Texas Senate nominee James Talarico sparked a heated debate this week after asserting that his push for universal health care is grounded in the teachings of Jesus and the Hebrew prophets. In a widely shared X post that garnered over two million views, the Presbyterian seminarian wrote, “When Jesus healed the sick, he didn’t ask for a deductible. When I fight for universal health care, I’m doing it on biblical grounds.” He added that Jesus fed the hungry without profit and that the prophets spoke truth to power, framing his policy agenda as a direct continuation of biblical principles.
Pastor Jim Agresti’s rebuttal
Just Facts president and co‑founder Jim Agresti, a Texas pastor and author of a book on biblical veracity, responded sharply to Talarico’s claim. Agresti told Fox News Digital that Talarico “imposes his own version, a perverted version, of Christian morals on the public” while simultaneously denouncing Christian nationalism. He argued that Talarico is “butchering the Bible” and misrepresenting the Constitution.
Agresti cited more than 50 Scripture passages that speak of giving to those in need, emphasizing that each instance describes personal generosity rather than government‑provided handouts. “In every single instance, it’s about self‑sacrificing generosity,” he said. He contrasted this with the parable of the Good Samaritan, noting that the story highlights an individual who voluntarily aids a stranger, not a government program.
Constitutional concerns
Beyond the theological dispute, Agresti warned that Talarico’s policy stance conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. He asserted that both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are rooted in biblical principles that limit governmental power to protect God‑given rights. According to Agresti, expanding welfare programs like universal health care adds to the national debt and diverts resources from other priorities.
Agresti also accused Talarico of ignoring the government’s biblical responsibility to protect citizens from crime, theft, and murder, suggesting that the left’s approach is “soft” on these issues. He drew a historical parallel to Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, claiming Hamilton similarly misled the public by advocating a larger federal role after the Constitution’s ratification.
Past controversies
The controversy is not Talarico’s first brush with religious criticism. In 2021, he sparked outrage on the Texas House floor by stating “God is non‑binary” while opposing a bill that would ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. He has also called Jesus a “radical feminist” and described the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade as “unchristian.”
Campaign response
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis defended the candidate, emphasizing his commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his fight against corruption. “There’s nothing Christ‑like about powerful people using scripture to justify hate and greed and score political points,” Ennis said, adding that Talarico will continue encouraging Texans to love their neighbors as themselves.
With the general election looming, Talarico will face Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a high‑stakes Senate race this November. Voters in Texas will now weigh not only policy positions but also competing interpretations of Scripture and constitutional limits as part of the campaign narrative.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
