Michael Tait Reviews

Added December 11, 2004

Under God

Author: Michael Tait
Publisher: Bethany House
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2004
Genre: Nonfiction: History/Christian
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 0-7642-0008-9
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

At one time Toby Mac and Michael Tait were perhaps best known as members of the band "dc talk". At some point that group, in its attempt to reach out to people, to bring God's word out to the masses, decided not limit their ministry to music. Together members of dc talk wrote both best-selling books Jesus Freaks and Jesus Freaks Volume II. This time Mac and Tait have co-authored an intense, powerful and thought provoking novel that every American should be required to read.

Under God, containing 60 chapters, discusses the birth of our nation. The account of the lives of important, historical figures is captured. George Washington, John Adams William Penn, Patrick Henry and Ben Franklin. More importantly, are the accounts of the lives of people many may never have heard of-but who, without their faith in God-may have changed the outcome of life, as we know it, as free Americans. Phyllis Wheatly, William and Ellen Craft, John Prentiss "Print" Matthews, and Robert Smalls.

During the French And Indian War in 1755 there was a British soldier who could not be killed. Two horses were shot out from under him. His coat had four bullet holes. Not a cut or scratch marred his body. Eventually the enemy stopped firing at him, convinced that George Washington was under God's protection. And up until 1934 this story was included in school history books. But like so many things today, because it dealt with God, has been removed.

The book focuses on three main thrusts, I think. The forming of our nation-talking about those involved with the creating of the Declaration of Independence and other important documents. It covers the constant and heart-felt, humbling prayer involved with the writing and executing of such historic papers.

Another section zeroes in on the way we treated Native Americans, and how the peace treaties weren't even worth as much as they paper they were written on. Subjects include senseless, Godless massacres, Native Americans that were more Christian and than the savage Americans attacking them, and the contributions made to our country by Native Americans. Tisquantum-"Squanto", Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War and Chief Black Kettle.

The bulk section of the book revolves around our country's darkest times, a part of history that makes us pray we could go back in time and fix so that it could never have happened. Slavery. But not just slavery. The freeing of the slaves and the Civil Rights Movement. Stories cover the slave ships, Underground Railroad, and how many of the stories all tie together, how the actions of one African American inspired the action of another. Though many of the well known stories are included, like that of Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman, most have insights and twists that are not widely publicized. Then there are people, slaves, like William and Ellen Craft, who escaped their master, running through the night for freedom. Once in the north they thought they were safe. Free. When bounty hunters showed up and tried to send the couple back to their "master" the community took a stand and changed the course of the future. What if the community had stayed silent and simply allowed the people to be returned like goods to a slave owner?

Freedom and independence were not the immediate answer to the prayers of slaves. Where could a recently freed black man get a job? Who would hire him? Where would a black family live? Who would teach them to read and write? And anytime anything went wrong in the community-who do you think got blamed? Who do you think received the brunt of the punishment? The African Americans.

As the country moved toward solutions to help the freed slaves, activist groups like the Ku Klux Klan came into power. Unthinkable rules like the Jim Crow laws were enacted and enforced. Integrating schools, boycotting the public buses, peaceful movements that stemmed violence from angry whites . . .the world was in total chaos for more than one hundred years.

African Americans held onto faith and prayed continually for God's hand to touch and guide them. Change takes time. Things slaves prayed for are only now being realized by African Americans-generations later. That is faith. That is hope. That is trusting God.

Under God is not a book you pick up and read right through. You can't. There is too much to digest, too much that calls for reflection, too much that demands you stop and pray on the spot. Under God is not a book you can read only once. You can't. There is too much in it too absorb all in one reading. There are too many names you don't ever want to forget, too many stories you want to make sure you have down pat before you begins sharing them with family and friends. Under God is a book that scares me to death. Why? In the Old Testament people made all these covenants with God. And God honored them. Until the people broke the covenant. Then God stopped honoring on His part, too. The United States of America was built on a covenant made with, before and for God. We've been on this land-prosperous, powerful, on a land of abundance-and we have pulled away from God. We have taken Him out of our schools, out of our courts. Everything is about "me", "I" and "self". It is rarely about Him. In my eyes, we have not only broken a covenant God, we have openly mocked Him. How long is he going to continue to bless our nation? How long before-like in the Old Testament-he delivers us into the hands of our enemies? Under God has shown me the importance of praying for forgiveness as a nation.

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