For whatever reason, the “Jesus was a community organizer” line has become a quasi-mantra among the left. While I have little doubt many who spout it do so without acknowledging it’s the first time they’ve ever said Jesus’ name as something other than a swear word, it still amuses how many swallow this at face value without realizing the fallacy of its premise.
An element I failed to mention in my brief examination a few days ago of why Jesus wasn’t a community organizer is the relationship of a community organizer to government. A community organizer is an activist position, an individual striving for change and willing to work either with or in opposition to elected or appointed officials. Usually it’s the latter. Fight the power and all that.
So of course Jesus was of like mind, right? Three cheers for the little guy, stick it to the man and all that? Well…
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matt. 22:15-22)
Jesus just didn’t get this community organizer thing, now did He…
