Fox News host Pete Hegseth isn’t holding back when it comes to faith and fatherhood. In a passionate speech, he declared that fathers have a sacred responsibility — to guide their families toward Jesus Christ. His words are igniting both praise and debate among viewers who wonder whether faith and parenting can ever truly be separated.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense, is being described by many media outlets as a former Fox News host – a description, that while technically true, doesn’t tell even half of his story.

Married to Jenny and father to seven children, the 44-year-old veteran was born and raised in Minnesota, graduating top of his high school class. From there he went to Princeton University, where he played basketball, even making the NCAA Tournament his second year on the team.

Raised in a Christian home, Hegseth praises his parents’ strong faith and family tradition. They attended a solid Baptist church. But looking back, there were some things he wishes were different.

“My school life was totally separate from my church life, from my family,” he recalled. “And they never reinforced each other.”

He then added, “It’s fair to say I had a Christian veneer but a secular core and thought I was ready to go out into the world and profess Christ. I wasn’t.”

It’s the lack of this faith-life integration that has inspired Hegseth to champion classical Christian education. He explained what was also missing in college:
My compartmentalized faith went with me to Princeton where I got involved in politics and took a class on Christianity that I presumed would explain the Gospels. Taught by an atheist famous for studying the gnostic gospels, the professor believed Jesus died, was buried in a shallow grave, and was eaten by dogs. I realized I was not prepared to combat such thinking and went to the library to read dusty books that pointed to and explained the veracity of the gospels. Defending my faith became an academic endeavor because I sensed faith and the Bible were good. As my pastor pointed out “Many people miss Jesus by 12 inches—the distance from their head to their heart.” I fell squarely into that category.
Hegseth’s book, Battle for the American Mind, was inspired by a desire to help young people avoid a similar windy road. He was eager to provide parents with the tools and information they needed to make sure their children’s faith and education are not on two separate tracks.

“Under the old form of classical Christian education, children gained wisdom by studying history and the classics,” Hegseth wrote.

“Make no mistake about it: the historical singularity that was America’s founding was a result of the culmination of the Western Christian Paideia (WCP). Full stop.”

“Paideia” is Greek and refers to education and upbringing that shapes a person’s soul and culture. Christian Greek educators were as concerned, if not more, with a student’s character, desires and spiritual affections as their intellectual advancement.

In addition to championing strong, classical Christian education, Hegseth holds to a conviction that fathers in America possess the key to the next generation.

“Fathers chart the course and lead the path for their families and kids,” says Hegseth. “A path that should lead to Jesus Christ.”

Shortly before Father’s Day last year, Pete said:

“Being a dad is the most important job I have. I internalize it every day. As a man, I have the privilege of teaching my kids right vs wrong and love for the Lord. Let’s pause & say thanks for the men who are good dads.”

The recipient of two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation medals, plus his time serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Hegseth will bring his military experience, educational accomplishments, and his family and spiritual convictions to the Pentagon. Once approved, the veteran is also promising to rid the military of its increasing wokeness.

Hegseth contends our fighting forces are “being harassed by obligatory training … grounded in Critical Race Theory, radical sex theories, gender policy and ‘domestic extremism’ that are designed to neuter our fighting forces.”

“Experiences in academia helped reorder my heart and mind,” says the nominee.

“Let’s be candid about it: Seek Christ, fully submit to Him, and allow Him Kingship in life! God’s perfect law of liberty that sets me free is Jesus — not perfection, legalism, or anything else.”

Please pray for Pete and the Hegseth family.

Note: In the days following the publication of this article, numerous personal allegations were made against Pete Hegseth. He has not addressed each one, but in a recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Hegseth wrote:

“Tragically, many veterans never find the purpose for their next chapter and succumb to the bottle, depression or, worst of all, suicide. I understand what they are facing — because I’ve lived it. But by the grace of God, I took another path. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has renewed and restored my life. I am saved by His grace.”