James Talarico wants Texas to believe the Son of God is the patron saint of his Senate platform. Jesus healed the sick, so the state should run your hospital. Jesus fed the hungry, so the treasury should set the price. The Hebrew prophets spoke truth to power, so a Presbyterian seminarian with a progressive checklist is standing in their line.
That post cleared two million views. A man who has spent years checking the Bible against political slogans says it is not exegesis. It is a butchering.
Jim Agresti, president and co-founder of Just Facts and a monthly preacher in Texas, told Fox News Digital that Talarico bills himself as a Christian while imposing “his own version, a perverted version, of Christian morals on the public.” The line that set the argument off was simple enough to fit on a bumper sticker.
“When Jesus healed the sick, he didn’t ask for a deductible. So, when I fight for universal healthcare, I’m doing it on biblical grounds. When he fed the hungry, he didn’t price gouge for a profit. When the Hebrew prophets saw corruption, they spoke truth to power. When I take on this corrupt system, I’m doing it on biblical grounds.”
Catchy. Also backwards. Agresti went looking for the passages that actually talk about giving to people in need. He found more than fifty. Not one of them hands the job to Caesar.
“In every single instance, it’s about self-sacrificing generosity. It was about an individual who saw someone in desperate need and sacrificed their own time and their own money to help that person. There was no role for government.”
The Good Samaritan Paid His Own Bill
The story Talarico is leaning on is the one in Luke 10. A man is beaten and left for dead. A priest passes. A Levite passes. A Samaritan stops, binds the wounds, puts the man on his own animal, and tells the innkeeper he will cover whatever else is spent. That is a person opening his purse. It is not a legislature voting to open yours.
Agresti put the difference in one sentence that campaign staffers will not want on a mailer. “He’s not even offering to give away his own money. He’s offering to take money from others and then give it to other people.” Charity that requires a tax collector is not the generosity Jesus praised. It is compulsion with a hymn attached.
Scripture already warned what this costume looks like. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Agresti reached for the same picture. “They’re dressed like sheep, but inwardly they’re ferocious wolves.” He added that he does not claim to know Talarico’s heart. “He might be deluded. I just don’t know. That’s for God to determine.”
The fruit is easier to judge than the motive. Jesus said so.
The Same Mouth That Quotes Jesus Has Already Rewritten Him
This is not a one-off flourish from a candidate who otherwise handles the text with care. On the Texas House floor in 2021, objecting to a bill that kept boys out of girls’ sports, Talarico said God is nonbinary. He has called Jesus a radical feminist. He called the fall of Roe unchristian. In a 2021 podcast he described himself as “a Christian who hates Christianity,” then set the barefoot rabbi beside the Buddha, as Fox News reported when the tape resurfaced.
A September sermon making the rounds before the November election went further. The Christian Post noted that Talarico lined Jesus up with Buddha, Muhammad, Toni Morrison, Mr. Rogers, the Dalai Lama, and the Parkland students as fellow “prophetic voices.” The eternal Son becomes one helpful teacher among many. That is not a slip. That is a different religion wearing the old vocabulary.
Blaze Media has already walked through the abortion version of the same trick. On Joe Rogan, Talarico treated Genesis 2:7 as proof that life begins at first breath, and Mary’s yes to Gabriel as a consent sermon for ending a pregnancy. Adam’s creation is not a statute on the unborn. Mary’s obedience is not a brief for the clinic. Washington Examiner columnist Tiana Lowe Doescher called the healthcare version what it is. Obfuscation. Distortion. A verse yanked out of its place and marched in a parade it never joined.
He Hates Christian Nationalism and Then Writes His Own
Talarico’s favorite shield is that he opposes Christian nationalism. Agresti’s reply is that he is practicing a version of it. He wants biblical language to bind the public, just not the parts about murder, theft, marriage, or the created order of male and female.
The left, Agresti noted, gets soft exactly where civil government has a plain duty. Punish crime. Stop the killer. Protect the weak from the thief. Welfare states that pile debt onto children get the sermon. The sword Romans 13 actually describes gets a shrug.
The Founders did not build a church with a taxing power. The Declaration limits government to securing rights that come from God. The Constitution fences that government in. Agresti’s point is that a universal healthcare entitlement, funded by taking from neighbors who never consented to be the Samaritan, blows past both documents and past the text Talarico keeps quoting. He even compared the move to Alexander Hamilton talking small government before the Constitution and reaching for a larger one after. The pattern is older than this race. Say the pious thing. Govern the other way.
Campaign spokesman JT Ennis answered Fox with the usual shield. James is a seminarian who has dedicated his life to Jesus, and there is nothing Christ-like about powerful people using Scripture to justify hate and greed. Ken Paxton, he said, is attacking James for his faith. Loving your neighbor is the closer. Loving your neighbor is also what the Samaritan did with his own silver, not with a federal deduction and a press release.
Texas votes on November 3. The other name on the Senate ballot is Attorney General Ken Paxton. Voters can decide whether a man who has already called God nonbinary, set Jesus beside Mr. Rogers, and turned a healing miracle into a deductible joke is the shepherd he claims to be. Wolves quote Scripture. They always have. The test is still the fruit, and the fruit on offer is a government gospel that Jesus never preached.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.