Yesterday, I discovered that one of the leading members of the New Apostolic Reformation, John Benefiel, claims he is responsible for the near-total Republican takeover of Oklahoma. He also said something really frightening--the state's governor, Mary Fallin, has a longstanding relationship with him, and as a result of his ministry is a tongue-talker. The other three top elected officials in the state also work closely with Benefiel as well.
As someone who was tricked into joining a campus ministry aligned with this overtly fascistic offshoot of the religious right, hearing this sent a chill down my spine. I know that in recent years, things in Oklahoma have gotten to the point where Democrats get shot. But if possible, it sounds like it's worse than that. We're talking about a movement that thinks it can bring about the Second Coming by taking over the world. Central to that is taking control of the "seven mountains" that influence our society--especially the "mountain" of government.
If this sounds familiar to you, it should. Sarah Palin was a longtime member of a prayer group headed by one of Benefiel's fellow apostles, Mary Glazier. If anything, the prospect of Fallin being in bed with the NAR should be even more frightening. Fallin is a weapons-grade wingnut--I know I may be generalizing, but this is Oklahoma we're talking about. And yet, she has several times more gravitas than Palin ever did. She's likely on the short list of Republican vice presidential candidates in 2016, and is almost certain to be at the top of the list of Senate candidates after Jim Inhofe's all-but-certain retirement in 2020. In other words--this woman is a rising star in the GOP, one who needs to be cut down to size and fast. And the way to do it is to figure out a way to tie Benefiel and his NAR compatriots around Fallin like an anchor.
Granted, it may be too late to stop Fallin from being reelected this fall. But then again, 2002 was supposed to be a coronation for Steve Largent, and stranger things have happened. Plus, Benefiel once said that the Statue of Liberty is a demonic idol. Somehow, I'd like to think that's a bridge too far, even for Oklahoma.