The term "theological liberalism" is thrown around a lot.
When push comes to shove though, it still boils down to Richard Niebuhr's summation of what theological liberalism truly is: "A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross" (Kingdom of God in America, 193).
Liberal/progressive Christianity is more than that but it is no less than that, and it will always come down to it. Niebuhr's words 89 years ago are just as applicable in 1937 as they are today.
I went to seminary with a ton of guys just like James Talarico. At the end of the day, they are just trying to dress socialism up in a Jesus costume. Their Lord and Savior is the government.
Governor Andy Beshear and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico frequently invoke their Christian faith as a guiding influence on their approach to governance and public policy. Yet it is striking that the label "Christian nationalist" — so readily deployed in other contexts — is conspicuously absent in the national media’s treatment of them.
The explanation is not complicated. The professional media and political class have no principled objection to Christianity in public life. Their objection is to Christian conservatism. When faith functions as a delivery mechanism for progressive policy priorities, it earns approving coverage. When it doesn't, it earns a slur. The label "Christian Nationalist" was never really a theological diagnosis. It's a political weapon — and like most weapons, it's only aimed in one direction.
This is democrat nominee for TX senator, James Talarico, giving his first sermon
It was a speech on why God supports abortion
But before he began, he gave this disclaimer about how he knows trans people need abortions too so to not take his use of the word 'woman' as exhaustive
Please keep our team in your prayers for strength and wisdom today as we embark on an important mission. We will be testifying in front of the Senate on behalf of child exploitation victims and survivors. Tim Tebow Foundation
Be a Voice for the Voiceless: https://t.co/fbx8wUCZJ4
Talarico is correct that "if you show me how you treat other people, I'll show you what you believe."
And this is precisely why Christians don't kill unborn children.
That's not a "religious right" position or a "Republican" one. It's simply following Jesus
🚨 BREAKING: In an INCREDIBLE victory, the Trump FBI has located over 2,700 victims of child exploitation, and terminated 3.8 MILLION dark web p*dophile accounts
This is what I voted for!
🚨 JUST IN: The Experts are STUNNED, they did not expect this in Donald Trump's America
"Homicides are down 21% from 2024! Carjackings down 43% Overdoses down 20%!"
"I mean, these numbers are INDISPUTABLE!" 🇺🇸🇺🇸
So much of the Christian life is returning to this simple reality: Jesus genuinely loves us, and will forgive us as we keep stumbling our way forward with Him.