LK (@Libertyordeath777)

James Talarico is yet another product—if not the poster child—of progressive academia that twists scripture to suit its agenda and intellectualizes God without true worship. My criticism of Talarico is not solely theological; it is personal. Having spent years in this field, defending Scripture against the very heresies he promotes, I witnessed first hand how God is reduced to a subject to be studied, a doctrine to memorize, a degree to earn. Scripture is debated, not obeyed; torn apart and reshaped into the image of man. Knowledge is pumped into the mind while the heart is spiritually starved. Talarico doesn’t worship God for who He is; He worships god as he would have him. He worships himself. "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4 To the biblically ignorant, Talarico sounds scholarly—wearing the mask of an M.Div, dressing himself in spiritual language and a virtuous appearance but inwardly he is void of Christ. He is counting on your biblical illiteracy to accept his claims without question. He emphasizes loving your neighbor, defending the defenseless, standing up for the oppressed. It sounds compelling, but it is Christless—a false piety. He also says “be yourself,” claims the Bible is silent on abortion, while advocating for the very sins God condemns and Christ went to the cross for. He is committed only to spreading Satan's gospel of liberalism, not the gospel of Christ—wearing Christ's name, without His character. “These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.” Isaiah 29:13 “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 Contrary to Talarico’s false teachings, God's commandments do not indulge our desires, conform to our political ideologies, or affirm our feelings. They go against every one of them; hence the call of Christlikeness is not self-indulgence, but self-crucifixion. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23 This is where Christian intellectualism falls short. The goal of theology is to inform the mind in order to transform the heart. To not merely know “about” God, but to know Him personally, in such a way that makes us like Jesus. We can master every doctrine and still remain strangers to God. We can collect degrees and still look nothing like Jesus. Theology that does not lead to Christlikeness has missed its purpose entirely and is no real theology at all. Make no mistake: Christian intellectualism is not Christlikeness, and knowledge about God is not knowing God. It does not make one a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes one a car. Beware of James Talarico, the false teacher. “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:18 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits… Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:15-16, 21 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭‬‬ “But understand this, that in the last days… people will be lovers of self, … having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who …[are] always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7