Run!

A new young politician has been making waves in the Democratic Party. His name is James Talarico. He just won the Texas Senate Democratic primary near Austin. His appeal to many comes from his “Christian” values. He’s a current seminary student, talks about learning Hebrew and Greek, and uses biblical language in his speeches. For example, in his victory speech this last week, he said, “My grandad was a Baptist preacher in South Texas, and he told me at an early age that we follow a barefoot rabbi who gave us two commandments: love God and love neighbor.” He ended his speech by stating, “Two thousand years ago . . .  that barefoot rabbi didn’t stay in his room and pray. He walked into the seat of power and flipped over the tables of justice. . . . It’s time to start flipping tables.” What are we to make of this guy and his views? 

Paul writes this in Rom 16:17 & 18, “Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. . . . By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.” I can’t think of a more applicable passage for James Talarico than this one. This guy epitomizes smooth talk, yet he peddles poison. Here are some things he’s said: “God is non-binary”; “other religions of love point to the same truth [as Christianity]”; “there are so many pathways to the sacred”; “The Bible doesn’t mention abortion or gay marriage”; “God is not a Christian, God is not a noun at all, God is a verb”; “If this were truly a Christian nation, we would forgive student debt.” What Talarico presents is a re-packaging of old-school liberal Christianity: God is love, sin isn’t real, Jesus was an immigrant, there are many pathways to God, hell isn’t real, and kumbaya is all you need.  

Beloved church family, never allow someone’s smooth talk to persuade you about what is and what is not Christianity. That’s what the Bible is for. Smooth talk is fine, but it can also mislead. Substance is what is key. May the Lord help those who are duped by James Talarico. He’s bad, and his theological liberalism is cancer. Stay salty (Matt 5:31)!

Pastor Chance Sumner