State of the People, not State of the Union

America is Truly a Great Nation

Our President may not be very popular, but he certainly sticks to his guns. He doesn't put his finger to the wind to see which way popular opinion is blowing.

According to his State of the Union Speech, he should be listening to the people, for multiple times he expressed his faith in our ability to govern ourselves and to make the right decision.

"In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. And so in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives for their futures."

Does our Government really believe in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions? If we do, why do we need government to tell us what to do? Why do we need laws? In another excerpt he states:

"Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament. We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom. These images of liberty have inspired us.

I believe that people prefer freedom and peace, but peace can not be defined by "cessation of hostilities". And freedom for one man may not mean the same as for another man. Witness the 'religion' based conflicts between Sunni's and Shiites. Witness the Taliban in Afghanistan. Witness Muslim activities against Christians around the globe. Our President Continues:

"The strength -- the secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, "We the undersigned delegates." When Governor Morris was asked to draft a preamble to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: "We the people."

By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong.

So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America."

Our Founding fathers had a strong sense of the Divine and His expectations for mankind. They were well acquainted with God's Law and His Word. They held God (Jehovah Elohim) in reverence and respect. The Bible was read in classrooms. Public Prayer was commonplace and even expected. I'm not saying that people were perfect, but I am saying there was a different attitude toward the God of the Bible when this Nation was young.

Today we live in an America wher God is an after thought. Our children are taught to question and to accept all thinking (religious included) as plausible. Standards of righteousness and behavior are being lowered each and every day. Justice no longer reigns in our land. Our courts are centered upon the subjective concept of 'fairness'.

God exclaimed in Psalms 2:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalms 2:10-12 (ESV)

We should not boast in our people, in our wealth, in our generosity, in our military might. We should boast only in that we know our Creator God. If we trust in man, we will surely be disappointed. There will be no Peace without God. There will be no Freedom until we are freed from our sins through Jesus Christ. Of course, our President could never say that. But returning this Great Nation to a 'Nation Under God' would be a great step.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV)