Pastor Josh Howerton is sounding the alarm over what he sees as a dangerous spiritual sleight of hand unfolding in American politics: invoking the name of Jesus while reshaping His teachings to fit a political agenda.
In a fiery new episode of “Live Free,” Howerton took aim at Texas politician James Talarico following his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” His warning to Christians was blunt: Discernment is no longer optional when politicians begin preaching theology.
“What’s happening is false teachers, they’re moving out of pulpits and into politics,” Howerton said. “The church isn’t getting more political. Politics are getting more theological and spiritual.”
But Howerton’s message wasn’t simply “conservatives good, progressives bad.” He issued a warning directly to Christians on the Right as well.
“Every Christian everywhere has to make sure you are a disciple of Jesus first and a quote-unquote conservative second,” he said.
His bottom line? “Jesus first and everything second.”
The controversy centers on Talarico’s use of Scripture to support progressive policies.
During the Kimmel appearance, Talarico argued that Christians cannot claim to love God while abusing immigrants, oppressing the poor or bullying outcasts. Howerton agreed that Christians are commanded to love their neighbors, but fiercely disputed Talarico’s political application of those biblical commands.
“Enforcing immigration laws is not abusing the immigrant,” Howerton said. “Opposing socialism at the state level is not oppressing the poor.”
That distinction became even sharper when Talarico invoked Matthew 25.
To order Alexander Pagani’s new book, Discerning the Demonic, visit Amazon.com.
Imagining what Christ might say if He entered the U.S. Senate, Talarico declared: “Depart from me, for I was hungry and you cut my food assistance. I was sick, and you kicked me off Medicaid. I was a stranger and you deported me and my family.”
He then suggested Jesus would flip over the Senate’s desks and demand lawmakers care for “the least of these.”
That was the moment Howerton boldly spoke up about what Talarico was actually doing.
He argued that Christians have repeatedly been told that applying biblical morality to conservative political causes amounts to “Christian nationalism.” Yet when Scripture is invoked to advance progressive government policies, the same biblical-political mixture can receive thunderous applause.
Howerton pointed directly to Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 11 about believers being presented with “another Jesus.”
“All throughout Christian history, people are going to come along and they’ll say they’re teaching Jesus,” Howerton said. “They’re going to use the same word, but they’re going to use a different dictionary.”
“They’re going to say they’re teaching Jesus, but they’re going to fill sort of this vessel of the word of Jesus with a different definition, a different identity, a different character, a different set of doctrines inside of that vessel,” he continued, warning that Christians could be tricked into drinking from the cup of “another Jesus.”
He pointed to Talarico selectively presenting Christ in a way that turns the Savior into a political spokesman rather than allowing the full counsel of Scripture to define Him.
“Jesus Christ is the Lord of the universe,” Howerton said. “He is not a mascot for your cause.”
And that warning should cut across every political aisle.
Jesus cannot be reduced to a campaign slogan, squeezed into a party platform or edited down until He conveniently agrees with everything we already believe. The moment Christians begin remaking Jesus in the image of their politics instead of allowing Him to transform their politics, something has gone terribly backward.
America does not need a Republican Jesus or a Democratic Jesus. It needs the real Jesus.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
