A sect is different from a cult. Cults are generally defined as social groups characterized by unconventional or extreme beliefs, and are often centered around a charismatic leader who demands intense, unquestioning devotion. A sect, on the other hand, is an offshoot of a religion with nontraditional beliefs – any religion, not just Christian ones. In many cases, the general public doesn’t really know how to make that distinction.
Among Christian oriented groups, Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses are properly designated sects. They are offshoots of Christianity that have stepped away from authentic Christian beliefs to form their own religious identity. There is another sect that is actually quite prominent in modern society that most wouldn’t even realize is one – Liberal (or Progressive) Christianity.
James Talarico is a Texas State Representative and, as of this writing, is running for U.S. senate for the state of Texas. He is also a seminary student studying to become a Presbyterian minister. The reason for mentioning him is that he is currently an outspoken representative of a sectarian strain of Christianity. Rather than extract beliefs from the Bible itself, this theology emphasizes social justice and reinterprets biblical teachings in a way that aligns with contemporary progressive values. In other words, its primary authority source is not the Bible, but rather a progressive political agenda. Key elements of his theological perspective include:
- Emphasis on Social Justice: Talarico frequently highlights economic justice and care for the poor as central tenets of Christianity, citing thousands of mentions of economic justice in Scripture. He critiques what he sees as the religious right's disproportionate focus on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights over economic concerns.
- Reinterpretation of Scripture: He interprets biblical passages in ways that support progressive stances. For example, he argues that Mary's consent to the Incarnation in Luke 1 affirms the progressive view of "reproductive rights."
- Inclusive View of God and Gender: Talarico has stated that "God is nonbinary" and "God is beyond gender." To support this, he cites Galatians 3:28 ("In Christ, there is neither male nor female").
- Pluralistic View of Truth: He believes that Christianity "points to the truth," but also suggests that "other religions of love point to the same truth." In other words, he considers that many other faiths are also "circling the same truth about the universe."
- Critique of Conservative Christianity: Talarico’s goal is to "reclaim Christianity for the left" and counter what he perceives as a conservative takeover of the American church. He considers that the Progressive Christianity he follows is the original truth about the Christian faith. He argues that the religious right has distorted it and is using it for "control" and political gain, rather than focusing on core Christian principles like loving one's neighbor and pursuing justice.
While Talarico is a student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), his theological positions are actually consistent with a broader stream of liberal theology that has historically been found in other mainline Protestant denominations. So how did this happen?
The Presbyterian church is only one of a number of mainline Protestant denominations that find themselves in this same situation. In the past, while there have always been theological differences that distinguish the various denominations, all of them did agree when it came to the essential core doctrines of the faith – their view of God, man, and salvation.
Over the last number of decades, however, the influence of various strains of liberal theology has increasingly become more prominent within those denominations. This occurred as those who believed in liberal theology, over time, came to dominate them – first through the theological institutions where their clergy were trained, and then by taking over the leadership of the various denominations.
Those who were not in agreement with this liberal drift were gradually marginalized and put in a position where they simply could not coexist with the new liberal direction. This led to those theological conservatives feeling they had no choice but to exit the denomination and form a new one. This exact same process has happened to the Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopals, Northern Baptists, Disciples of Christ, and, of course, the Presbyterian Church that Talrico is affiliated with.
In some ways, this makes it difficult for some people to distinguish between genuine Christian churches and sects that have drifted into theological liberalism. What exists now are denominations that go by the same moniker but have entirely different theological foundations. As an example: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A - PCUSA) is the liberal sect, while the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is the group that left to form a new Presbyterian denomination.
It is important to be able to distinguish between genuine Christian beliefs and the beliefs of sects. One is real Christianity while the other is not. These days, the sect version of Christianity is very prominent and active – both socially and politically. You need to be sure you know how to distinguish between true and false beliefs so you don’t become deceived into leaving genuine faith in Christ for a counterfeit.
Freddy Davis is the president of MarketFaith Ministries. He is the author of numerous books entitled The Truth Mirage, Rules for Christians Radicals, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, and his latest book Shattering the Truth Mirage and has a background as an international missionary, pastor, radio host, worldview trainer, and entrepreneur. Freddy is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular speaker, particularly on the topic of worldview and its practical implications for the Christian life. He lives in Tallahassee, FL, with his wife Deborah.
You may also contact Freddy at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.
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