Sarah Palin told a group of Alaska Republicans last week about preparing to go on stage for the vice presidential debate. "So I'm looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra," she said. "And the McCain campaign, love 'em, you know, they're a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray."
McCain staffers have taken umbrage at the suggestion that they're not the praying types.
The rest of the anecdote (starting at the 4 minute mark) is actually quite charming. She asks her daughter Piper to pray that God gives her strength and "speaks through me." Little Piper responds, "That would be cheating!"
What's politically interesting is that Palin could easily have told the Piper anecdote without dissing the McCainiacs. You can see why religious conservatives love her: unabashed about her faith and her contempt for McCain staffers.
(Originally posted at Steve Waldman's blog at Beliefnet.)
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on March 26, 2009 10:24PM
Comments
Who was Ms Palin planning on praying to? A god who only listens when she's with people she's comfortable with? Another American 'Christian' wanting to use God in her own comfortable way for her own agenda. Instead of seeking His help for our plans we need to be seeking His Spirit to bring us along side of Him, to walk with Him, not the other way around.
Posted by: Mark at March 27, 2009
Mark: Like many Christians, Sarah Palin PROBABLY was looking for some solace and comfort during a stressful time and like many Christians, thought that taking some time with other, like-minded believers and, you know, PRAYING to the Lord Jesus Christ, you know, THE SON OF GOD----would have offered her the solace and comfort she was seeking.
Posted by: SALLY at March 27, 2009
Agreement and unity based in truth with love are foundational Christian principles, without which, corporate prayer languishes. Do not cast your pearls before swine.
Posted by: Ken S at March 28, 2009
The key phrase was "...but nobody I could find that I "wanted" to hold hands with and pray." She didn't say they wouldn't pray with her, but that she didn't want to pray with them. Maybe if she had asked and reached out to someone she wasn't sure of, she would have found a sister or brother in Christ in an unexpected place. Oftentimes, the Holy Spirit is present in the least likely places and people.
Posted by: Jodi at March 29, 2009
Good for Gov. Sarah Palin! We should not pray with someone who cannot give an Amen! to our prayer. 2Cor.6:14-18. Very often the people who work on the political campaigns are cutthroats who are only concerned about winning and looking good. They are the ones who often tell the candidates what to say to a set of planned questions. They practice fibs.
If she/we are at our workplace and listen to the way people talk, and observe how they behave it often is obvious that the person may vote the same way as I do, but they are not even remotely following Christ Jesus.
Posted by: Shane Hokanson at March 29, 2009
Shane said: "the political campaigns are cutthroats who are only concerned about winning and looking good."
Oh that's funny..and the sad thing is Shane you don't even see the irony of what you wrote, but Neiman Marcus and the RNC know.
Posted by: Heather at March 29, 2009
Shane said "Good for Gov. Sarah Palin! We should not pray with someone who cannot give an Amen! to our prayer. 2Cor.6:14-18"
Comments like these are exactly why there is a back-lash against far right Christians in politics. When did God die and allow us the privilege and power to see into someone else's heart. She couldn't find anyone that SHE "wanted" to hold hands and pray with. I'm not sure what that says about her!
Posted by: Nana at March 29, 2009
Poor Sarah .... once again it is someone else she can't rely on, look to, blah, blah, blah. Sarah, I trust after your stressful seearch for a pray-mate --you said a prayer to God alone, in your own way. Been there, done that ... and it works!
Posted by: john at March 29, 2009
Phil 2:20-21
Posted by: Jeff at March 30, 2009
The apostle Paul said, "... For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus". (Phil 2:20-21) Could it be that Mrs. Palin was simply looking for someone like-minded (like the apostle Paul) or could it be that she was simply looking for a Christian and made the statement, "I couldn't find anyone I wanted to hold hands with and pray" as a way of being polite without saying "there are no Christians in McCain's staff?? Just a thought...
Posted by: Jeff at March 30, 2009
The point is faith, Strength coming together "in agreement" with another, in the presence of Jesus Christ. Mt 18:20. Where two or three are gathered..... That is the point. He will be there, He will be with you. Present. It doesnt get more intimate and secure than that. That was all this Sister in Christ was seeking.
Posted by: HisServant at March 30, 2009
I cant believe what i have been reading on this site. All the Palin bashers sound like a MSNBC commentary. I went back to all the archives of this CT and read all the so called "Christians" that were going to vote Obama.. I think to myself "I hope they are happy". Im 32 years old and consider myself a fair, compassionate Christian that hates the idea of judging others. I hate the hypocrisy in our established churches and obstain from Hollywood Jesus types. That being said, I stand as a conservative christian for more reasons then gay marriage and abortion:
1. The poor: God never called Government to care for the poor. The scripture is written for the Church to follow. Unfortunately the Church has invested time and money on the wrong things (TV,Buildings Etc..) that now they have nothing to give the poor. Do you know why they invested all this stuff? BECAUSE OF U!!
- you want to be entertained, wow'ed in worship
- you want your place of worship to resemble starbux more then Christ. You sought after sooo much relevance that you crafted an idol for yourself and now the fruit of your choices are made evident in voting for a socialist.
2. The rich: Scripture does not teach to punsih success, quite the contrary (Matthew 13:12) Jesus rewards those who are productive. and calls those who do not produce "Wicked". Raising taxes on the Rich is not biblical.
3. Choice: The state or federal Gov. should never empower school boards or doctors more then parents. Barak supports legislation that would allow minors to get abortion without parental notification.
Many many more reason exist. Return to your people! Or this great country will decay.. He's already waged war against those who contribute to Charities (Churches).. Who do you think is next?
Posted by: Carlito at March 31, 2009
How long... this lady, is going to be looking for someone else to blame for her own mistakes and insufficiencies. Is this the same that though she was more qualified than Obama or Biden. Proves to me once more, her Biblical illiteracy.
The best prayer, the one that God answer is the one that is done in private. But no, she wanted to make prayer a public spectacle, that people around could see.
Too bad, it looks like to me she never read Mt. 6:6, instead she choose to hang around with the hawks, and hawks being birds of prey. Are not the best company to pray with. Is better to pray than to prey, and preying is what as a politician she did.
Posted by: Salero21 at April 4, 2009
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