Were America's Founders REALLY Christian...Or Have We Been Lied To? (ft. Tim Barton) | Live Free with Josh Howerton

June 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

For the 250th anniversary of the United States, Josh Howerton hosts Tim Barton, co-author of The American Story, to debunk seven common myths about the nation's founding. The central argument is that a coordinated effort to "rewrite the past to control the future" has systematically erased the explicitly Christian character of the American founding from public memory. Barton argues that the modern secular narrative is not an innocent error but a strategic replacement of historical truth with a critical theory framework that divides the world into oppressors and the oppressed, using a selectively edited past to advance a godless future.

The Christian Character of the Founders

The most pervasive myth Barton addresses is that the key founders—Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin—were deists who wanted a secular nation. Barton counters with primary source documents. George Washington’s first general order as commander of the Continental Army required "punctual attendance on divine service" and stated that "to the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." Barton cites Washington’s adopted granddaughter, Nelly Custis, who wrote that questioning his Christianity was as absurd as questioning his patriotism, describing his daily quiet time reading the Bible and his practice of laying hands on the sick

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Opening & Episode Setup** - Josh Howerton introduces the 250th anniversary episode and the mission to "deprogram" listeners from six historical lies about America's founding with returning guest Tim Barton.
2 (06:00) **The Hard Shield Bible** - Tim shares the story of a World War II Bible with a steel plate designed to stop bullets, illustrating a time when government and faith naturally partnered.
3 (07:36) **Myth #1: Columbus Was a Genocidal Colonizer** - Tim deconstructs the narrative that Columbus was purely evil, showing he was a devout Christian motivated by missionary goals who only enslaved captives of war.
4 (25:20) **Myth #2: The Founders Were Deists** - Tim presents overwhelming primary source evidence that George Washington was a devout Christian, not a deist, using his own orders and the testimony of those who knew him.
5 (39:14) **Jefferson and Franklin: Not Deists, But Not Orthodox Christians** - Tim clarifies that while Jefferson and Franklin were not orthodox Christians by the end of their lives, they were not the secular deists of popular myth.
6 (49:06) **The Pennsylvania Oath & Franklin's Christian Framework** - Tim reveals that Benjamin Franklin helped write a state constitution requiring officeholders to swear belief in the Bible, proving the founders' Christian worldview.
7 (53:01) **Myth #3: America Was Not Founded on Christian Principles** - Tim directly refutes a viral clip from a professor on Katie Couric's show by citing the founders' own words and official documents.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Josh Howerton

Show Notes

What if much of what you've been told about America's founding isn't the whole story?

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Pastor Josh Howerton sits down with historian Tim Barton to examine six of the most common myths surrounding the nation's history. From Christopher Columbus and the Founding Fathers to Christianity's influence on America's founding and the role of believers in public life, this conversation dives into original documents, historical evidence, and firsthand accounts that challenge popular narratives.

Whether you're passionate about history, faith, or understanding the foundations of our culture, this episode will encourage you to think critically, seek truth, and engage the world through a biblical worldview.

In This Episode:

• Was Christopher Columbus really a genocidal colonizer?
• Were the Founding Fathers mostly deists?
• Was America founded as a secular nation?
• Is America's story defined entirely by slavery?
• Did settlers commit genocide against Native Americans?
• Should Christians stay out of politics and public life?

History matters. Truth matters. And as followers of Jesus, how we understand both can shape how we live today.

Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free.

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