Be The People: A Review for July 4th

Publisher's Description
An insightful analysis of the forces of deception rapidly reshaping America's morals, social policies, and culture, with a call to specific action, written by a thoughtful and courageous Christian social scientist on the front lines of today's issues.

Cultural elites in the media, academia, and politics are daily deceiving millions of Americans into passively supporting policies that are detrimental to the nation and their own best interest. Although some Americans can see through the smokescreen, they feel powerless to redirect the forces inside and outside government that radically threaten cherished values and principles.

Drawing on her training in political science and law, Dr. Swain thoughtfully examines the religious significance of the founding of our nation and the deceptions that have infiltrated our daily lives and now threaten traditional families, unborn children, and members of various racial and ethnic groups-as well as national sovereignty itself--and provides action points for the people of this country to make the political system more responsive.

The book is divided into two sections:

Forsaking what we once knew
Re-embracing truth and justice in policy choices
It also covers key topics such as:

America's shift to moral relativism
America's religious roots
Abortion's fragile facade
Historical and biblical views on families and children
Erosion of rule of law, national security, and immigration
Racial and ethnic challenges
Reclaiming the future

Notes
Also includes a short list of suggestions at the end of each chapter, as well as appendices containing the 10 Commandments, The Bill of Rights, and the US Constitution.

My Perspective
The author opens the book with her goals and audience. She believes that America was founded as a Christian nation and provides evidence to prove it, returning to the original documents for support. The two sections of the book could be classified as "Abandoned" and "Reclaiming," as the Christian heritage of America is contrasted with the moral decay of our nation today.
The book is easy to read and compelling,with some startling claims that require more thought then might appear on first reading. One of these areas is covenant theology: the belief that America has a covenant relationship with God in modern society, just as Israel did in Bible times. While Christians may disagree with that perspective, it is hard to dispute that America is seen--even by its enemies--as a primarily Christian nation.
Even if you don't agree with the author's worldview, she has practical suggestions on moving forward, as well as a clear presentation of her ideas. Not only is is a good reminder for Christians, it might help those on the other side of politics understand where Christian conservatives are coming from. Overall, I give Be the People 3.5 stars.
I recieved a free copy of this book through Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program but was not required to write a positive review

To close, I would like to share a prayer reprinted in the book. This prayer was originally given to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1996.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.