Community Organizers, Governors, and Blasphemy

In a political year known for history-making events, incredible sleaze, mindless chutzpa and more lies than normal, the “mainstream” media (a.k.a. the Democratic Party’s media friends) has been exceptionally biased this year. They are not even covering their tracks anymore, but are blatantly supporting the Democratic ticket. Even their own people have noted this, and some of their allies have suggested they tone it down—it’s gotten that bad. The lies, misstatements, distortions, and friendly editing that has gone on is well-documented and sad—I will leave the big picture to those who have commented on it. I just want to deal with one particularly ridiculous statement, first laid down by a Democratic congressman, then picked up on by the Democratic Media, and that is the ridiculous Democratic line, “…Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor.” This is intended, of course to compare Barak Obama to Jesus, and Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate—both of which are totally inaccurate comparisons.

The originator of this bit of biased and ridiculous fluff was one Steve Cohen, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee. This has got to be one of the most idiotic propositions ever voiced by an American politician. In one fell swoop, Mr. Cohen demonstrated that he flunked theology and history (if he ever took either course), and managed to blaspheme Jesus Christ along the way. The phrase, “Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor,” probably was inspired by Governor Palin’s dig, delivered with humor in her speech at the GOP national convention, which wondered what a “community organizer” actually does (something I am still not clear on). The Democratic Party, represented by the aforementioned representative from Tennessee, came back with the Pilate Rejoinder, which has been and is being duly repeated by their allies in the media. Let’s look at this statement.

This line contains within it two “big lies,” and one hidden tidbit of hidden Truth.

For Lie #1, let’s talk about Governor Pontius Pilate. First, Pontius Pilate was NOT a governor. The original Greek of the New Testament refers to Pilate as a “hegemon,” which means the ruler of a province. In fact, the official title Pilate held was either Procurator or Prefect (the scholars differ on the exact wording) either one of which was an appointed office under Caesar. Pilate was a combination military ruler, tax collector, and personal representative of Caesar. He was not elected by the people (as Sarah Palin was), nor was he very popular with the people because of his violent repressive measures. So, Pontius Pilate was not a governor, and he bares no resemblance to Governor Palin or any other elected official under the Constitution of the United States.

For Lie #2, (and this is where blasphemy comes in), we have the statement, “Jesus was a community organizer.” Of course nothing could be further from the Truth—Jesus’ mission was multifaceted, but NONE of it involved “community organizing.” The classic Biblical definition of Jesus’ ministry is “Prophet, Priest, and King.”

Prophet refers to his teaching ministry. Jesus, according to Christian teachings, was the one referred to by Moses in Deut 18:15 : ""The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear…”. In His prophetic ministry, Jesus expounded the Law and the Prophets and taught His disciples the rudiments of the Gospel of the Kingdom, with the Holy Spirit (John chapters 14-16) filling out the outline after Christ’s ascension, through the ministry of the Holy Apostles.

Jesus came as high priest and sacrifice. Jesus’ primary mission was redemptive—he came to die for our sins—Mat. 1:21, Mat 20:28, John 10:14-17, and many more verses that could be cited here. One had to be perfect and divine to be our sacrifice, and the job’s been done—so Barak will have to find another avenue to be a Messiah.

Another Part of Jesus’ ministry, one yet to be fully fulfilled, is that of King. One day Christ will return and set up his Kingdom, and every knee shall bow to Him (Phil 2:5-11, Rev chapters 19-22, etc.).

To call Jesus a “community organizer” is a blasphemy of such broad effect as to boggle the mind. It is like comparing God to Peanut Butter.

Jesus was not, in any sense of the word, some kind of “community organizer. sent to show the Romans and the Jews how to be charitable and get along, nor did he set up some system of welfare to the poor, nor was He involved in politics at all, nor were any of His apostles. Jesus came to Earth to die, to rise, to ascend, and to return.

An inconvenient Truth—(Sorry, Algore). There was this one guy in Jesus’ day organizing the community in Palestinethis community organizer’s name was Barabbas. (Mat 27:16-17) "And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"" (Mark 15:7) "And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion." Now I am not accusing Barak of being THAT kind of community organizer, but he does have this close friend, William Ayers, an unrepentant, ex-revolutionary who used to blow up buildings and wishes he could have done more—Barabbas—that’s it—but not Jesus.

Charles T. Buntin