Comments on: Pol compares Obama to Jesus, McCain to Pontius Pilate http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/pol-compares-obama-to-jesus-mccain-to-pontius-pilate Religion editor Frank Lockwood's spirituality blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:12:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Caleb Powers http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/pol-compares-obama-to-jesus-mccain-to-pontius-pilate/comment-page-1#comment-9213 Caleb Powers Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:20:37 +0000 http://biblebeltblogger.com/?p=411#comment-9213 Someone once wrote that seeking the historical Jesus was like looking down a deep well, and seeing the reflection of one's own face looking back up at us. The Bible doesn't tell us much about Jesus' life and much of what it does tell us is either contradictory or found to be unreliable by most scholars. So we're left with our own image; thus, we each see affirmation of what we believe in our perception of what Jesus did or believed. If we're a community organizer, then Jesus was a community organizer. If we're an advocate for the poor, then Jesus was an advocate for the poor. There's a great scene in the movie Talladega Nights, in which each character gives his image of Jesus, none of which is terribly traditional, but each of which is hilarious, and indeed a mirror of that character's desires. I agree with UK Lutheran that any comparison of Jesus to anyone today must ultimately fail, because the real point of Jesus today is spiritual, not historical. Someone once wrote that seeking the historical Jesus was like looking down a deep well, and seeing the reflection of one’s own face looking back up at us. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Jesus’ life and much of what it does tell us is either contradictory or found to be unreliable by most scholars. So we’re left with our own image; thus, we each see affirmation of what we believe in our perception of what Jesus did or believed. If we’re a community organizer, then Jesus was a community organizer. If we’re an advocate for the poor, then Jesus was an advocate for the poor.

There’s a great scene in the movie Talladega Nights, in which each character gives his image of Jesus, none of which is terribly traditional, but each of which is hilarious, and indeed a mirror of that character’s desires. I agree with UK Lutheran that any comparison of Jesus to anyone today must ultimately fail, because the real point of Jesus today is spiritual, not historical.

]]> By: UKLutheran http://biblebeltblogger.com/index.php/religion/pol-compares-obama-to-jesus-mccain-to-pontius-pilate/comment-page-1#comment-9194 UKLutheran Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:55:12 +0000 http://biblebeltblogger.com/?p=411#comment-9194 I have heard that line, or variations of it, here at seminary and I have gotten invitations to join the "Jesus was a community organizer, Pilate was a governor" group on facebook. The first time I heard it, I thought it was kinda funny and made a (albeit partisan) point. However, I am not comfortable with this line and think it works against Democrats while selling Christ short. I mean, everyone appreciates a sense of humor, but comparing Obama to Jesus doesn't make any sense- religiously, politically, or otherwise. Obama has already been mocked for his "messiah" effect on his supporters, and this re-enforces that. And come on, Jesus was a community organizer? I guess in a certain limited sense this is true. However, Jesus IS the light of the world, God incarnate, the savior and redeemer of humanity. To compare what he did with Obama's actions (however noble) is nonsense. I have heard that line, or variations of it, here at seminary and I have gotten invitations to join the “Jesus was a community organizer, Pilate was a governor” group on facebook. The first time I heard it, I thought it was kinda funny and made a (albeit partisan) point. However, I am not comfortable with this line and think it works against Democrats while selling Christ short.

I mean, everyone appreciates a sense of humor, but comparing Obama to Jesus doesn’t make any sense- religiously, politically, or otherwise. Obama has already been mocked for his “messiah” effect on his supporters, and this re-enforces that.

And come on, Jesus was a community organizer? I guess in a certain limited sense this is true. However, Jesus IS the light of the world, God incarnate, the savior and redeemer of humanity. To compare what he did with Obama’s actions (however noble) is nonsense.

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