The New Face of Christianity

Pentacostalism/Non-Denominationalism/Christianism represents one of the greatest threats to American democracy. I've been saying this for years, as someone who grew up in the tradition and knows what its adherents believe and hope. But for some reason, many of my friends on the left have never seemed to take the threat seriously. "Oh, they're just some nutjobs," was always the refrain I heard back in 2002 and 2004 when it seemed the the GOP was really seeking to make them a core constituency. I think that for many progressives, this world is too far removed to seem real.

Well, it's time to start paying attention. No, Sarah Palin likely won't become V.P. in 2009 (let's work our butts off to ensure there aren't any surprises). But the mere fact that someone like this is even at the top of a national ticket should scare the bejeebus out of all of us.

When I was young, being Pentacostal/Non-Denomonational was rare. I was the only child in my Catholic elementary school who had "received the Holy Ghost"--the Pentacostal right of passage (chronologically, if not theologically, analogous to the Catholic Confirmation) in which you are blessed with the ability to speak in tongues. This usually involved making up lots of words with "S" and "E" (and the more middle-Easterny sounding, like "shodialam sadelo sheekay," the better). I would lay hands on classmates, Pass Out in the Spirit at gospel campmeetings, pray for hours on end for revelation about where in the Atlantic Ocean, exactly, Hell could be found.

In the 1980s and 90s, it was difficult to find a thriving Pentacostal/Non-Denominational church in most of the U.S. So, like countless other families, we would hit the interstates. A six hour drive to Columbus, Ohio. A 14 hour drive to Orlando, Florida. A 5 hour drive to North Carolina. A typical question at most of the services we attended was always, "How long did you drive to get here?" The more harrowing the number the better, as it showed just how hungry you were for the "Anointing."

As a measure of the incredible strides this genus of Evangelicalism has made in the last decade--I grew up going to the churches of then largely unknown pastors who have since become major national players: Rod Parsley, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, John Hagee, Creflo Dollar.

This is a major movement, one that has now become mainstream. I really believed this stuff. And so do the people caught up in it now. So does Sarah Palin.

Please take a look at this video. And start taking this seriously:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-09/new-footage-from-inside-palins-church/