Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

September 2, 2008 12:17 PM

Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.

Her speech in June provides as much insight into her policy leanings as anything uncovered since she was asked to be John McCain's running mate.

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"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," she exhorted the congregants. "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."

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

Palin's address, much of which was spent reflecting on the work of the church in which she grew up and was baptized, underscores the notion that her world view is deeply impacted by religion. In turn, her remarks raise important questions: mainly, what is Palin's faith and how exactly has it influenced her policies?

A review of recorded sermons by Ed Kalnins, the senior pastor of Wasilla Assembly of God since 1999, offers a provocative and, for some, eyebrow-raising sketch of Palin's longtime spiritual home.

The church runs a number of ministries providing help to poor neighborhoods, care for children in need, and general community services. But Pastor Kalnins has also preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven; charged that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq were part of a war "contending for your faith;" and said that Jesus "operated from that position of war mode."

It is impossible to determine how much Wasilla Assembly of God has shaped Palin's thinking. She was baptized there at the age of 12 and attended the church for most of her adult life. When Palin was inaugurated as governor, the founding pastor of the church delivered the invocation. In 2002, Palin moved her family to a nondenominational church, but she continues to worship at a related Assembly of God church in Juneau.

Moreover, she "has maintained a friendship with Wasilla Assembly of God and has attended various conferences and special meetings here," Kalnins' office said in a statement. "As for her personal beliefs," the statement added, "Governor Palin is well able to speak for herself on those issues."

Clearly, however, Palin views the church as the source of an important, if sometimes politically explosive, message. "Having grown up here, and having little kids grow up here also, this is such a special, special place," she told the congregation in June. "What comes from this church I think has great destiny."

And if the political storm over Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright is any indication, Palin may face some political fallout over the more controversial teachings of Wasilla Assembly of God.

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."

Even Palin expressed surprise at that pastor's advocacy for her candidacy. "He was praying over me," she said in June. "He's praying, 'Lord make a way, Lord make a way...' And I'm thinking, this guy's really bold, he doesn't even know what I'm gonna do, he doesn't know what my plans are, and he's praying not, 'Oh Lord, if it be your will may she become governor,' or whatever. No, he just prayed for it. He said, 'Lord, make a way, and let her do this next step.' And that's exactly what happened. So, again, very very powerful coming from this church."

In his sermons, Pastor Kalnins has also expressed beliefs that, while not directly political, lie outside of mainstream Christian thought.

He preaches repeatedly about the "end times" or "last days," an apocalyptic prophesy held by a small but vocal group of Christian leaders. During his appearance with Palin in June, he declared, "I believe Alaska is one of the refuge states in the last days, and hundreds of thousands of people are going to come to the state to seek refuge and the church has to be ready to minister to them."

He also claims to have received direct "words of knowledge" from God, providing him information about past events in other people's lives. During one sermon, he described being paired with a complete stranger during a golf outing. "I said, I'm a minister from Alaska and I want you to know that your wife left you -- you know that your wife left you and that the Lord is gonna defend you in a very short time, and it wasn't your fault. And the man drops his clubs, he literally was about to tee off and he dropped his clubs, and he says, 'Who the blank are you?' And I says, 'well, I'm a minister.' He says, 'how do you know about my life? What do you know?' And I started giving him more of the word of knowledge to his life and he was freaked out."

Kalnins has, of course, preached on a bevy of topics ranging from humility to "overcoming bitterness." But the more controversial remarks reported above were not out of the norm, appearing in numerous sermons spanning the four years of available recordings.

As for Palin, her views on these topics is more opaque. In the wake of the controversy over Jeremiah Wright, a debate has raged about whether political figures should be held responsible for the comments of their religious guiders. Clearly, however, Kalnins, like many national conservative religious leaders, sees Alaska's governor as one of his own. "Gov. Sarah Palin is the real deal," he told his church this past summer. "You know, some people put on a show...but she's the real deal.

Who's Who in Pentecostalism

The preachers, teachers, and healers through whom the Spirit moves. By Patton Dodd

John Ashcroft, Former Attorney General of the United States
John Ashcroft was raised in the Assemblies of God, the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination. Ashcroft served as governor of Missouri, U.S. senator, and Attorney General of the United States. In keeping with a practice widely used in Pentecostalism, he was anointed with oil each time he took a new political office.

Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Host of "Believer’s Voice of Victory," Kenneth Copeland has long been a popular minister in the Word of Faith wing of Pentecostalism. His televised Bible studies emphasize the need to believe that God will bring health and prosperity.

Paul and Jan Crouch, Trinity Broadcasting Network
In 1973, Paul and Jan Crouch founded Trinity Broadcasting Network with partners Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who are also connected to the Pentecostal movement. Today, TBN is the largest Christian network in the world, reaching 100,000,000 homes around the globe. The network features a variety of Christian ministers from Catholic to Southern Baptist, but its content is overwhelmingly Pentecostal and Charismatic.

Ted Haggard
Harper's has called Ted Haggard, the senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, the most influential evangelical in American politics. Along with James Dobson, the powerful founder of Focus on the Family, Haggard put Colorado Springs on the map as the epicenter of evangelicalism. He also serves as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, which represents 30 million evangelical Christians. A graduate of Oral Roberts University, Haggard's teaching emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.

John Hagee, Cornerstone Church
John Hagee’s Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas has more than 18,000 members. Hagee’s Charismatic teaching can be heard on radio and television broadcasts around the world. He is perhaps best known for his vocal support of the State of Israel and his work on Jewish-Christian relations.

Jack Hayford, The Church on the Way
Jack Hayford is senior pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and the Chancellor of King’s College and Seminary. Christianity Today recently named Hayford the "Pentecostal Gold Standard" because of his reputation for clear theology and his efforts to unite Pentecostalism with mainstream evangelicalism.

Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn Ministries
Benny Hinn's television program "This Is Your Day" is one of TBN’s most popular shows. His globetrotting "Miracle Crusades," where Hinn preaches about God’s healing power and lays hands on people asking for physical miracles, pack stadiums throughout the world. The Los Angeles Times has called him the most successful faith healer working today.

T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House
In 2001, Time named T.D. Jakes America’s Best Pastor. Jakes began as a part-time minister, speaking at any Pentecostal service he could find while digging ditches to support his family. Today, Jakes’ Potter’s House, a Dallas-based megachurch, is home to 30,000 members. His messages of personal empowerment through Jesus have made him both a household name among evangelicals and a highly regarded mentor for celebrities (such as Deion Sanders) and politicians (such as presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush).

Joyce Meyer, Joyce Meyer Ministries
Joyce Meyer's no-nonsense preaching style has made her radio and television programs an international hit, and her self-improvement books have reached the New York Times bestseller list. Meyer encourages believers to have faith that God will improve their physical health and financial situations. Her ministry also provides humanitarian aid to groups overseas.

Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church
Joel Osteen took the helm of Lakewood Church in Houston after his father John passed away in 1999. His message of optimism and faith empowerment have helped transform Lakewood into the nation’s largest church, housed in the former Compaq Center sports arena. Osteen’s book "Your Best Life Now" was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and his church services are broadcast to 200 million homes in the United States alone.

Rod Parsley, World Harvest Church
For several years, Rod Parsley has been pastor of World Harvest Church in Ohio and the host of "Breakthrough," a popular Charismatic television program. More recently, Parsley’s influence has been felt in American politics. His leadership at organizations such as the Center for Moral Clarity is said to have helped the Republican Party win the pivotal state of Ohio in the 2004 presidential election.

Oral Roberts, Oral Roberts University
One of the most well known revivalists in the second half of the twentieth century, Oral Roberts’ influence once rivaled that of Billy Graham. His university generated widespread acclaim when it was chartered in 1965. Though the focus of a brief financial scandal in the late 1980s, Roberts and his ministry recovered. He continues to preach to thousands each year and his legacy is felt throughout Pentecostalism.

Richard Roberts, Oral Roberts University
As a self-described prodigal, the son of Oral Roberts was an unlikely heir to his father’s throne. Today, Richard Roberts is president of Oral Roberts University and the host of “Something Good Tonight,” a nightly television program that features faith healing and prophecy.

Al Sharpton
Licensed as a minister at age ten, Al Sharpton has been a Pentecostal preacher all his life. Though he has never held political office, Sharpton is an active political organizer who has conducted widely publicized campaigns for the seats of mayor, senator, and president. He has stated his intention to campaign again for President of the United States in 2008.

Stephen Strang
Stephen Strang’s media conglomerate, Strang Communications, publishes the flagship magazine of Pentecostalism, Charisma, in addition to several other Christian titles. The company’s book division publishes dozens of the most popular Pentecostal speakers, pastors, and ministry leaders.