James Talarico often leads with his faith on the campaign trail, although if you're used to evangelical Christianity, you might not recognize it.
“There are many more than two biological sexes. In fact, there are six. God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non-binary,” says Talarico, also a Presbyterian seminary graduate.
The Bible also champions abortion, has no problem with homosexuality, but opposes national borders, according to Talarico. He says as part of his senate campaign, he wants to rescue Christianity from conservatives. Thanks, but no thanks, says Chrisitan apologist Alex McFarland, co-host of “Exploring The Word” on American Family Radio.
“Talarico makes much of his, quote-unquote Christianity, but all of his positions are counter not only to the Bible, but to historic Orthodox Christianity,” McFarland told AFN.
A former sixth-grade teacher in San Antonio, Talarico entered politics in 2018 and gained attention for walking the length of his district during his campaign. He has passed significant legislation, including capping insulin costs at $25 per month and banning reality TV shows from filming police operations, known as Javier Ambler’s Law.
“Talarico is a 36-year-old Texas state representative and the Democratic Party’s latest and greatest hope for winning its first statewide election there in more than 30 years,” writes former conservative media figure now New York Times columnist David French.
"Talarico is one of the few openly Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian, and by acting like a Christian, he reveals a profound contrast with so many members of the MAGA Christian movement that’s dominated American political life for 10 years," French writes.
American Family Radio show host Jenna Ellis says French is blinded by hate.
"His genuine hatred toward Donald Trump and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement has informed his Christianity instead of allowing God to inform his viewpoint," she said.
That hate also blinds French to basic Christian theology.
"To actually praise someone like James Talarico, who is openly advocating for homosexuality, saying that Jesus himself was pro-abortion and claiming that type of politician is who represents an evangelical Christian in America ..." Ellis says.
Talarico trots out the "Christian nationalism" boogeyman as the target of his attacks, which McFarland says is odd from someone who seems to want to insert his own faith as the center of his campaign and policy prescriptions.
“What makes him very dangerous is that he is a political figure who presents himself as a minister. And he is a minister, all right, but he's not a minister of the Christian faith.”
McFarland says that proves one thing.
“The Democrat Party apparently is okay with religion, just not actual biblical Christianity. You can call yourself a Christian, but if you deny the Christian faith, you're not a Christian.”
