"I am the commander of the armies of the living God." The angel was not on either side. He was on God's side. This encounter reframed everything for Joshua. Who was he going into battle for the next day? Was it his own fame, glory, self-pursuit, or anything else?
Or was he aligning himself with the Lord? The real question is never whether God stands with us in our pursuits. It is whether we stand with Him in His. This principle remains true for us today.
I serve as a pastor of Vintage Church in central Texas, where we preach the truth of God's Word to a dark world, even when it draws criticism or pushback.
For Christians, this must remain our lens: not chasing approval or political gain, but asking, "Lord, am I aligned with Your will?" Jesus embodied this perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrendering with the words, "Not my will, but yours be done."
When we drift away from the truth and God's will, we find a path that leads only to destruction. We all sin, we all drift, we all fall short of the glory of God, but we are called to repent and realign with His will and His ways. But not everyone heeds that call. In fact, some who profess faith in Christ actively advance positions that contradict His Word. Instead of aligning themselves to God, they twist His word and try to align it to their own will. And, in doing so, they lead people astray while committing a grave sin.
What these false teachers tend to do is borrow Biblical language, twist its meaning, and promote opposing agendas while claiming divine endorsement. This is taking God's name in vain, using His authority to justify rebellion.
Jesus warned us plainly about such people: false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves, seeking to devour the flock.
Today, one such figure has risen prominently: James Talarico. After his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Democrats have celebrated him as a fresh voice and rising star. Their party has doubled down on abortion extremism, transgender ideology pushed on children, and open-border policies that invite chaos and danger. These stances have rightly driven away many mainstream evangelicals.
But for Democrats, Talarico represents their hope to recapture those voters with a seemingly faith-friendly face. Yet his record and statements reveal the same radicalism, just packaged in smoother, more articulate terms.
He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and Christians must name him as such. After winning the Democratic primary for Texas Senate, clips began to fly showing just how radical he truly is.
For instance, Talarico has argued that the annunciation to Mary supports abortion rights. He points to the angel Gabriel seeking Mary's "consent" before the incarnation, suggesting this emphasizes choice and bodily autonomy. In his view, since God waited for Mary's agreement, no pregnancy should proceed without full consent, justifying abortion. And Mary could have aborted our Lord Jesus, according to this wolf.
This is a gross distortion. Scripture presents Mary as the humble handmaid of the Lord, submitting willingly to God's sovereign plan: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." The encounter celebrates obedience to divine will, not negotiation over life.
Nowhere does it imply a right to end innocent life. The Bible affirms life from conception—John leaps in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's greeting, and Psalms declare God knits us together in the secret place, fearfully and wonderfully made. Talarico's spin inverts this to defend the destruction of the unborn.
This is not a unique perversion of the truth for him. He has publicly and repeatedly declared God non-binary and labeled Jesus a radical feminist. These assertions undermine core Biblical revelation. God discloses Himself as Father throughout Scripture, and Jesus took on male human form in the incarnation.
Male and female He created them, in His image, with distinct roles woven into creation. Calling God non-binary or redefining Christ through mocks the God who has spoken clearly. What’s more, his legislative record matches this theological drift. Talarico has consistently supported unrestricted abortion access, including for those identifying as transgender, framing it as essential healthcare and compassion.
He has voted repeatedly against pro-life measures in the Texas House. He advocates affirming transgender identities in children, describing such kids as sacred and perfect as they are, while opposing protections for biological reality.
On immigration, he condemns border security as inhumane, pushing for open approaches that Scripture balances with calls for order, justice, and care for the vulnerable without endorsing lawlessness. He even said that the “Southern Border should be like our front door, with a welcome mat out front.”
Christians, we must be clear about who this man is. He is a wolf. He is the type of man our Lord urged us to watch out for. He is well-spoken, tries to be charming, and uses many nice sounding platitudes to win people over. But he stands against the truth. He attempts to force God to be on his side, while advocating for what is evil and wicked.
Yes, he does it with a smile on his face. Yes, he clothes it with soft language. Yes, he is still radical and he would be a disaster for Texas and the United States.
The good news is, if Christians call him out and show him for who he is, we can defeat him in November and reject this perversion of Scripture. We can be clear about who he is and wake up the voters in Texas to avoid a Talarico disaster, regardless of how many millions the Democrat establishment pumps into our state (like they did for Beto in 2018).
And for Texans, we have a far better option to support what is right in Ken Paxton. I have watched him up close for years. He has endured relentless attacks yet delivered victory after victory for what God values most.
As attorney general, he fought tirelessly to protect the unborn by enforcing laws against abortion providers and challenging federal overreach. Thousands upon thousands of babies were saved because of his actions. He defends children from grooming and exploitation, leading to the shutdown of barbaric transgender clinics for minors.
He has held big corporations accountable when they harm families with toxins in our food, illegal data collection, and poisonous medications. He continually safeguards religious liberty so believers can live out their faith freely, and upholds free speech against censorship. He has strengthened border security to shield communities from drugs, crime, and human trafficking.
Time and again, he chooses what God says is right over popularity or pressure.
My ties run personal and deep: I am married to his daughter, Mattie, and have walked alongside their family through highs and lows. Despite the smears and slime thrown his way, his record stands unassailable. Paxton has proven effective because he aligns with timeless truth rather than fleeting cultural trends, and that's why I am helping with his campaign.
But even more than knowing how strong his record and courage are, as a Pastor, I see the wickedness of Talarico and know that we must fight to win. There is a great deal at steak. Democrats want to finally break the stronghold on Texas. But Texans must reject this wolf in sheep's clothing.
We now face a clear choice. Voters can back Paxton in the May 26 runoff and carry that forward into victory in November (polls show him more favorable in a match-up vs Talarico, and Texans are tired of Cornyn.). Or, we can not speak out, we can not show up, and we can watch a dangerous man who stands against what God calls good take power. As Christians, we judge by fruit. Look at the outcomes: lives saved or ended, children protected or confused, truth upheld or twisted.
Talarico's path bears rotten fruit. It is deception wrapped in pious words, empty platitudes that lead souls astray and devour the vulnerable. He advances evil under the guise of kindness and progress. We must call it out plainly. We must choose better. We must choose to stand before God and say, "Lord, today I stand on Your side."
