deist or a Christian and makes the point that Christians need to stop being so quiet and make their presence known.”
—Ben Carson, Retired Professor of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital

“Through meticulous scholarship and storytelling, Lillback reveals how spiritual conviction forged America’s founding. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the divine spark behind the nation’s enduring ideals.”
—Steve Daines, U.S. Senator, Montana

“Secularists have campaigned to claim George Washington for their tribe. . . . Peter Lillback buries that claim under an avalanche of evidence to the contrary.”
—Robert P. George, Director, James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University

“The inspiring history of George Washington’s faith, Sacred Fire, is about the best book I have ever read. . . . [It] validates that faith beyond reasonable doubt.”
—Bruce K. Waltke, Retired Professor of Old Testament, Regent University

Additional Information

Cover: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 496
Publisher: P&R Publishing
Publication Date: July 1, 2026