Messianic type rhetoric in politics

I read a piece by Steven Waldman on BeliefNet about an e-mail he had received. He has it posted on his blog and made comments about it; his article can be accessed at: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/09/was-sarah-palin-sent-by-god-to.html.

I went to the originating website to see the original piece in its entirety. Should you choose to verify my posting, it is at: http://www.injesus.com/index.php?module=message&task=view&MID=YB007F5G&GroupID=2A004N9G.

Barack, Sarah, and the Bible
Jim Bramlett
Sep 1 2008 07:54PM
Dear friends:

Barack Hussein Obama has taken the nation by storm. From obscurity, with zero executive experience, or much of any kind, he has vaulted into the position of Presidential frontrunner. It is stunning. On the surface, it appears attributable only to his eloquent oratory and his race. But an invisible factor may be a strong spiritual force behind him, causing some people to actually swoon in his presence.

I have been very concerned that he has publicly said that he does not believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. This makes both the Bible and Jesus a liar, and it means that Christ has died in vain. A person cannot be a true Christian who believes that there are other ways of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life with God. Only Jesus has paid the price for that.

Therefore, there is, indeed, another spirit involved. And this spirit has come into our national life like a flood. Last week at Obama's acceptance speech, that spirit exalted itself in front of a Greek temple-like stage, and to a huge audience like in a Roman arena. Omama was portrayed as god-like. His voice thundered as a god's voice.

At the end, Democratic sympathizer Pastor Joel Hunter gave the benediction and shockingly invited everyone to close the prayer to their own (false) gods. This was surely an abomination, but it was compatible with Obama's expressed theology, and Hunter's leftist leanings.

God was not pleased.

And God says, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).

Enter Governor Sarah Palin. With incredible timing, the very next day, Sarah Palin also appeared out of nowhere. Her shocking selection as John McCain's running mate stunned the world and suddenly took all the wind out of Obama's sails.

We quickly learned that Sarah is a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, attends church, and has been a ministry worker.

Sarah is that standard God has raised up to stop the flood. She has the anointing. You can tell by how the dogs are already viciously attacking her. But they will not be successful. She knows the One she serves and will not be intimidated.

Back in the 1980s, I sensed that Israel's little-known Benjamin Netanyahu was chosen by God for an important end-time role. I still believe that. I now have that same sense about Sarah Palin.

Today I did some checking and discovered that both her first and last names are biblical words, one in Hebrew the other in Greek:
Sarah. Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. In Hebrew, Sarah means "noble woman" (Strong's 8283).
Palin. In Greek, the word means "renewal." (Strong's 3825).

A friend said he believes that Sarah Palin is a Deborah. Of Deborah, Smith's Bible Dictionary says, "A prophetess who judged Israel…. She was not so much a judge as one gifted with prophetic command…. and by virtue of her inspiration 'a mother in Israel.'"

Only God knows the future and how she may be used by Him, but may this noble woman serve to bring renewal in the land, and inspiration.

Jim

The language of this piece amazed me. First, in intimating that there is some demonic type force involved in the Obama campaign, see the first and third paragraphs above, Mr. Bramlett goes beyond the line, as far as I am concerned, in couching this election as the forces of God versus the forces of the evil one. That certainly identifies all Republicans as being on God's side, and God being on theirs, and all Democrats as being of the 'other side' in the cosmic struggle, and we all know who that is. He is suggesting that Senator Obama is taking an anti-Christ approach, if not making an anti-Christ identification for himself. Second, Mr. Bramlett compounds that language with messianic-type language in suggesting that Governor Palin has the anointing and that God is the one who has placed her in this role and that the Governor has been chosen for an important role in the end-times. Third, he misuses the Greek language just a touch. While I am sure that he is quoting his sources correctly, the Greek word PALIN has a primary meaning of "back," as in to turn back to a place. Even with that, to suggest that her very name underscores her being chosen by God goes too far for me.

How do you respond to this language? If you support Governor Palin, do you agree with using this type of language in describing her?