James Talarico Is 'Not a Christian' While Democratic Party Advocates 'Evil', Pastor Robert Jeffress Claims

James Talarico is 'not a Christian', First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress claimed during a 30 September episode of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's podcast, accusing the Democratic Party at the same time of openly advocating 'evil'.

The remarks renewed criticism Jeffress had voiced during the second night of the Republican National Committee's Midterm Convention in Dallas. Talarico, a Texas state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the US Senate.

James Talarico's Faith Challenged on Podcast

Patrick, a Republican, pointed to Talarico's attempts to support his positions through the Bible. 'I've never seen a candidate or heard a candidate who attacks God, who attacks the Word of God, and so far is getting away with it with a lot of people,' Patrick stated.

Jeffress replied, 'Let me cut to the chase here, governor: James Talarico is not a Christian.' Jeffress anticipated that his assertion would anger some listeners. He defined Christians as people who embrace and follow Jesus Christ's teachings, then argued that the candidate's views were incompatible with those teachings.

The pastor also objected to what he described as Talarico's portrayal of Jesus as a barefoot rabbi who eats bird seed and speaks kindly to people. He argued that this diminished Jesus's status as the Son of God and presented opposition to such views as an issue in the forthcoming election.

Why Jeffress Linked James Talarico To Party Platform

Jeffress, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, acknowledged immorality among Republicans. His argument focused on what he viewed as a fundamental difference between the parties' platforms, despite wrongdoing among members of both.

'No party has a monopoly on morality. We're all sinners. We all need the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.'

He recognised that people in both parties could fall into sin and subsequently repent. However, he accused Democrats of promoting sin through their political positions, citing abortion, views on gender and what he characterised as a failure to support Israel.

'And that's what the Democrat Party is doing. It is advocating for evil. And there's no other way to call it. It is evil,' Jeffress stated.

Earlier Attacks on James Talarico and His Church

At the Dallas convention, Jeffress had cited biblical passages to dispute what he described as Talarico's positions on gender and religious belief. He claimed the candidate believed in a spectrum of genders and regarded different religions as equally valid.

Invoking Matthew 19, he argued that Jesus recognised only male and female. He cited a passage in John's Gospel to support his view that access to God comes exclusively through Jesus. He described Talarico's beliefs as 'blasphemous' and argued that no true Christian could support them.

He also claimed that Talarico had described himself as 'a Christian who hates Christianity'. His criticism also extended to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Talarico's home congregation.

In a 24 September social media post, Jeffress responded to The Christian Post's reporting about the Rev Babs Miller. 'No true Christian could ever be a member of a church like this,' he wrote.

The report concerned a hidden-camera recording in which Miller questioned whether Jesus existed and described him as having been killed because Rome viewed him as a political threat. The Rev Jim Rigby leads the Presbyterian congregation in Austin, with Miller serving as minister to the parish.