WASHINGTON _ The blogosphere is abuzz with snippets of sermons at Pentecostal and charismatic churches attended by GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. In them, pastors declare that people who die without Christ “have a horrible, horrible surprise” awaiting them and refer to America as a “Christian nation.” Such views might strike some as offensive, perhaps even radical, but they’re not atypical for a Pentecostal congregation, experts say. And just as coverage of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s fiery former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, opened a window into life inside some black churches, Palin’s candidacy is introducing many Americans to the conservative theology of Pentecostalism. “The idea that everyone must be saved, even Jews, that’s pretty commonly believed among Pentecostals,” said the Rev. Vinson Synan, dean emeritus of Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, Va. Though Palin currently attends a nondenominational evangelical church and her campaign does not identify her as a “Pentecostal,” she’s captured on video at a June appearance at Wasilla Assembly of God in her Alaska hometown, saying “it was so cool growing up in this church and getting saved here.” She also said “God’s will has to be done” in building a natural gas pipeline in the state, and said government functions won’t “do any good if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.” Pentecostals are known for their beliefs in manifestations of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, healing and prophecy _ practices not usually embraced by other Christians. “There would be mainstream Protestants and Catholics who would be put off by speaking in tongues and healing and some radical evangelists, Jimmy Swaggart types,” said Synan, a church history professor. “But the Assemblies of God is a pretty straight-laced, conservative evangelical Pentecostal church. They’re not given to much extremes. … The public perceptions are that Pentecostals are kind of nuts and off the wall, and yet you can see they’ve produced some leadership.” Both former Attorney General John Ashcroft and Reagan-era Interior Secretary James Watt have been Assemblies of God members. Leah Daughtry, the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee, and Joshua DuBois, the religious outreach director for Obama’s campaign, are both ministers affiliated with smaller Pentecostal denominations. Harper’s Magazine and other outlets have featured tidbits of sermons from churches Palin has attended. Harper’s online edition quoted the Rev. Mike Rose, pastor of Juneau Christian Center, an Assemblies of God congregation where Palin has worshipped occasionally, saying: “Those that die without Christ have a horrible, horrible surprise.” It quoted Pastor David Pepper of the Church on the Rock, a charismatic church she attended in Wasilla before running for governor, as saying: “The purpose for the United States is … to glorify God. This nation is a Christian nation.” In response to criticism, Pepper cited quotes from the founding fathers that link Christian principles to U.S. government. “I think I stand in good company and I believe that because we have been a Christian nation is the reason we have the freedom of worship and freedom of religion,” he said in an e-mailed response to questions. “Christianity … should never be forced upon someone.” Rose, too, stood by his comments, but said excerpts do not give the full picture of sermons that focus more on the love of God than the punishment of hell. “To sort of reduce that message to a couple of sound bites about hell or whatever is to mischaracterize who we are and the kind of message that we present on a daily basis,” he said in an interview. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) George O. Wood, who leads the Assemblies of God from its headquarters in Springfield, Mo., said Palin should not be expected to be responsible for, or supportive of, words of Pentecostal pastors any more than Obama should be held responsible for his spiritual leader. “I don’t think that’s fair,” he said. A.G. Miller, associate professor of religion at Oberlin College and an Ohio pastor of a small Pentecostal church, said: “Obviously, politics is not always fair. … It makes you even think twice about whether you want to put your sermons online.” (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Several churches cited for ties to Palin have posted statements online extolling her leadership but saying they cannot speak for her or endorse her. Palin, at the appearance last June at Wasilla Assembly of God, jokingly referred to her travels around the state as governor, when pastors might warn her that she might be surprised by the raising of hands or clapping in a congregation she visits. “I say, I grew up at Wasilla Assembly of God,” she said. “Nothing freaks me out about the worship service.”

A photo of Vincent Synan and several file photos of Pentecostal services (search by “Pentecostal”) are available via https://religionnews.com