[Grovenet] Wasilla Church

[Steele, Mike]

News from beyond...Sarah Palin's pastor's views on recent political
issues...here's an item from the Huffington Post on what Pastor Ed
Kalnins has had to say from the pulpit of the Wasilla church where Sarah
Palin was baptized at the age of 12:


If the church had a political alignment, it would almost surely be
conservative. In his sermons, Kalnins did not hide his affections for
certain national politicians.

During the 2004 election season, he praised President Bush's performance
during a debate with Sen. John Kerry, then offered a not-so-subtle
message about his personal candidate preferences. "I'm not going tell
you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I
question your salvation. I'm sorry." Kalnins added: "If every Christian
will vote righteously, it would be a landslide every time."

Months after hinting at possible damnation for Kerry supporters, Kalnins
bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal
government's handling of Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards
the President," he said, "because it's like criticisms towards the
pastor -- it's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you
know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you."

Much of his support for the current administration has come in the realm
of foreign affairs. Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the
invasion of Iraq were part of a "world war" over the Christian faith,
one in which Jesus Christ had called upon believers to be willing to
sacrifice their lives:

    "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."

As for his former congregant and current vice presidential candidate,
Kalnins has asserted that Palin's election as governor was the result of
a "prophetic call" by another pastor at the church who prayed for her
victory. "[He made] a prophetic declaration and then unfolds the kingdom
of God, you know."

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Hmmmmm...what to say about this....?  In a way, it's all very comforting
to know...we are in really good hands.

Now I know what to do with that bumper sticker that asks, "Who would
Jesus bomb today?"

--Mike