I’ve often observed that most of the people who claim to be biblical literalists — that is, they profess to interpret the Bible literally — engage in the ruse of selective literalism. Although I don’t claim to be a literalist, I’m sure I practice some form of selective literalism as well.
But few people who claim to be evangelical Christians can match Ken Paxton for selective literalism.
Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, has criticized his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, for misunderstanding and misusing the Bible. Those are fighting words in Texas.
Talarico is a state representative and a Presbyterian seminarian, so Paxton might want to temper his criticism and stick to, I don’t know, fuel prices or economic policy.
But no, Paxton is not holding back. “His views are antithetical to Christian, historical Christian views,” the attorney general said about Talarico. “They’re — it’s deceptive for him to present his views as historical Christianity. They are not Christian views. They are his views that he’s adopted from liberal theology that do not reflect what Scripture says. None of his views that I’ve heard match up. They’re literally the opposite of Christianity.”
First, we should ask what qualifies Paxton as an arbiter of such matters? To my knowledge, Paxton, unlike Talarico, has never attended seminary, although I hasten to add that seminary training does not necessarily make someone a theologian. Paxton claims to be a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, but published accounts insist that he hasn’t darkened the door for something like eight years.
And what are Talarico’s anti-Christian positions? According to Paxton, Talarico’s “liberal” views include the conviction that Christians should care for the poor, welcome the stranger (immigrants), protect religious freedom and treat LGBTQ+ people with dignity.
Apparently, Paxton has never read the Sermon on the Mount or Matthew 25, where Jesus calls on his followers to care for “the least of these,” to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison.
The attorney general, who has sued sanctuary cities, might also want to consult those passages in the Hebrew Bible that instruct the Israelites to treat the foreigner as one of their own.
Well, maybe not. For Paxton, wading into the Hebrew Bible brings him in proximity to the Ten Commandments, which he wants to plaster on the walls of public schoolrooms. One of those commandments says something about adultery, which hits pretty close to home.
Paxton’s alleged extramarital affairs are an open secret in Texas. He just concluded divorce proceedings with his ex-wife, a state senator, who filed for divorce on “biblical grounds.” Ouch.
The only way around that, I suppose, is to engage in selective literalism.
Another of the Ten Commandments condemns false witness. Paxton has voted on numerous occasions while registered at an address where he did not reside. And speaking of addresses, while attorney general, Paxton has expanded his real estate portfolio to 15 properties, all on a state salary, a miracle of multiplication on par, perhaps, with the feeding of the five thousand.
The Bible says something about avarice. Greed is numbered among the so-called Seven Deadly Sins.
Paxton also subscribes to Christian nationalism, the ahistorical assertion that the United States was, is and should remain a “Christian” nation. An entire book could be written to refute such nonsense (see “America’s Best Idea”), but we can fact check that claim with the First Amendment — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” and with the Bible itself.
Jesus (who I think it’s fair to say is relevant to Christianity) said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Case closed.
Yes, Talarico’s Christian theology has affinities with the Social Gospel, the notion that Jesus is capable of redeeming not only sinful individuals but also, through the agency of his followers, sinful social institutions. That is what impels him to support expanded healthcare and increasing the minimum wage, to oppose arms sales to Israel and the corrupting influence of corporate money in political campaigns.
That’s a far more robust understanding of Christianity than the theology of Ken Paxton.
Randall Balmer, author of “America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State,” teaches at Dartmouth College.