SIDE NOTE: I’ve noticed what James is doing is pretty tricky. Because he’s deceiving people from a primarily THEOLOGICAL lane and not a primarily political one, many politicians and political commentators don’t know how to respond to him. It’s gonna take some pastors.

Watch the bait-and-switch: A) When the Bible is used to advance a “conservative” cause, it’s “evil Christian Nationalism” (that he’s spent his entire campaign decrying) or it’s “forcing your religion on other people” and must be FORECEFULLY DENOUNCED. But when the Bible is used to advance a progressive cause, aw shucks it’s just me being Christlike, “speaking truth to power”, and seeking “justice” or “compassion.” His whole campaign is, ”Christian Nationalism for ME, but not for THEE” and hoping you won’t notice. B) What progressives do is take the commands Jesus gave to INDIVIDUALS and apply them to the GOVERNMENT. When Christians use words like “caring” or “generous” they mean caring for people and being generous with their own resources. When progressives use the words “caring” and “generous”, they mean “vote for the government to forcibly take OTHER PEOPLE’S RESOURCES at gunpoint and redistribute it against their will.” Of course, this *always* backfires because governments do not work like people and churches, so with governments you tends to get more of what you INCENTIVIZE and less of what you PENALIZE. This is why cities and states that throw billions of $ at “solving homelessness” end up with MORE HOMELESSNESS, they do not “solve homelessness.” This is a theology-nerd thing, but in general progressives want the government to do the roles of the church and individual (charity, compassion, care), and they want NOBODY to do the role of the State (administer justice and be a “terror to the wrongdoer”). ^^^this always results in societal chaos and darkness. Further… What Talarico (and other progressives) always do is selevtively edit Jesus, so that he becomes a mascot for their cause. I can do a “when Jesus…” list too, but James won’t like mine… - When Jesus defined marriage, he defined it as only between a man and a woman - When Jesus talked about gender, he rooted it in biology, saying “he made them male and female” - When Jesus talked about harming children (abortion), he said it would be better for you to have millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the ocean - … that time when Jesus encouraged his followers to buy weapons for self-defense (Luke 22:36) - Jesus’ family strictly obeyed the government’s border / migration / census laws. - When Jesus talked about salvation, he said belief in him was the ONLY WAY - When Jesus healed the sick, he didn’t need a deductible… there were no insurance companies in AD 30, and Jesus was using miraculous power, not paying doctors. This would be like an anti-vaxxer saying “JESUS WASNT VACCINATED!” as justification for their position) - When Jesus fed the hungry, he FED THE HUNGRY. He did not vote for the government to forcibly take other people’s stuff at gunpoint and redistribute it against their will. I could go on and on and on and on… The point is, Jesus is a LORD of the universe, not a MASCOT for your cause.