As America honors George Washington on Feb. 22, the 275th anniversary of his birth in 1732, the question must be raised:

Do the Americans of this generation, the heirs to the free nation of which Washington is father, regard him today as "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen," in the words of Gen. Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee?

Further, why, more than two centuries after his death on Dec. 14, 1799, is there such labor by academics and other secularists to convince Americans that George Washington was not a Christian? Why does it matter?

The quest for an answer to these questions is greatly aided this year by the publication of the remarkably researched book, "George Washington's Sacred Fire," by Peter A. Lillback, Ph.D., president of the Providence Forum and Westminster Theological Seminary, in collaboration with Jerry Newcombe, co-author with Dr. D. James Kennedy of best-selling books and senior producer of Dr. Kennedy's "Coral Ridge Hour."

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It has been the conventional wisdom in contemporary academia – dominated by now-aging 1960s Marxists and radicals who fled to the universities when their dreams of being the "vanguard of the revolution" turned out to be (literally) pipe dreams that went up in smoke (also literally) – that Washington, as claimed by historian Paul F. Boller in the leading tome, "Washington & Religion," was not a Christian but was, rather, merely a deist who mouthed Christianity for political purposes.

This has been the cant of liberals in academia, notwithstanding the many, many statements of Washington himself to the contrary, as well as his conduct as an Anglican vestryman in his church, his writing of a personal prayer book, his collection of sermons, his conduct of biblical studies with his family, his appointment of chaplains in the revolutionary army, his commands that his soldiers attend worship, his putting his hand on the Bible when taking the oath as president, his declarations of days of "Thanksgiving" as president, his crediting "Providence" for his own survival in war and for the success of the American republic, and, among other things, the fact that he was believed , by his contemporaries, to be a Christian and a man of profound religious conviction.

Perhaps the most moving image in the American iconography is George Washington kneeling in the bloodstained snow of Valley Forge, praying. He was to say to the soldiers, who were farmers, workers, ordinary Americans fighting, suffering and dying for freedom in the revolution – when never more than one-third of Americans supported the revolutionary war: "The fate of unborn millions now depends, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die."

One of his first biographers, John Marshall, who served under Washington in the Revolutionary Army and would later be chief justice of the Supreme Court, wrote: "Without making ostentatious professions of religion, he was a sincere believer in the Christian faith and a truly devout man."

Notwithstanding, and not withstanding documentation of Washington's words and acts in such early books as John Frederick Schroeder's "Maxims of George Washington," published in 1854, and such contemporary works as William J. Federer's indispensable "America's God & Country; Encyclopedia of Quotations" and the recent "Washington's God: Religion Liberty, and The Father of Our Country," by Michael and Jana Novack," Americans are still being lectured that Washington was not a Christian but rather merely a deist in the mold of the contemporary liberal secularist.

Now comes in answer the massive (over 1,000 pages), thoroughly detailed, but eminently readable "George Washington's Sacred Fire" of Lillback and Newcome.

The title comes from George Washington's First Inaugural in 1789, in which he said, "… [T]he propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained. ... [T]he preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people."

In his Farewell Address in 1796, Washington, who had preserved "the sacred fire of liberty" and our republican form of government, said in part: "The name 'American,' which belongs to you … must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism."

Washington continued:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens."

Many postmodern American elitists have so labored. Dr. Lillback, after 15 years of research into original sources, answers by marshalling massive evidence in "George Washington's Sacred Fire" to conclude Washington was what he said he was and what he demonstrated by conduct throughout his life: A Christian.

"We believe that an honest look at the facts of history show that George Washington was a devout 18th century Anglican.," Lillback and Newcombe conclude.

It is up to each American to decide individually. But why is it important to decide at all? The authors of "Sacred Fire" answer:

"Where a nation began determines its destiny. Is the Judeo-Christian heritage of America a reality or an interloper aimed at suppressing the secularism of the Founders? Or, is it the other way around? ... Was it a secular flame or a 'sacred fire' that Washington ignited to light the lamp for America's future? If we look carefully at Washington's words, it is clear that it was a 'sacred fire.'"

Why is it important to decide? Because America cannot be separated from the values of those who created the nation.

Because we are the "unborn millions" whose fate and freedom Washington sought to protect when he urged his revolutionary soldiers to "resolve to conquer or die" in war against a "cruel and relentless enemy" who would destroy America, a war two-thirds of Americans did not support.

Because the values that we Americans of this generation decide to adopt will determine whether the "unborn millions" who come after us will inherit the free democratic republic George Washington and the other Founding Fathers of our country bequeathed to us.

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Rees Lloyd, a longtime California civil rights attorney, is an activist in veterans affairs and an attorney defending veterans memorials.