When I read stuff like this I get the shivers. It was just like it was in 2002 and early 2003 here in our little fundamentalist/pentecostal corner of the world. Only then it was another chosen vessel...George W. Bush.
The word then was that George was chosen by God to lead us in our pursuit of terrorists in the Middle East. The churches even gave out yard signs that showed support for the war and support for the president. It did not matter that George chose the wrong country to bomb and invade. God chose him.
We personally had neighbors say this to us, even in our own home. They were asked to leave when they began to yell at us when we disagreed.
Some are now calling Sarah Palin "a present-day Esther".
From Sarah Posner's The FundamentaList:
Vessels of God? Palin's "Chosen Vessels of God."
Just hours before last week's vice-presidential debate, Stephen Strang, founder of the Charisma publishing giant, highlighted an account by an Ohio pastor who claimed to have had a revelation of Palin as Esther. Pastor Mark Arnold, of Life Covenant Church in Monroe, Ohio, approached Todd and Sarah Palin at a campaign stop in Lebanon, Ohio, and made them cry with his prophecy of Palin as Esther.
Arnold claims that God told him to tell Palin, who encountered him in the rope line, that "God wants you to know that you are a present day Esther!" Palin, Arnold says, immediately began to cry. "The news and nay-sayers and criticizers are going to be very hateful toward you," Arnold continued, "and in the days ahead they are going to turn up the heat ... but do not fear." You are a "present day Esther," Arnold told Palin, and God "has chosen you to reign." Then Arnold made Todd Palin cry, too, and McCain shook his hand and gave him a "deep look of understanding." Sure.
"When I got to my car I sat there for quite a long time," Arnold concluded, "knowing the GOD of the Universe had just used me to deliver a message confirming to Sarah and Todd to realize they are truly chosen vessels of God."
More from the pastor's oomments to Todd and Sarah Palin.
The Strang ReportTo Sarah:
It was at this moment Sarah Palin reached out for me to help her up, and as I was assisting her to stand, I was now face-to-face with her, and God said, “Open up your mouth and I will fill it.”
Here is what came out:
“God wants you to know that you are a present-day Esther!”
(She immediately began to cry!)
“God wants to tell you that you are chosen for such a time as this!”
“You are called, and chosen to be a leader"
And the words to Todd Palin:
Her husband, Todd, came over, and I told him what I told her. He began to cry.
I emphasized the fact that he was to guard her at this time … and know that “she is God-called and God-anointed.”
“This is a God-thing and your wife is a present-day Esther ... she is for God to use at this time ... she is an Esther ... she is an Esther ... she is an Esther.”
“You will be hated … but stand strong … God has called both of you to stand!”
It is even more chilling now in 2008 than it was in 2002 and 2003. Guard her? What a strange statement. She is the one who is practically inciting to riot when she speaks.
The "chosen ones" idea has just gone way too far, and it is just plain scary.
