More Bumper Stickers

I saw this bumper sticker recently and it really ticked me off. I've recently seen some funny (contradictory) combinations, but this one just burns me up. It's not the first time I've seen the sticker either.

It goes: "Jesus was a community organizer, Pilate was a governor".

Now let's start with defining what the sticker was talking about. Barack Obama was a community organizer and Sarah Palin is a governor. So this is comparing Barack Obama to the Messiah, Jesus Christ and Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate, the governor who authorized his crucifixion. There are serious problems with this analogy however. This also compares Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, FDR, Kathleen Sebelius, Bill Richardson and many other heroes from the left to Pontius Pilate.

Now let's get to the real point. Calling Jesus a community organizer is like calling WWII a small regional conflict. But it's more than that. Jesus never really did any 'community organizing'. Jesus was king, teacher, prophet, exorcist, healer, spiritual guide and carpenter. (among other things) Jesus taught many, trained twelve and intensely trained three men; Peter, James and John, teaching them everything. But, most importantly, who was and is Jesus? Jesus was not a community organizer, HE IS A KING! But not just any king, he is a right-wing extremist king. Now he is the only right-wing extremist leader who has been able to successfully balance love and compassion with his right-wing extremism, but you can't debate the teachings.

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28)

"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." (Matthew 5:31-32)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19:21)

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23)

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

Jesus has very high standards. He is King, and failure to comply with his precepts has severe eternal consequences. He loves everyone, but will not fail to reject those who do not measure up to his standards. But getting back to the real point of this post, Jesus was not a community organizer, and calling him one is insulting.