Senior Fellow Tim Goeglein’s ‘American Restoration’ Book Launch

On March 5, The King’s College hosted a book launch for Tim Goeglein’s American Restoration: How Faith, Family, and Personal Sacrifice Can Heal Our Nation. After an introduction by president Tim Gibson, Goeglein offered a short talk, explaining what led him to write the book, and emphasizing the hope he holds for America’s future.

Tim Goeglein, who is a senior fellow at King’s, also serves as the Vice President for External and Government Relations at Focus on the Family. He served as special assistant to President George W. Bush, and was the deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison from 2001-2008.

Goeglein’s book was first thought into existence after he noticed a pattern in the responses he received at speaking engagements to which he was invited. Within the first four or five comments from the audience, someone would always say something like, “I’ve never been more concerned for my country,” or “I don’t know what world I’m leaving to my children,” or, most importantly, “I don’t know what to do.” Goeglein had become aware of the increasing demoralization of the American spirit as people perceived the country to be more divided and polarized than ever. Goeglein realized the question needed to be asked, “Does America need a restoration?” And, “If so, what dimensions would [the restoration] take?”

After his trip of speaking engagements, Goeglein returned to his D.C. office and immediately called his close friend and co-author of American Restoration, Craig Osten. Goeglein had written down the outline of the book on a Delta Airlines napkin. Osten was all for it, and the process of writing the book began.

Goeglein does not believe that Americans are living in the most divisive time in America’s long, messy history. The book defends this by exploring the historical record of division in American politics and culture. Goeglein does assert, however, that the deep spiritual differences in the country are historically large. He quoted American political philosopher Russell Kirk, who wrote, “If you want to understand political differences, understand that they are spiritual differences first.” The political polarization the nation is currently experiencing is, in large part, due to the intense spiritual polarization, argued Goeglein.

The solution he offers starts in institutions closest to us, per the ideas of Edmund Burke. Goeglein said, “I would argue, as strongly as humanly possible, as a Christian and as a man who believes in and loves our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that the only way forward for the United States of America, which is after all a religious republic, is to begin in what Edmund Burke called ‘the little platoons.’ Those institutions which are closest and nearest to us, our community, our neighborhood, our church. Above all, may I say, in our families, in our marriages.”

Goeglein believes American restoration is “almost uniquely a task for the church.” The book serves to encourage Christians to enter the public square and work to restore the spiritual divisions tearing apart the country. Goeglein ended his talk saying, “I do believe that spiritual revitalization is the starting point and ending point if the question is the following, ‘What kind of a country do we want the United States to be 50 years from now?’” He believes the answer to that question is the narrative of American Restoration.

American Restoration was published in July of 2019. Read the story we wrote about it here.

American Restoration: How Faith, Family, and Personal Sacrifice Can Heal Our Nation is available for purchase on Amazon.