2008
More on Palin’s Church
Sure, you knew that Sarah Palin’s church works hard to convert Teh Gayz. But did you know they also think the Jews are going to hell, believe that in the End Times, there will be an outpouring of supernatural powers on God’s chosen band of Christians, and are convinced that “God is gonna strike his hand against” America? Huffington Post, in particular, has been following the story, um, religiously. Here are a few excerpts.
On homosexuality:
Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.“You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years. […]
Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called “pray away the gay” movement.
On Jews (via Politico):
Palin’s pastor, Larry Kroon, introduced [David] Brickner [the executive director of Jews for Jesus] on Aug. 17, according to a transcript of the sermon on the church’s website.“He’s a leader of Jews for Jesus, a ministry that is out on the leading edge in a pressing, demanding area of witnessing and evangelism,” Kroon said.
Brickner then explained that Jesus and his disciples were themselves Jewish.
“The Jewish community, in particular, has a difficult time understanding this reality,” he said. […]
Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God’s “judgment of unbelief” of Jews who haven’t embraced Christianity.
“Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It’s very real. When [Brickner’s son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can’t miss it4.”
On July 20, 2008, the pastor of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s home church, Larry Kroon, delivered a sermon called “Sin Is Personal To God.” Kroon, the senior pastor of the non-denominational Wasilla Bible Church in Wasilla, Alaska, used the book of Zephanaiah as his reference point for discussing “that great day of the Lord when God will finally bring closure to human history… a day of wrath.” According to Kroon, “all things and all people” are going to bear the brunt of God’s “intense anger.” “There’s anger with God,” he proclaimed. “He takes sin personal.”Kroon placed Zephaniah in a modern context, warning that the sinful habits of Americans would invite the wrath of God. “And if Zephaniah were here today,” Kroon bellowed, “he’d be saying, ‘Listen, [God] is gonna deal with all the inhabitants of the earth. He is gonna strike out His hand against, yes, Wasilla; and Alaska; and the United States of America. There’s no exceptions here — there’s none. It’s all.’”
On the End Times:
Sarah Palin’s churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same ‘Spiritual Warfare’ movement that was featured in the award winning movie, “Jesus Camp,” which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. […]The Third Wave is a revival of the theology of the Latter Rain tent revivals of the 1950s and 1960s led by William Branham and others. It is based on the idea that in the end times there will be an outpouring of supernatural powers on a group of Christians that will take authority over the existing church and the world. The believing Christians of the world will be reorganized under the Fivefold Ministry and the church restructured under the authority of Prophets and Apostles and others anointed by God. The young generation will form “Joel’s Army” to rise up and battle evil and retake the earth for God.
While segments of this belief system have been a part of Pentecostalism and charismatic beliefs for decades, the excesses of this movement were declared a heresy in 1949 by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, and again condemned through Resolution 16 in 2000. The beliefs and manifestations of the movement include the use of ‘strategic level spiritual warfare’ to expel territorial demons from American and world cities. Worship includes excessive charismatic manifestations such as hundreds of people falling, ‘slain in the spirit,’ and congregations laughing, jerking, and shrieking uncontrollably.
Thomas Muthee visited Wasilla Assembly of God and gave 10 consecutive sermons at the church, from October 11-16 2005. As both Palin and Wasilla AoG Head Pastor Ed Kalnins have attested, Thomas Muthee ‘prayed over’ Sarah Palin and entreated God to “make a way” prior to Palin’s successful bid for the Alaska governorship. Muthee made a return visit to the Wasilla Assembly of God in late 2008. Thomas Muthee’s Word of Faith Church is featured in the “Transformations” video which details an account on how Muthee drove “the spirit of witchcraft” out of Kiambu, Kenya, liberating the town from its territorial demonic possession and enabling a miraculous societal transformation. The “Transformations” video set is used as an argument for social improvement through spiritual instead of human means, and as the best method for fighting corruption, crime, drugs and even environmental degradation.
Sarah Palin, you are truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Comments (35)
But are they black? No? Then it ain't gettin' airtime.
Posted by Ziggity | September 8, 2008 1:04 PMMost christian churches believe that members of other faiths will go to hell. It's sad but true. This idea isn't unique to Palin's church.
Posted by modern day flapper | September 8, 2008 1:07 PMPentacostals - why do they HATE America?
Posted by COMTE | September 8, 2008 1:09 PMAnd yet this will make her a hero to some. Sad.
Posted by P to the J | September 8, 2008 1:10 PMThe hatred expressed by Sarah Palin and leadership at her church are an insult to the god they claim to stand for.
Posted by Sasha | September 8, 2008 1:16 PMIsn't Obama mixed up with some crazy ass church also?...
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 8, 2008 1:19 PMshoot me now....
Posted by saywhat | September 8, 2008 1:21 PMp.s. that map did not make me feel better, but thanks for trying.
Her family is a personal matter and is off-limits. Her religion is a personal matter and is also off-limits. The beliefs that arise from her religious indoctrination are personal and therefore she will not be discussing her view that Jews are incomplete Christians, her view that God wants more oil pipelines, her view that it is the duty of all Christians to people the Earth with their progeny or her view that only God is capable of changing Earth's climate. She may or may not have participated in the casting out of demons, but she is not going to discuss that because it's personal.
None of her views or beliefs are subject to questioning or criticism, because they are all intensely personal and private. You should be ashamed of yourself for questioning such an inspiring and important public figure.
Posted by flamingbanjo | September 8, 2008 1:22 PMAnd how about Biden?... Where do the Catholics stand on Gays, Jews and the end of times?... And abortion?
I think you'll find its about the same... just a little classier when your priest wears a gown, get serviced by (or services) alter boys and preaches through a cloud of incense.
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 8, 2008 1:22 PM#6, more "sarcasm"?
Posted by w7ngman | September 8, 2008 1:22 PMIndeed didn't Bishop Tutu recently say that any church persuing the kind of agenda Palin's chuch persues is really lost touch with the true meaning of Christ's teachings and is wasting all of our time finding and executing scapegoats when a lot of that energy could instead be put to ending suffering around the world?
Posted by Sasha | September 8, 2008 1:25 PMThose believes aren't inconsistent with much of the voter base the party is hoping she appeals to. In fact, all of those quotes are pretty in line with churches many American's wouldn't necessarily consider radical.
She's a joke, but as history has shown us, it doesn't matter whether or not a VP can spell potato.
Posted by Dougsf | September 8, 2008 1:25 PMAnd lets not forget those crazy miracles... I mean Biden actually gets to eat the actual flesh and drink the actual blood of the actual Christ every Sunday!
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 8, 2008 1:25 PMZephanaiah? There is no such book in the New or Old Testament. Is this one made up?
Posted by butterbean | September 8, 2008 1:26 PMAll in all, pretty standard fare for a modern, conservative Evangelical church. 9 out of 10 TV preachers are saying the same things.
Posted by Hernandez | September 8, 2008 1:31 PM@14 - Zephaniah exisits.
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=87906173
And if you want my opinion, religion and politics should be as separated as possible, and candidates shouldn't be questioned about their religion...unless they bring it into the campaign.
Palin scares me. A lot. But let me tell you the folks here in the Bible Belt (I live in Louisiana, but I'm currently in exile in Alabama because I stil don't have power) love her - even the ones who aren't normally crazy conservative. I've heard several people in the office I'm working out of talk about how they hope, when McCain is elected, he dies pretty quick so that Palin can take over.
I can't wait to get back to the little, liberal outpost in my office where the discussion of Palin centers around what scary revelation about her is going to come next.
Posted by Sheryl | September 8, 2008 1:42 PMThe gift that keeps on giving??? You're kidding right? Have you seen the new polls?
Don't overestimate American voters -- most of them think this kind of stuff is grrrrreat!
Posted by Judith | September 8, 2008 1:47 PMThe last few weeks have been cringe-worthy. The Republicans are looking like a "SNL" skit. And they've all but handed the presidency to the Democrats on a silver platter with a few lines of blow on the side to liven things up.
Posted by Observer | September 8, 2008 1:48 PMThis is bad news for the Democrats.... What is the percentage of Americans who think the earth was created in 6 days? According to a CBS poll in 2004 55%!!!
Let's face it, if McCain wins Washington should try to apply to become a province of Canada...seriously.
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | September 8, 2008 1:54 PMZiggity @ 1 is right on.
White preacher saying "God is gonna strike his Hand against the United States of America" = pious.
Black preacher saying "God damn America" = dangerous radical.
Posted by David Wright | September 8, 2008 1:57 PMRe Biden - he may be Catholic - but did you hear/see him speak on Meet the Press yesterday?
He is a devout Catholic, but at least had the sense to admit that his beliefs on when life begins are RELIGIOUS and that he will NOT impose his beliefs on others. Can you imagine Palin saying the same thing?
The difference between him and Palin is that Palin has publicly stated that she would enforce her religious beliefs in the political arena.
Posted by onion | September 8, 2008 2:02 PM@21
Okay, that's reassuring. I guess. (I'd rather not be compelled to eat God/Man flesh and drink God/Man blood.)
But what does that say about his beliefs and his convictions?
Are his convictions to weak to influence his opinion on policy?
Are his convictions not tied to his beliefs? If not, what are they tied to? Public opinion polls? Party positions? Lobbyists?
Or is either his statement of belief and/or his professed lack of conviction just a politically expedient lie. (Remember, he likes to lie when he's on the stump... and plagiarize...)
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 8, 2008 2:22 PM@22 - the point here is not that Biden's convictions are weak. The point is that he is acknowledging the separation of church and state (how novel!).
He could hold his religious convictions more passionately than the nutjobbiest of right wing Christian extremists, but he recognizes that using the government as a secular sledgehammer to enforce the teachings of his faith on a diverse society like the citizens of the United States is immoral.
Posted by Helena | September 8, 2008 2:37 PM@17 is right. Everyone ELSE's religious looks nutty to the Jesus freaks. But their own? Why, that's the WORD OF GOD! Hence expecting Muddle America to slap their foreheads in aghast surprise and wake up to the theocratic threat of a McMommy state... a bit optimistic. We've had an End-Times Believer in the White House for eight years, steering us toward the fiery Armageddon and expecting a Rapture. Did that cost HIM politically?
Posted by Andy Niable | September 8, 2008 2:47 PMAnd yet her popularity still rises. So far none of these discoveries have swayed anyone away from voting for her. As I've always said, "At least 60% of the citizens of this country, on any given day, are morons."
Posted by elswinger | September 8, 2008 2:50 PMThe only great thing I see is that people are exposed more and more to the craziness of religion. A lot of people don't realize that this hatefulness is the norm of Sunday churches in America.
Posted by Original Monique | September 8, 2008 2:52 PMbut she's PRETTY!
america does not give a flying fuck about her evangelical beliefs. they share them, and they share them across racial divides.
Posted by max solomon | September 8, 2008 3:04 PM@23
But what then will he use government as a secular sledgehammer to enforce? Which of his convictions does he intend to make law? What belief system do those convictions rise from?
With Palin, assuming that "she would enforce her religious beliefs in the political arena" (could you please reference that citation?) at least we know where her policy comes form (agree with it or not). Biden seems to be saying "I believe all the same nutty things, but don't worry, I won't force my beliefs on you...")
By the way, he voted in favor of the Defense Of Marriage Act and Don't Ask Don't Tell. So he DOES seem to be voting his Catholic beliefs... at least when it comes to "The Gays"...
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | September 8, 2008 3:09 PMThe question you should ask yourself, Erica, is why does Obama hate powerful women? Remember how he was all mean to Hillary? This totally reminds me of that. The dark, negroid face of misogynism is rearing its head once again it seems. C'mon Erica and all you Hillary voters, lets stick it to the patriarchy with a chick vice president! (Psst! guys, you know you'd hit it ;) )
Posted by mnm | September 8, 2008 3:10 PMReligion is a sort of mental illness, an obsession. Everything is seen through this twisted unreality. People then see what they want to see. Myth and superstition taint their ability to reason to such a degree they no longer see things for what they are. It's sad really. What's worse is they force this on others. Now both sides are doing it. They all make me sick. In the meantime, nothing of real importance gets discussed or done. Please give us a realistic vision of the future you want to lead us to. A greater America. A better America. An America sailing the galaxy. An America finding cures for disease. An America where real work gets real rewards. Not some religious view of a future of destruction. Not some religious vision of people in some imaginary hell that justifys your cruelty. Oh well. Yeah, sure.
Posted by Vince | September 8, 2008 3:30 PMI’m a Jewish believer in Jesus. Most blogs and news services have quoted just one paragraph of the six-page transcript of David Brickner’s message, giving the false impression that he is saying that a bulldozer attack by a deranged Palestinian is God’s judgment on the Jewish people. Please read the entire message for yourself at the "sermons" link at Wasilla Bible Church's website (please Google it).
Among other things, Brickner says, “My mother always told me, ‘Be careful when you point a finger at somebody else, because there’s some pointing back at you.’ And really, Israel has not cornered the market on unbelief. Israel is an example of what all humanity has been saying to God since the beginning of time, shaking its fists at the heavens and saying, ‘You’ll not rule over us.’ And so all of the controversy that we see swirling in Jerusalem is really a mirror that the world looks in to see the controversy within . . . . It’s the dilemma of the human heart.”
Brickner is saying that without forgiveness of sins, which he (and I) believe only comes through Jesus’ sacrificial death for us, there will be judgment – not just for Jews, but for all mankind.
Please take a look at the discussion concerning Mr. Brickner’s message at the Jews for Jesus website, http://www.jewsforjesus.org.
Posted by Matt Sieger | September 8, 2008 3:57 PMSadly, Erica, no matter how batshit crazy she proves to be, her polling numbers are increasing. The stupidity of a significant percentage of voters in this country continues to amaze me. It makes me wonder if there is anything she could do that would actually damage her reputation among average voters.
Posted by Reverse Polarity | September 8, 2008 4:19 PMEric - where have you been?
Palin sounds like a Holly Roller - hard core Baptist - many Mormons - CONSERVATIVE CATHOLICS BY THE MILLIONS - on and on and on - too many to count
Did you not know how wacked out these people from many many many so called faiths really are?
And they are not going away anytime soon.
Posted by PAUL | September 8, 2008 5:14 PMSpeaking of Palin gifts that keep giving, my little made up Sarah Palin quotes blog post that got launched over the intertubes, has now risen to the level of an official internet hoax:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/newsquotes.asp
I can't begin to say how cool that is. :)
Posted by Bob | September 8, 2008 5:28 PMThese people greatly disappoint me.
Posted by God | September 9, 2008 9:41 AMComments Closed
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