Not expecting him to appear in a local commentary to the PJ so soon (3-14), James Talarico was described as a “rare Democrat who, as a Presbyterian seminarian… is well versed in Christianity.” Not so fast, my friend.

The commentary never told what seminary he attended. Take two Presbyterian seminaries. One seminary named Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary makes three statements on its webpage: 1.) We believe faith is boundless (“What faith is it?” I ask. 2.) We are bridge builders (A bridge to what? You’re left guessing.) 3.) We prepare Christrian leaders to serve (Serve whom? Serve what: a social justice warrior agenda or the Great Commission by Jesus?)

A second one named Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary also has three statements on its website: 1.) [We are] biblically grounded…with years of study in both Greek and Hebrew as well as the background, content, and doctrines of the scriptures. 2) [We are] pastorally focused… to be more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 3) [We are] confessionally faithful adhering to the historic Westminster Confessions of Faith. That’s unequivocally evangelical Presbyterian and Christian.

You don’t have to be a degreed theologian to discern which seminary Talarico attended. Austin Seminary is superficially Presbyterian (woefully lame in doctrine) but substantively progressive at the expense of sound biblical teaching, doctrine and theology. The seminarian Talarico is the groomed political product of the progressivism of Austin seminary.

Talarico contorts verses in the Bible to justify anything progressive from murdering children in the womb (as if Mary got the “green light” from God to abort Jesus) to falsifying the definition of marriage (as if he never read Genesis 2) and claiming “God is non-binary” when “God the Father” is constant in the Bible, particularly revealed by Jesus. Talarico sounds more well-versed in counterfeit Christianity than Christianity.

In vintage Charlie Kirk form, Brylin Hollyhand posted, “Progressive Christianity isn’t Christianity. When you replace sin with “self-expression,” repentance with “affirmation”, and Scripture with what’s trending on Twitter, you’re not preaching the Gospel. You’re hosting a political activist meeting with a cross on the wall.”

Speaking of a cross, Talarico recently preached at a “Presbyterian” church saying, “It’s been said before that when fascism comes to America, it’ll be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” Ironically as he spoke, he stood before a cross wrapped in a Pride flag blasphemously affirming unbiblical teaching, lifestyle and identity on Christianity’s most sacred, visible and meaningful symbol.

If you want a cotton candy and rat poison combo, Talarico is your man. If you want a political version of a Las Vegas lounge lizzard masquerading as a minister, Talarico is your man. If you want the slick seminarian for the Church of the DNC, Talarico is your man, but then again, after Talarico insists on at least 6 sexes, does he even know if he’s a man?

More rare, however, than Talarico is a woman. Convicted over the contradiction between her party and her faith, Debbie Whitsett concluded, “In the end, I have to answer to God. For me, it’s impossible to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ while remaining a member of the Democratic Party as it exists today. I cannot reconcile that platform with Scripture. I have compromised my relationship with Jesus for too long, and I’m grateful God did not give up on me — He gave me time to repent, turn, and be fully devoted to Him.” So, Whitsett resigned her seat in the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Instead of progressive politics reinterpreting faith, as in Talarico, biblical faith mattered more than Democrat politics. That’s real Christianity over the counterfeit kind of Talarico.

The Rev. Mel McGinnis is a Frewsburg resident.