James Talarico. Until 8 months ago, most Americans had never heard that name. A Texas State Representative and the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate has mobilized record-breaking voter engagement in Texas and become a rising star within the Democratic Party. But here is what is so interesting: he is running on a “Christian” platform against Christian politics. 

While campaigning at a church in Texas, he said, “The Bible doesn’t mention abortion or gay marriage. But it goes on and on about forgiving debt, liberating the poor, and healing the sick. Christian nationalists like to say this is a Christian nation. Not only is that historically inaccurate. Not only is that theologically blasphemous, but it’s also not true [...] If that was truly a Christian nation, we would forgive student debt, we would guarantee health care to every single person [...] If this was truly a Christian nation, we would never make it a Christian nation because we know the table of fellowship is open to everybody.” 

I do not make a habit of calling out individuals. But Scripture makes clear that false teaching should be refuted when it is misleading. 

What does the Bible say? 

If you are a theologically conservative Christian and hold a historically orthodox view of the Bible, you’ll find tension in his statements. I agree with Rep. Talarico that the Bible does have a lot to say about forgiving debt, healing those who are sick, and liberating the destitute and poor. Talarico is also correct in saying the word abortion is never explicitly mentioned in Scripture. But that is because Scripture was written through principles, narratives, and theological claims about human life, rather than an exhaustive list of every practice. The Bible does speak extensively about the dignity of the child in the womb, including Luke 1:41-44, Exodus 21:22-25, Isaiah 44:24, and Galatians 1:15. The Representative forgets that the writers of ancient texts lived in a different linguistic and cultural world. There are 66 books in the Protestant canon (73 in Catholic tradition). They were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The question is not, "Does the English word abortion appear?” but, “What does Scripture teach about unborn life and the taking of innocent life?” On that question, the Bible is explicit. God speaks unmistakably about His relationship to the unborn and the sanctity of human life. 

Christian Nationalism & Separation Doctrine 

Talarico has centered much of his race on combating a worldview that says America is a Christian nation. The problem here is terms. What does “Christian Nation” mean? If he means that America was not created to be a society of solely Christian adherents, then yes, he is correct. America is a pluralistic society in part because of the religiously coercive systems they fled in the Old World. 

But Christian values were absolutely woven into the tapestry of the American system. The Declaration of Independence used explicitly theistic language. Most state constitutions linked civil order to religion and Christian morality. 

• The 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights said people are entitled to free exercise of religion and added that all should practice “Christian forbearance, love, and charity.” 
• The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 said that the good order of civil government depends on “piety, religion and morality,” and even authorized support for public worship and Protestant teachers in local communities. 
• The Continental Congress began with prayer, and the First Congress continued the practice by appointing chaplains in both chambers in 1789. 
• The Library of Congress notes that evangelical Christians founded colleges to train ministers, including the College of New Jersey, later Princeton. Yale says it was founded in 1701 to prepare students for “Publick employment both in Church and Civil State,” and Yale’s own historical materials indicate that training for Christian ministry was a primary purpose of its founding. 

America was not founded as a national church, but it was formed within a culture whose moral vision, educational institutions, and civic assumptions were deeply shaped by Christianity.

James Talrico is distorting the Bible to build his vision for Texas and the United States. He claims to promote programs, worldviews, and political institutions based on his understanding of Scripture. You hear no one espousing the familiar tune of "Separation of Church and State” when he does that. I am actually grateful for Talarico, because it reveals the underbelly of what has long been used to disenfranchise Christian engagement from political discourse: Opponents of Christianity have no problem when the Bible and religion are used to promote and vindicate their view of the world. If the Bible can be used to justify abortion, illegal immigration, swelling welfare programs, and spiritual callousness, then religion is okay in American society and American politics. But, if Christianity believes in the dignity of human life, law and order, public and private responsibility, and the central role of families and churches, then the Separation doctrine is locked, loaded, and aimed at anyone with a voice. 

Pagans do not have a problem with a Christian version that doesn’t disagree with them. But they will strike any worldview that believes in moral order and restraint. 

The Christian Playbook

If Christians want to be effective in this moment, we will need to do some hard but necessary things. First, we need to take a page out of Talarico’s playbook. The world should know what we stand for more than what we stand against: 

• We are for helping the widow, the poor, the fatherless, and the oppressed (e.g., Deuteronomy 10:18; 15:11, Psalm 68:5, Proverbs 14:31, Isaiah 1:17). 
• We are for civil government restraining evil and promoting that which is good, beautiful, and right (i.e., Roman 13:1-4). 
• We are for pluralism because forced religion does not change hearts (e.g., Luke 9:54-56; Matthew 13:24-30; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13). 
• We are for legal immigration and for helping those escaping persecution (e.g., Exodus 22:21, Jeremiah 22:3, Zechariah 7:9-10). 
• We support programs that serve women, children, and families (e.g., Psalm 127:3-5, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 31:8-9, James 1:27, Exodus 22:22-24). 

Much of our rhetoric is on individualized behavior, and for good reason. But, we should also focus on areas where we can show skeptics that we genuinely believe in supporting programs that help families, single moms and dads, foster children, and those escaping political and religious persecution in other countries. 

Second, we need to offer discipleship that equips Christians to engage in a way that is redemptive, gentle, but firm (e.g., Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 15:1, James 1:19-20). We can hold strong convictions, but we should do it in a way that brings people closer to the love and truth of Christ. If we look more like a political party, we aren’t bringing people to Jesus; we are baptizing them in political platitudes. 

Last, we have to get involved. The vast majority of Christians live apathetically because they either don’t care or don’t know enough to feel equipped to vote, engage, and invest in rebuilding what has long been broken. Are you giving to organizations (like The American Council) that are working toward these goals? To do nothing is costly. We don’t need apathy of noise, we need participation. Full participation. 

Do not despair in this moment. We live in an exciting time to show the world what Christ looks like, sounds like, and loves like. Whether they know it or not, they are desperate for a Savior. Not the kind that agrees with their preferences, but one who sees them, loves them, and calls them to new life. 

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