Talarico has some explaining to do.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is facing renewed scrutiny over controversial comments about Christianity, including a 2023 sermon in which he declared that “God is not a Christian.”
The striking statement came as Talarico, a Texas state lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian, delivered a sweeping criticism of Christian nationalism and warned that America could be moving toward what he called a “Christian theocracy.”
The old remarks are receiving new attention at a critical moment. Talarico is now locked in a highly competitive U.S. Senate race against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting the Democrat’s views on Christianity, abortion, education and the role of religion in government under a national spotlight.
Talarico Declared ‘God Is Not A Christian’
During the 2023 sermon at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, Talarico acknowledged that he has sometimes been reluctant to discuss his Christian faith publicly.
He then argued that religion itself faces serious problems and presented an unconventional theological description of God.
Talarico said God is bigger than the religious categories created by human beings and therefore cannot simply be labeled Presbyterian or Christian. He went even further, describing God not as a traditional “being,” but as something closer to the existence and expression of love itself.
Talarico connected that argument to his interpretation of Jesus, saying Christ repeatedly challenged religious rules when they interfered with loving one’s neighbors.
For traditional Christians, however, his declaration that “God is not a Christian” is likely to raise eyebrows — especially as Talarico campaigns for one of the most important Senate seats in the country.
Past Religious Comments Have Followed Talarico
The sermon is not the first time Talarico’s approach to Christianity has attracted controversy.
During a 2021 podcast appearance, he described having a complicated relationship with organized Christianity, saying he sometimes thinks of himself as a Christian who strongly dislikes what Christianity has become, even though he repeatedly finds himself drawn back to the faith.
Talarico has also previously used nontraditional language when discussing God, including referring to God as nonbinary.
Those earlier statements have become political ammunition as voters examine the Democrat’s record and beliefs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Talarico has since acknowledged that some comments from earlier in his career were poorly expressed. When questioned about several previous statements, he described some as “cringey” and admitted that he had “missed the mark.”
Talarico Joked About Religion During Sermon
Talarico also used humor during his Austin sermon, sharing jokes from his pastor, Dr. Jim Rigby, comparing religion to beer.
Among the jokes was the observation that beer drinkers generally do not knock on strangers’ doors attempting to give away their favorite beverage. Another joked about laws preventing alcohol from being forced on minors.
The routine was intended to make a broader point about Talarico’s opposition to coercive religion.
His campaign has defended his faith and his remarks.
A spokesperson has emphasized that Talarico is a Christian seminarian who considers the teachings of Jesus central to his life and political career. His campaign argues that Talarico’s criticism is aimed not at Christianity itself but at politicians and other powerful figures he believes misuse scripture for political purposes.
That distinction may satisfy his supporters. Whether it convinces traditional Christian voters is another question.
Democrat Launches Blistering Attack On Christian Nationalism
Talarico reserved some of his strongest rhetoric for Christian nationalism.
He characterized the movement as driven by division and political power rather than authentic Christian teaching.
In particularly provocative language, Talarico accused Christian nationalists of transforming Jesus into a political figure associated with guns, opposition to homosexuality, skepticism of science, money and fear.
He argued that Christians have an obligation to confront and reject that movement.
Then came an even more dramatic warning.
Talarico claimed the United States is closer than many Americans realize to becoming a “Christian theocracy.”
The Democrat pointed to several major political battles as evidence, including the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, efforts to expand private and religious education in Texas, and the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Conservatives are likely to strongly dispute that interpretation.
Many Republicans view the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling as returning the issue to elected representatives rather than establishing a religious government. Likewise, supporters of school choice argue that allowing parents to choose private or religious schools expands individual freedom rather than imposing Christianity on Americans.
That fundamental disagreement could become increasingly important as the Texas Senate campaign heats up.
Talarico Rejects ‘Christian Nation’ Label
Talarico also pushed back against Americans who describe the United States as a Christian nation.
He argued that if America truly operated according to Christian principles, the government and society would make certain that children had access to necessities such as food, housing, clothing, education and health care.
But Talarico also maintained that Christianity should never be imposed by government.
He argued that a genuinely Christian society would welcome people from other religions — including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs — along with Americans who do not believe in God.
The remarks place Talarico squarely in the middle of a long-running national debate over Christianity’s place in American public life.
Many conservatives emphasize the enormous influence Christian beliefs and traditions had on America’s development while simultaneously supporting the Constitution’s protections for religious liberty.
Talarico offers a substantially different interpretation, arguing that Christians should resist attempts to formally connect their religion with government power.
Faith Could Become Major Issue In Texas Senate Race
The timing matters.
Talarico is attempting to accomplish something Democrats have struggled to do for decades: win a U.S. Senate election in Texas.
His Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, is hoping conservative voters — including the state’s large population of Christian voters — will turn out in force.
That makes Talarico’s previous statements about God and Christianity potentially significant campaign issues.
The contest is currently extremely competitive, with recent surveys showing the candidates separated by only a small number of percentage points.
For Republicans, Talarico’s past comments offer an opportunity to ask whether his theological and political views reflect those of mainstream Texas voters.
Talarico and his supporters see the issue very differently. They argue that his willingness to criticize Christian nationalism demonstrates a commitment to separating sincere Christian faith from political power.
Texas Voters Will Have The Final Say
The controversy ultimately reaches beyond a single sentence from an old sermon.
It raises larger questions about faith, government and American culture that have divided voters for years.
How much influence should Christianity have on government?
Does defending traditional Christian values amount to Christian nationalism?
And where should Americans draw the line between religious freedom and government endorsement of religion?
Talarico has made his position unusually clear for a modern political candidate. He identifies himself as a committed Christian while simultaneously rejecting some of the beliefs and political priorities embraced by religious conservatives.
His statement that “God is not a Christian” was intended as part of a broader theological argument about God’s nature, rather than a declaration that Talarico had abandoned Christianity.
But political campaigns are often defined by memorable words.
As Talarico tries to win a Senate seat in traditionally Republican Texas, voters will decide whether his unconventional religious message represents a refreshing approach to faith and politics — or whether it puts him too far outside the mainstream for the Lone Star State.