In my childhood, there were moments when Mama would say, “I’ve had about all I’m going to take of you, young man.”
I mention Mama because Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas needs Mama’s admonition.
Jeffress has this haughty habit of overloading his mouth with hyperbolic accusations. Ever since he became “Trump’s apostle” in 2015, Jeffress has used his Fox News pulpit to make the most outrageous statements. He has declared the Democratic Party a “godless party,” liberal seminary professors as the blind “unable to find God if they tried.” He even announced Democrats worship the Old Testament pagan god, Moloch.
His newest outburst claims James Talarico is not a Christian. Jeffress decreed, on national television, Talarico’s beliefs “disqualify him from being a Christian.”
I looked into Jeffress to see if he had logical reasons or the ethos (ethics) to make such a charge. Here’s the verdict:
Authority: Does Jeffress have the authority to make such a charge? He has only the authority of his personal opinion and private judgment. If Jeffress made these charges before the Supreme Court, his case would be thrown out because he lacks “standing.” His condemnation of Talarico sounds petty, trifling and tacky.
Robert Jeffress (Screencap)
Credentials: Does Jeffress have the credentials for such a charge? He speaks with such certainty one has the impression he just returned from Mount Sinai and a one-on-one interview with God. This, of course, is ludicrous. If Jeffress insists on disqualifying someone from Christian faith, perhaps he should start in his own congregation. How many members does he carry on his membership roll who haven’t attended church in decades?
Judgment: Does Jeffress have the right to judge a fellow Christian? As God says to Satan in Kenneth Burke’s The Rhetoric of Religion, “It’s more complicated than that.” Life would be impossible without judgment. Yet Jesus makes clear the consequences of our judging: “For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”
Truth: Does Jeffress speak observable truth? No. His practices of hyperbole, misinformation and lies disqualify him from being a believable critic of Talarico.
Intent: The Bible urges us to spurs others toward good works, to edify and encourage. Yet Jeffress’ judgment of Talarico has more in common with “quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit and disorder” as cited in 2 Corinthians 12. He is not judging a fellow Christian to correct him or lead him to repentance. He is condemning him.
Role model: The Bible consistently calls us to follow the example of Jesus. Yet Jeffress promotes beliefs and politics that are antithetical to the life and teaching of Jesus. He is not preaching the gospel of Jesus but a right-wing agenda designed to frighten his congregation into political action. He has sworn allegiance to Donald Trump more than to Jesus.
Robert Jeffress has no business attacking the Christian faith of James Talarico. Jesus has a parting word for Jeffress: “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
Rodney Kennedy
Rodney W. Kennedy is a pastor and writer. He is the author of 11 books, including his latest, Dancing with Metaphors in the Pulpit.