It’s no secret that I have always been a huge Chuck Norris fan. So when I heard that he was re-releasing
his 2008 book “Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America” in a special Expanded Edition, I was
excited to be able to take a gander at the book that reached #14 on the New York Times Best Seller List.
After reading it, I was amazed at how much passion that Norris has when it comes to sharing his views
on a wide-variety of national topics. Most importantly, I was most amazed with his openness of his
personal faith in Jesus Christ and his views of the state of our nation as a Christian. Norris will be quick
to point out that he wrote the book, using his celebrity status to bring about awareness of the state of this
great nation and the fact that at the end of the day, he too is a ‘concerned citizen’.
In the book, Norris addresses eight of the issues he feels is most plaguing this country. They are 1) No
National Legacy 2) No Control Over Spending 3) Not Enough Border Control 4) No Moral Compass 5)
Not Enough Value For Human Life 6) No Future For The Children 7) No Traditional Family Values and 8)
No Might To Fight.
When I started reading this book, I was telling a friend of mine what I was reading and he joked saying
“Chuck Norris wrote a book? Wow, what was it on? Great acting?” After my friend was done laughing I
told him what the context of the book was he was like “Are we talking about Chuck Norris here?” You
see, my friend is not a Chuck Norris fan, obviously. So he knocks me about it any chance he gets. But
after the conversation about the book, he was surprised at its content and even promised to check the
book out for himself. He probably feels like a fool right now. I have to admit, as much as I like Chuck
Norris in the movies and in the show “Walker: Texas Ranger”, I asked myself the same question. Could
he pull it off as an author? I think Black Belt Patriotism makes for a strong argument for ‘yes’.
When I first started reading this book, I had a companion Bible alongside me to study as I read through
the chapters. While reading the first section, which centers on the fact that this country (like it or not) was
founded on Judeo-Christian foundation and values, it was almost as if I was reading a history book as
well. With my newly bought copy of "The American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of
America” (NKJV; General Editor Dr. Richard Lee) as a reference, it was actually very enlightening to learn
more about the religious convictions of our country’s Founding Fathers and how their goal was to form
and shape a country founded on God’s word, namely the Ten Commandments. Chuck’s research is
amazing as he brings forth the stories of how this country came to be, talking about the thought and study
of the Bible that went into writing the Constitution and even the Declaration of Independence. After
reading just this chapter, I was amazed at how many times over the past three decades that the Lord’s
name and references to Him have been attacked, and how there are organizations out there whose sole
goal is to remove God and His influence in shaping this great nation right out of history. Wow, this was
good stuff!
As equally impressive is Norris’ view and personal opinions on solutions that he thinks would help aide
in reforming the nation’s spending budget and the control over the borders. I have to be honest. I hear
about these kind of headlines a lot, but what doesn’t personally effect me (or that I notice), I usually don’t
pay much attention to. However, after reading through the second chapter, I am convinced that I need to
be mindful of these kinds of things. I mean, the way this country handles it’s spending and budget now,
will determine whether or not money I have invested in retirement (or even Social Security) will even be
available when I am 65 (in 2045). I have to admit, after reading this particular chapter I will be a little
more aware of what’s going on. My prayer is, if Jesus hasn’t come back by 2045, then I would at least
have a little nest egg for my wife and I to live on until He returns. :-)
The chapter on ‘No Moral Compass’ has to be my favorite and has the most blatant Christian in
message in the book. Norris makes no apologies for what he says when it comes to morals and values
- God’s ways are the only way. In founding America on Judeo-Christian foundations, Norris explains in
this chapter as to what he thinks the Founding Fathers would think if they could see the state that this
country is in today. “They would be astounded that the Ten Commandments have been removed from
public buildings. They would be dumb-founded that acknowledging the Creator God that they
acknowledged is regarded as impermissible at school commencement exercises.” Norris goes onto
finish the chapter out by making a proclamation of his love of this country when he says “Friend, I am a
patriot and an optimist at heart. I, as with many of you believe that we can become a great nation
again…. To put God first and raise up a new generation of decent, law-abiding, people-loving, and God-
fearing citizens.” Wow, that is a very bold statement, and that was just a highlight of the chapter! He goes
onto close the chapter with his own Christian testimony in how he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal
Lord & Savior at the age of twelve and went onto star in many films in the 80’s, often times leaving his
faith behind, that is until he met a young lady one day named Gena. They have been married for nearly
twelve years and have two children, who they refer to as their ‘miracle babies’, Dakota and Danilee.
The chapter ‘Reclaim the Value of Human Life’ touches on a subject that seems to be the hot topic of this
past decade. Abortion. It’s not a word that most people like to use. Even in Christian circles, it’s often
times avoided in conversation. I used to work for a Christian radio station and one of the topics that
came up was abortion. Me being the outspoken person I am blurted out “Abortion is murder. What is the
difference between someone who takes and kills a four-year-old child and a doctor who takes and kills a
child while it’s in the womb? Nothing. They are both acts of murder”. Okay, so what I said may have
come across as a little bold, but it was my personal opinion and conviction. We certainly got some
negative attention from that, with calls from people who were offended by what I said, Christians I might
add, and it got to a point where the owner had even threatened to “fire” me if I ever decided to make a
statement like that on ‘his’ station again. Back to Norris and his book – my bad, got a little distracted
there! Norris points out that the fact that we were created in God’s image, means that from conception,
we are formed in God’s likeness, therefore life is priceless. Norris describes his own experience, while
during his wife Gena’s pregnancy, there were many complications. The complications were to a point in
where doctors had even advised her not go through with her pregnancy, to abort it. After praying together
about it, they both decided to move forward and let God do the work. I was moved by what Chuck wrote
Gena’s response as being during the process of inserting the embryos into her womb… “Why would
God be so gracious to bless us with these two miracles of life if He was not going to see us through this
pregnancy? We need to trust Him!” Wow, amen to that! The abortion debate, while labeled by our own
president (Obama) as an “old issue” and that we just need to “turn the page” absolutely absurd and I
think is something that Christians need to stand up for. If we don’t stand for these unborn children, then
who will?
The next chapter is one that to me was eye-opening. The ‘Calling All Millennials’ chapter was the kind
that acted as a pre-warning for me, about what I need to watch for in regards to my children. I have three
children, and while my youngest two (Hannah, 3; and Aaden, 11 months) are not on my ‘worry-list’ just
yet, it’s my oldest (Mariah) who will be 11 in a few shorts months that I worry most about. The chapter
talks about issues among young pre-teens and teens such as ‘sexting’ and even the problem that is
MySpace, in the fight against cyber-sex criminals. It’s scary to think about this stuff, but Chuck’s goal of
wanting to make sure we as parents are aware of these things happening, is the essential part of the
chapter. I know what was swirling through my mind at eleven and my prayer that my daughter’s mind is
much more innocent then mine was at that age, is something I think about a lot. Chuck goes onto say
that Millennials, referring to the 47 million Americans between the ages of 18-29 (I guess I am the grand-
father of that age group at 29 – lol), are the new generation of America. Norris also voices his concern in
that there is no real link to the past for this group. The millennial generation has grown up with
technology, with no real emphasis on the being aware of or even learning of the past. It’s being aware of
things like these that can help us prepare for teaching and training the next generation (which was
referenced in the ‘No Moral Compass’ chapter too) of what’s right and what’s wrong. Norris also lists
several resources and steps that can help prevent some of these issues from occurring. The outcome of
this chapter is providing sound advice and support for today’s youth, starting with parenting in the home
and the importance of good education, even into college. Preparing them for what’s around the bend.
The last few chapters focus on some areas I think need a lot of attention these days. The importance of
strong family values and unity, and of course the fight for good health and standing for what you believe
in. A solid family structure ensures longevity within the home, starting with good Biblical foundation and
‘good moral compass’ as described in the previous chapters.
Closing Thoughts
I have to say after reading Black Belt Patriotism; I have a better understanding of a lot of things that
happen within the confines of this country, some which I was unaware of or even that I was a bit naïve.
Already being a fan of Norris’ film and TV work, I have grown to have an even greater respect for him as a
person and his willingness to use his celebrity status as a way to magnify the solutions to the problems
that he thinks are plaguing this country. If you are up for some good reading with a strong Biblical focus,
then this book would be a great one to sit down and read. If you are one who is offended by the talk of
Christianity and that the fact that this country’s Founding Fathers modeled this society they created after
God’s blueprint (the Bible), then you should still read it. Jesus loves you too. I close with a new Chuck
Norris Fact… “Chuck Norris is not God. But God lives within Chuck Norris. In other words, you mess
with God, you mess with Chuck Norris!” :-)
Also available from Chuck Norris…
“Against All Odds: My Story”& “Threat To Justice” & “The Justice Riders”
Review Written By: Jay Heilman [jay.heilman@christianmusicreview.org] on 2/9/2010
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