Jesus is More than Just a Community Organizer

I’m David Tolliver – and I approve this message.

That trite, even irritating statement is as political as I plan to get in this article. I do not intend to defend or challenge either a political candidate or party in this document. However, I do want to address an issue that has arisen from the current political fray. Christian Democrats – and, yes there are some Christian Democrats, and some of them are Missouri Baptists – and, Christian Democrats as well as Christian Republicans should be equally offended by the mantra that has emerged lately from supporters of Barack Obama.

Here’s what happened.

During her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin made a comment about “community organizers.” Democrats consider that remark to have been a sarcastic remark, to say the least. And, Republicans ought to acknowledge that the statement was, at best, demeaning to those who bear the title, community organizer.

Whether or not the comment made by the Republican vice-presidential candidate was proper is an evaluation that I will leave to others. However, the revolting remarks being made by those who are reacting to Governor Palin’s comment are totally out of bounds, theologically out of line, even heretical, and they demand a challenge from the Christian community.

Here is the offensive remark: “Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor.” Like me, many of you heard that statement repeated over and over again last weekend. It seems that the political pundits received their talking points and did their talking at every possible point. Probably, Jesus was not the intended target of the statement. Nevertheless that statement demonstrates a profound misunderstanding, maybe even a lack of genuine interest in who Jesus is.

The intended implication is clear. Jesus – like Barack Obama, was a community organizer. Obama, therefore, must be like Jesus. Sarah Palin – similar to Pontius Pilate, is a governor. The conclusion, then, is that Sarah Palin must be more like Pilate. Please understand that is not my conclusion – it is, rather, the conclusion that the Obama supporters would like you to assume. 

But it’s not true.

And this article really is not about how you might cast your vote in November. On that matter, I will simply ask you to pray and ask the Lord how He would have you to vote. I’ll do the same. I am also not going to address the comparison of Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate. Frankly, that is of little consequence compared to the insulting analogy of Jesus as a community organizer. Nothing against community organizers – but, Jesus was not a community organizer.

 

So, who is Jesus? Jesus is the Sovereign God. Jesus was and is the “… only begotten Son of God.” During the earthly ministry of Jesus the Christ, He was, in fact, God in the flesh. The disciple Matthew was quoting Isaiah when he wrote of Jesus “… ‘they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated ‘God with us.’” Jesus, himself claimed to be God when He stated “I and My Father are One.”

I know that you know the old and often repeated quip that, because Jesus claimed to be God, He was either a lunatic, a liar or the Lord. Any person who earnestly but erroneously believed himself to be God, could only be described as a lunatic. As well, any man who repeatedly and stridently and publically claimed to be God, all the while knowing his claim to be an erroneous claim – that man could only be described as a liar. But Jesus was not a lunatic – He, in fact, was and is the most sane. Jesus was and is not a liar because His claims are true. Jesus is indeed the Lord God. He is the Sovereign. Praise Him!

And, Jesus is the Savior of all people who will place their faith and trust in Him. Jesus was and is the “…way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him].” Jesus is the only Savior of all mankind who will believe in Him.

The Gospel is clear that “… all have sinned,” and that “… the wages of sin is death,” but that “… God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” and that “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Believe Him! Preaching to the Sanhedrin, Peter declared, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus is the one and only Savior of all who will make Him their Lord. Believe Him!

In a sermon called, “Wonderful,” Evangelist Billy Sunday made the following claim. “There are at least 156 names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.” According to Isaiah, “… His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Describing Jesus, the contemporary chorus calls Him “… indescribable, uncontainable … all powerful, untamable ... amazing God.” Jesus is all that and more.

In A.D 381, Gregory of Naziannzus made these statements about Jesus:

• He was hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.

• Jesus was thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.

• He was weary, but He is our rest.

• Jesus paid tribute, even though He is the King.

• He was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.

• Jesus wept, yet He wipes away all tears.

• Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.

• He was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.

• Jesus died – but by His death and resurrection, He destroyed the power of death forever.

Never, never, never will Jesus Christ be relegated to community organizer.

 

Here’s another chorus. This one is more in line with my age group. I sang this one as a boy. I think we ought to bring it back, because it’s true that “Everybody ought to know, Everybody ought to know” … I hope you are remembering the tune and the tenor of the old chorus … ”Everybody ought to know who Jesus is.” Let’s sing the second verse together, “Everybody ought to tell, Everybody ought to tell, Everybody ought to tell who Jesus is.”

Maybe the church should become community organizers? Yes! Let’s organize to tell the story of Jesus – the Sovereign God and Savior of all who believe in Him.

I’m David Tolliver – and I approve this message.