Why I’m Out on James Talarico

I saw it happening months ago.  James Talarico, a young, articulate, reasonable sounding politician, began making waves in the Democratic party.  He was a rising star, serving in the state House of Representatives and garnering the praise of top Democratic leaders including former President Barack Obama. 

But he wasn’t just turning politicians’ heads.  I saw reasonable, God-fearing Christians begin to take notice of his even-keel cadence and pointed Christian rhetoric.  Unlike many of his liberal Democratic peers, he did not keep his faith in the background from his politics.  Instead Talarico chose to push his faith to the foreground of his political messaging.

He began his campaign for the U.S. Senate by declaring it was time to start “flipping tables” like Jesus.  He began inserting Biblical motifs and scriptural references into his speeches, interviews, and political rallies.  He spoke often of his Christian faith, his grandfather that was a preacher, his seminary education, and his aspiration to be a pastor.

These spiritual talking points caught the attention and fandom of Christian audiences.  I have watched several of my own Christian peers repost his social media content and advocate for his Senate candidacy.  This kind of behavior is historically quite common during election seasons, as Christians often advocate for political figures who represent their biblical convictions.  However, James Talarico is different than his Christian political predecessors.  How so?  Talarico’s version of Christianity is incongruent with biblical orthodoxy. 

Yes, he appeals for Texans to “love God and love their neighbors.”  I can gladly get behind that.  However, he also presents a “biblical” case for abortion.  He awkwardly explained this on The Joe Rogan Show when he said the angel “asked” Mary for her consent before she carried the Savior of the world.  The problem is that did not happen in Luke chapter 1.  The angel informed her, but he did not ask her for her permission.  Further, Mary did not grant God permission, but rather she humbly agreed to submit to the will of God even though it would be costly.  That faith is why we still celebrate her today!

Even if one tried to read consent into that passage, it remains an impossibility to use those scriptures as a proof-text for modern abortion rights.  The irony is Luke chapter 1 serves as one of the greatest pro-life texts in the Scriptures.  Mary goes on to visit her relative Elizabeth who is also pregnant with John the Baptist.  Unborn John was not described just as a “clump of cells” in the Bible, but instead “when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.” (Luke 1:41).  As an unborn baby, John the Baptist, was the first to worship the unborn Savior.  John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus even from the womb!

Talarico has also declared that God is non-binary even though the Bible tells us God is spirit (John 4:24), and we pray to Him as God the Father (Matt 6:9), through the mediation of God the Son (1 John 2:1).  Talarico has claimed there are six genders, even though Jesus said there are only two (Matt 19:4). Talarico has said same-sex marriage is biblical, even though Jesus said marriage is between a man and woman (Matt 19:5).  Talarico preached from the Gospel of Thomas, even though that book was rejected from the biblical canon.  Talarico has called his own whiteness and masculinity a “virus,” even though the Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

James Talarico’s religious rhetoric must not be applauded by Christians, it should be corrected.  Unfortunately, many Christians are so biblically illiterate that they do not know what is true and what is false when they hear spiritual communication.  This leaves many believers vulnerable and persuadable through false teachers.  Paul warned, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). 

Jesus called Satan the father of lies (John 8:44), and Satan still speaks lies to Christians every single day.  One way he does this is by twisting the scriptures to say things it actually does not say.  Satan twisted God’s Word when he tempted Eve in the garden (Genesis 3). Satan twisted God’s Word in the Judean desert when he tempted Jesus to sin against the Father (Matthew 4).  And Satan is still twisting God’s Word through people who Jesus warned would “come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15).

Paul told the church to watch out for false teachers.  He wrote, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Cor 11:14-15).  Paul said “watch out” because people will look like sheep, act like sheep, and talk like sheep, but they will lead the flock astray.

I want to encourage the church with a few practical points as we listen to religious rhetoric this political season from James Talarico, as well as other candidates on both sides of the aisle:

1. The Bible is the standard.  Do not be swayed by a speaker’s style, focus on their substance.  Is the truth they are proclaiming actual biblical truth?  Or does it just sound biblical due to its theological underpinning?
2. Don’t support “Christian leaders” who teach false doctrine.  The Bible does not tell you to “follow them”…it tells you to run from them! (1 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thess 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 John 10)
3. Don’t be scared to speak up.  Some will read this and think I’ve lost my mind.  Why would I call out a well-known leader by name because of his false teaching?  I will because Paul did the exact same thing with Demas (2 Timothy 4:10,) Phygelus and Hermogenes (2 Tim 1:15), Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19-20), and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17). Talarico is not just a politician. He has publicly presented himself as a church-leader, so church leaders must publicly hold him doctrinally accountable.
4. Remember, policy is a part of our character too.  Some will say, “but he’s a nice and reasonable guy.”  Perhaps he is, and I genuinely hope he is.  But character is not only revealed through our personalities.  It is also revealed through our convictions.  Championing convictions that are in clear and direct contradiction to God’s Word says a lot about someone’s character.

I have had these conversations with people individually.  It usually ends with this rebuttal: “But what about rebuking all the bad behavior of other ‘Christian’ politicians?”  That’s a fair question, and I want to be clear.  I am unhappy with all morally egregious behavior from political leaders on the right or the left (and both sides have had their fair share).  And sometimes I do indeed publicly speak to those issues.  However, I don’t all the time for two primary reasons:

First, if I called out every morally bankrupt thing that happens in the political arena, that would become my new full-time job.  It would consume every day of my life, probably make me an unhappy and cynical person, and it would not bear much, if any, fruit in this world.  I firmly believe we are all sinful people who are led by sinful leaders.  And I believe we will all be severely disappointed in our leaders until Jesus Christ returns to reign as the true and righteous King.

Secondly, while bad behavior is always disappointing, bad doctrine is far more devastating.  False teaching literally leads people to hell.  And Pastors are called to protect their flocks by guarding their doctrine closely: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). 

I pray every Christian Pastor and leader remembers the farewell charge that Paul gave the Ephesians elders: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”  I do believe James Talarico is speaking twisted things. I just pray the bride of Christ will have enough spiritual discernment to not listen.

Jonathan Spencer

Senior Pastor, Austin Baptist Church