Comments on: 9 Things You Should Know About George Washington (and his Birthday)

By: Just in Case You Missed It – Feb. 17-23 | Worldly Saints

Just in Case You Missed It – Feb. 17-23 | Worldly Saints — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:32:07 +0000

[...] This week we celebrated President’s Day. Here are 9 things you should know about George [...]

By: Shawn Keating

Shawn Keating — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:51:05 +0000

This deistic accusation is maddening and should not be popularized by Christians or scholars. Deism is a system of belief that says God does not intervene in the affairs of man. Washington countless times referred to the role that Providence (God's intervention) played in his life and the affairs of the nation. He had issues with Anglican communion during and after the Revolution because of its ties to George III as head of the Church of England. Washington knew himself to not be in communion with King George, and could not of good conscience partake. He did partake in Presbyterian communion, as recorded by several pastors who hosted him. He was an active vestryman in the Episcopal church, which he could hardly be if he was not confirmed or allied to their doctrine as recited in their creeds. He was not a pretender or one to go along to get along religiously. His use of titles for God is a manner of expressing respect and not abusing the Name. So a deist who professes belief in God's providence is a contradiction at its most basic level.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:42:11 +0000

Mr. Carter, I just want to let you know that I appreciate your "9 Things You Should Know About..." series. They are interesting and it is fun to examine them against other sources. Thank you for giving us something to consider.

By: Notable Voices – February 21, 2013

Notable Voices – February 21, 2013 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:00:42 +0000

[...] 9 Things You Should Know About George Washington — Joe Carter [...]

By: David

David — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:35:27 +0000

I agree with you Trent!
Also here is a link to a much better article on George Washington:
http://christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html

Here is sample from it:
In Volume XII of these writings, Jared Sparks delved into the religious character of George Washington, and included numerous letters written by the friends, associates, and family of Washington which testified of his religious character. Based on that extensive evidence, Sparks concluded:
To say that he [George Washington] was not a Christian would be to impeach his sincerity and honesty. Of all men in the world, Washington was certainly the last whom any one would charge with dissimulation or indirectness [hypocrisies and evasiveness]; and if he was so scrupulous in avoiding even a shadow of these faults in every known act of his life, [regardless of] however unimportant, is it likely, is it credible, that in a matter of the highest and most serious importance [his religious faith, that] he should practice through a long series of years a deliberate deception upon his friends and the public? It is neither credible nor possible.

By: danny

danny — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:41:30 +0000

James, I do not believe that Lillback's book disproves the very substantiated claim of #5 on this list. The book is really just a lot of special pleading. I've read a lot on this issue, and Carter's phrase - "Deistic Christian" (essentially meaning non-Christian) holds true to the evidence.

By: Trent

Trent — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:11:57 +0000

You need to read more on the forgotten founding fathers with all due respect.

By: Ted R. Weiland

Ted R. Weiland — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:03:05 +0000

Washington and bulk of the other constitutional framers and founders were neither Deists in the purest sense of the word, nor were they Christians in the Biblical sense of the word. For a balanced approach to these men and their religious beliefs, see Dr. Albert Mohler's recent interview with Dr. Gregg Frazer on Dr. Mohler's website.

Dr. Mohler is President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Frazer is Professor of History at the Master's College in California.

By: 9 Things You Should Know About George Washington (and his Birthday)

9 Things You Should Know About George Washington (and his Birthday) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:03:49 +0000

[...] Read More [...]

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:12:53 +0000

You are arguing that Dr. Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, is unaware of Deism? Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, interviewed Dr. Lillback about his book. In it, Dr. Mohler agreed with Dr. Lillback's conclusions. Do you think Dr. Mohler is unaware of Deism?

It is a stretch to argue that Washington (or Franklin or Jefferson) were true classic Deists for two reasons: they believed in prayer (and yes, that God does answer prayer) and that God does act providentially in his creation. No true deists believes that. I am not arguing that they were Christians by any stretch of the word (contra Barton on Jefferson). I am arguing that they were not Deists (regardless if Franklin or Jefferson used that term to describe themselves) and that Washington was a Christian. Washington held to every one of the articles of the Anglican Church which is Trinitarian. Again, Dr. Lillback covers all of this in his book. This is historical record, but you have to move passed the propaganda of the last 100 years worth of liberal historical "scholarship" and read Washington's own words for themselves.