Last night at 9:15PM EST, President Obama gave the The State Of The Union Address. As usual for our 44th president, he spoke eloquently about his plans for the future of America. Directly following was the republican response given by VA Gov. Bob McDonnell. Though the first was an hour and ten minutes while the second only 10 minutes, both hit many of the same topics and both spoke about the need for change and the need for optimism.
The address hit many of the major issues confronting our country. From Health Care, creating job bills, energy alternatives, forgiving student loans to help with education, holding up certain minority groups rights to enter the Military, the recent supreme court decision regarding funding of political campaigns, and the need to rebuild American’s trust in the US government. The president shared how the debt he created in his first year was necessary because of the mess he entered upon when first walking through the doors of the White house. He communicated how he was going to cut deficit spending and truly begin an honest and accountable budgeting of the US Gov. finances. Speaking both to Democrats and Republicans he spoke of the need for greater accountability, broader coverage of congress’s dealings, and the need for bipartisanship in bringing effective reform to America’s failing economy. He said he has hope even amidst the looming problems because of the American enduring spirit. He clearly let it be known that the Federal government will do what it needs to do to bring the necessary reform.
The Republican’s response, was solidly conservative. McDonnell spoke of the importance of God-given liberties, the right to property, the importance of creating opportunity, and for innovation and enterprise in the private sector. He believes this is where true growth can occur. He agreed at times with the president in regards to education, to energy alternatives and other things. When speaking of the Outreach to Haiti, he mentioned the scripture verse, ” To whom much given, much is required”. Speaking for the republican party, he had hope and optimism in the American people not the Government.
The basic difference between these two speeches was centered around the debate of Big Government vs. Limited Government. The President, kept connecting solutions to the need for Government expansion. On the other hand, McDonnell, believes the solution lies in freeing the private sector as much as possible. Which solution would be most effective? History clearly gives an answer.
Government expansion for the last 20 years has led to further and further debt, bondage, and future problems while limited Government (Coolidge and Reagan’s Administrations being examples) practiced could help bring down debt or at least stop the accumulation, allow greater money volumes for the private sector and encourage the much needed economic growth.
Of course, those who our faithful students of the Scripture, the written word of God, know that true lasting reform must first begin in the hearts of individual American. The Biblical principles, of Loving your Neighbor, of life, and of liberty, of not serving mammon, and so many others, are such basic building blocks for the proper establishment and longevity of any society. Yet how can these be in a society if they are not applied by the citizens of that society. Taking this thought one step further, how can these principles be applied without faith in the death, resurrection, and person of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6). For it is through Christ’s faith, which strengthens us to obey the word and principles of the bible.
External reformation was clearly communicated in both the State of the Union address and the Republican Response. I believe we should continue working for this external reformation (if done correctly), while also prayerfully and actively pursuing the internal reformation; the turning of hearts to Biblical principles and bringing the lasting change made possible by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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