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The Myth of Christian America  /  MCA (12 of 14): Faith of the Founding Fathers #2  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
In Washington’s Sunday diary entries, Bercot notes attention to dinners, guests, politics, and who accompanied him to church, with almost no interest in sermons except calling one “very lame”; what does this picture suggest about using church attendance as evidence of discipleship, and how does it confront the way churches today often measure “faithfulness”?
Another way to ask: Washington’s Sunday notes focus on meals, guests, and politics, not the sermon. What does this say about using church attendance as proof of being a disciple, and how do churches today measure “faithfulness” in similar ways?

Direct Answer Bercot’s evidence suggests that church attendance can be cultural, social, or political without showing a living relationship with God; it is not reliable proof of discipleship by itself. This confronts shallow measures of “faithfulness” that focus on showing up rather than on spiritual life.

Support from Transcript:

  • In multiple Sunday entries (July 1786; Dec 1787), Washington records meals, guests, and travel with “no mention of going to church” and “no mention of any spiritual subject.”
  • Even at Christmas, his diary gives “just the weather report” and “doesn’t even mention it’s Christmas.”
  • When he does mention church (April 1788), it’s brief: “went to church in Alexandria…brought Harriet Washington home,” with no reflection on worship.
  • During his presidency, his diary shows church attendance “fairly regularly,” yet his attention is on which officials attended and dined with him (speaker, governor, mayor).
  • Bercot summarizes: “Even when he attended church, his main interest was on who went to church with him…Again, no hint of any spiritual life inside of him.”
  • The only sermon evaluation he found was: “heard very lame discourses.”
Discussion Follow-ups What indicators do we use to judge spiritual health in our churches, and which ones could be just social habits?

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