Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter

I got this off Wikipedia today concerning Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential republican nominee:

"Palin was originally baptized as a Roman Catholic, but her parents switched to the Wasilla Assembly of God, a Pentecostal church, where she was rebaptized at age 12 or 13.[130][131] When she is in the capital, she attends Juneau Christian Center,[132] another Assemblies of God church. Her current home church in Wasilla is The Wasilla Bible Church,[133] an independent congregation.[134] Although initial reports described her as the first Pentecostal ever named to a major party's presidential ticket, Palin describes herself as a non-denominational Christian.[135] The National Catholic Reporter described her as a "post-denominational" Christian.[136]"

One of our Assemblies of God district superintendents was her youth pastor years ago.

She has shared that she has conservative family values. She has a pentecostal background. A believer in Jesus Christ.

The past few days, it has come out that her unwed daughter is pregnant.

I agree with James Carville (a political analysis on the Larry King show last night) and Barak Obama on this: Families are not fair game when it comes to politics. That's the political side.

In spiritual terms, we know that the Bible states in 1 Timothy 3:4,5, that "an overseer (elder, leader in the church) must mange his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect." As Paul writes, "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?" (verse 5).

Throughout the years, this verse has been misapplied by many to say that if a leader's children are not serving God or mess up, they shouldn't be allowed to lead. That is incorrect.

The verse is saying that as long as parents are trying their human level best (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to lead their children in the ways of God, that when their children choose to go another way or do something "stupid", the parent can continue to lead.

If the parents have been slothful or non-caring, apathetic or sinful in the way they raised their children, and their children do not follow the ways of God, they are unfit to lead.

Remember, we are responsible to our children, we are not responsible for them, to the extent that they are responsible for the decisions that they make.

I'm not arguing for Sarah Palin from a political point of view, only from a parent's point of view and one who is in leadership.

From the outside looking in, she has done her spiritual best to raise her daughter in the things of God.

Kudo's to James Carville for recognizing this. Now whether she is experienced enough to be Vice President or not, one could debate with Mr. Carville all day long, but on this one point - he is right.