Dear Reader,

It feels great to be back in the Biola atmosphere as we all get back into the swing of things. As you know, I’m an avid follower of politics. This great nation has made progress on the race issue, electing a biracial man to the highest office in the land. Over interterm, over one million people watched Barack Obama take the presidential oath live in the bitter cold of Washington, D.C. Obama then proceeded to give a brief address on the state of this union.

In that address, our president said many true facts, primarily that we are experiencing tough times. He understands – referencing Scripture – that “the time has come to set aside childish things.” We need to grow up and take responsibility.

Obama then described that “the state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.”

At this point, I began to be skeptical. What type of “bold and swift” action does Obama plan to take? How will the government fund these jobs? What is this foundation for growth?

He must have been reading my mind, because he then addressed my concerns!

“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans,” he said.

Sure, it could be the case that he was referring to those outside of our country, but is it not true that those inside the country question the government’s decisions? The First Amendment gives us this right.

Continuing on about those who question his plan, Obama said, “What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.” I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, that tough times like these are precisely when the so-called “stale political arguments” matter the most!

As a nation, we must be positive that any action we take will not further hurt our pocketbooks, the security of our borders or lead to more moral degradation, whether its effect be tomorrow, next year or in another 76 years (See: “New Deal”).

Finally, to put the icing on the cake, Obama claimed, “The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.”

Wrong. Just because something works does not mean it is right. Communism works. It works poorly, but it works. Is it right or good? Most certainly not. According to George Washington, in the very first inauguration address of this great nation, the American government is held accountable to the “Almighty Being who rules over the universe, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect.”

I fear that our current president might neglect the accountability that we have to the Almighty. Sure we must submit to our authorities (Romans 13). It is equally true that in this Great Experiment, we can voice our objections to the government (First Amendment). The Rabbi has instructed us to do something that I will do fairly often in these next four years, and that’s “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to share the good news to people of many different beliefs, in our own nation. May God extend his grace and mercy upon this great nation.