What This Means To You

The United States has never been governed under theocratic rule unlike so many other countries around the world. Theocratic rule means a ’government ruled by or subject to religious authority’. Right away we think of countries in the Middle East and in other parts of Asia, many which are the home bases for the Jihadists who have led the holy war against the U.S. and its allies. In the name of the holy war some extremists do not have a problem with taking the war to their very own streets and sometimes neighbor killing neighbor, all in the name of Allah.

Theocratic rule would change our lives in ways that are unimaginable to us because we are hard-wired to embrace the democratic process we enjoy. What does it mean we would lose if a theocratic government were to take power? Think about the loss of some of these freedoms that we just take for granted:

Religious freedom – gone!
Freedom of speech and the press – gone!
Women’s, Gay & Minorities rights – gone!
Alcohol and tobacco – gone!
Popular TV shows – gone!
Music and the Arts – gone!

Most Americans consider the religious right as an innocuous fringe group who fervently believe in the second coming of Christ and the preservation of Christian heritage. While that is true for the most part, it is what we don’t see that could hurt us the most. Among the religious right, there are groups and collaborations between individuals who represent ideologies that take the Bible at its word and who embrace the concept of the Rapture of Jesus. When the Rapture comes, believers will be lifted up to God by Jesus and non-believers will be left to a hell on earth. These same groups see government as an instrument of God and that God’s law prevails over all else.

As far as the national election goes, this is a larger issue than many people realize. No one has brought that closer to home than VP nominee Sarah Palin. The reason is Palin’s religious beliefs and associations. We have often heard the expression – ‘you are known by the company you keep’. A closer look at some of Sarah Palin’s company reveals some very frightening details.

As a member of the Wasilla Assemblies of God Church, Governor Palin and her family have close ties with Pastor Ed Kalnins. He is an outspoken, often extremist in his views. He believes true believers have to be willing to die for Jesus if there is any hope of salvation. Kalnins told an audience:

"We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say ‘war mode’".

In the second quote Pastor Kalnins infuses political rhetoric into his sermon in his call for followers to rise up against ‘the invisible enemy’.

“What you see in a terrorist -- that's called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what's going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. ... We need to think like Jesus thinks. We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say "war mode." Now you say, wait a minute Ed, he's like the good shepherd he's loving all the time and he's kind all the time. Oh yes he is -- but I also believe that he had a part of his thoughts that knew that he was in a war.”

Finally, Kalnins gets right down to the bottom line when he claims in the third quote below that George Bush is in the Oval Office by divine intervention. There is no ambiguity in his words:

” I believe criticisms come from hell. God has placed this man in authority. ... You criticize the authority you're literally bringing in hell with the criticism."

Reverend Tim McGraw who was the pastor at the Wasilla church just before Kalnins said: “Believers look to Israel for signs of the coming end times and where they are in God's plan. That would undoubtedly influence Palin's approach to foreign policy.” I believe Sarah would not live in a fragmented world. "The idea that Sarah would take this huge influence of the worldview that really only the Bible and the relationship with Jesus opens up ... and suddenly marginalize it and put it over on the shelf somewhere and live apart from it—that would be entirely inconsistent.”

"David Gushee, a Christian ethicist at Mercer University in Atlanta, GA expressed concern over the idea that a public official might use the position to assert that government is God’s instrument..”I would never think it is appropriate to describe the actions of the United States military or the strategies of our commanders as a plan from God," Mr. Gushee says. But Palin’s own words speak for themselves when she told an audience at the Assemblies of God in June: “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also for this country that our leaders … our national leaders are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Mr. Gushee went on to say that Governor Palin needs to explain to the American people her beliefs concerning the imminent end of time and the cataclysm to follow. "To me, it is highly relevant to someone who potentially has her hand on the nuclear button," he says. "If that is her worldview, I would want to know about that."