Saradise Lost - Chapter Twenty-Two -- Would Jesus Vote For Palin

By Shannyn Moore

Absolutely, if you ask the Republican Party. At least Jesus would have the omnipotence to know if his vote was counted. National media have been asking me about the “Religious Cult” Sarah is a part of. The Assembly of God Church holds some extreme views about “the end times” and “Onward Christian Soldiers”. The released audio tapes provided some insight; in Palin’s own words:

“I can do my part in doing things like working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, a $30 billion dollar project that’s going to create a lot of jobs for people in Alaska, and we’re going to have a lot of energy flowing through here — and pray about that also — 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 told them, “but I can do my job there, in developing our natural resources, and doing things like getting the roads paved, and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms, their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really, all that stuff doesn’t do any good if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.”

Seriously? For real? OMG! God’s will in “unifying people and companies”??? I must point out that the unification of government and companies at its core is called fascism. The Governor praying for unification of companies and anything else is scary as hell. (And I mean the real hell, with fire and the devil.) All of the things Sarah has to do as governor don’t matter if “Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God”. Maybe we should decide where our hearts are after the State’s fiscal and social woes are cleared up. Then ask people if they love Jesus or if they are still hung up on that ancient Native Alaskan tradition of Raven.

As a life long Alaskan, I’m ashamed of our first place awards for alcoholism, rape, domestic violence, incest, the list goes on. So should we be praying about the environmental disasters, broken homes, gas taxes, infrastructure, game management, etc. for help? For the love of God! Hey, I know!!! Let’s put the largest open pit mine in the world at the head waters of Bristol Bay, AND PRAY THAT GOD’S SWIMMING CREATURES DON’T GET POISONED! That would explain why Sarah came out against the Clean Water Ballot Initiative two weeks ago.

In reference to our armed force and the war, she prayed our soldiers were “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.”

In reference to our armed force and the war, she prayed our soldiers were “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.”

I am reminded of the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln in his response to praying for warriors. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.” We’ve been hearing for 8 years George Bush was chosen by God to be president, and that he is waging a “Holy War” and has even called our invasion of Iraq a “Crusade”. America’s foreign policy should not read like an Old Testament Book. Vengeance is mine is soooo Bible 1.0.

The New Testament, Bible 2.0, is all about forgiveness, peace making, and loving your neighbor. What are we voting for? Who can smite the most terrorists? If you look at another culture of people, judge they are not serving a “true God”, and are not likely to be converted, they are easier to bomb. What ever happened to the old song, “Red, and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world”? Well, how’s that working out for the children of Iraq? What if we changed the language of our age? We could say, “Today, ten Iraqis, average age 86 trimesters were blown up.” Suddenly their lives would seem worth fighting for. Value of life in fetus speak.

When overseeing the State's budget in 2007, Sarah Palin had the biggest budget our state had ever seen. I have no problem spending state money on state projects. As much as I love Jesus, I think he’d like a break sometimes and have us take care of ourselves. Sheesh!

I spent a lot of time going over the budget, and was hugely critical of some of the earmarks. Alaska now has something in common with the rest of America-The McChurch. Jesus, Inc. establishments, are ready and willing to supersize your God, and provide everything but drive through baptismals. Change Point Church in Anchorage, had decided, given all the social ills in this city, they would best serve the public with a huge sports dome. The largest in North America, right next to the church, ready to save souls.

With disciples running around with Jesus, and then writing books about it, you’d have thought they would’ve included their sport scores had it been a priority. I’ve read those books. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John only mentioned things like feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and forgiveness; go figure.

In the budget, slipped in by Representative Kevin Meyer, a member of the church, was a $1.5 million grant. WHY would they need the extra funds? Well, it seems that because of extreme weather during the building season, and flooding, they were behind schedule. HEY, aren’t those called ACTS OF GOD? Maybe it was a message.

In the same budget creating concern was $50,000 for the non-profit Christian Gateway School. There was so much public outcry that the Pastor, Karl Clausen, (who has since been removed for “non-sexual indiscretion”) gave the money back. You would have thought hell had frozen over to have a preacher return money, but Sarah Palin was relieved. She said, “Karl just took that pressure off of us, thank goodness. I wish there were more folks in this state and this would like Karl who were wise enough to do such a thing.” Why was it a difficult decision? What if it were reversed? What if the church wanted to give $1.5 million to a particular political party? What if it were a temple, or a mosque that wanted to give a gift to one party? See, it gets uncomfortable…and it is about the separation of church and state…which according to the Constitution is the job of EVERY elected official.

I would fight tooth and nail to ensure every person has the right to worship how they see fit, or not worship at all. This is America. That includes Sarah Palin’s right to go to whatever church she wants. Churches hijacked by government are far less likely than the government hijacked by church. I don’t think the line is clear for Sarah Palin. It seemed obvious to many why the state shouldn’t fund church owned sports domes. Yet Palin counted on a preacher to make the difficult decision for her.

The rapture is not an environmental policy. Faith based science will not protect our planet. The wildlife we are charged to protect are not here because two of them boarded Noah’s ark. Oil and coal were not created during God’s big project week. The planet is not 5,000 years old. Disease is not a punishment for “immoral behavior”. (Look how healthy George Bush is.) The “faith based” policies made by Republican policy makers, are not serving citizens.

The only war I imagine Jesus declaring would be on poverty, disease, and intolerance.

**I should note: I won Alaska Bible Bowl 3 years running, went to seminary, am a guest preacher at a local Anchorage church, and I love Jesus. -- Shannyn Moore

image courtesy of Jesus' General