Josh Howerton has made it big business to lampoon fellow Christians he believes are heretics. He mocks beliefs different from his own. He equates his own interpretations of the Bible as God’s word while he shows a shocking level of ignorance about Christian orthodoxy.
His favorite target is James Talarico. He has repeatedly condemned the U.S. Senate candidate and seminarian for apostasy. More than five years ago during a debate on the Texas House floor, Talarico said God is nonbinary. Now, just in time for the midterm elections and a neck-and-neck campaign, Howerton has revived the remark as evidence that the preacherly politician is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Andrew Daugherty
Talarico’s belief is not exotic. It reflects a belief shared across Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions that God is not limited to male and female categories. But Howerton exploits it. He predictably labels Talarico a false teacher and master deceiver.
There is a serious problem that goes beyond Howerton’s pious grandstanding. He is so busy hunting heretics that he is blind to his own heresy. Howerton denies a core claim of Christian orthodoxy that God transcends biological sex. When he calls it heresy to say God is nonbinary, he either ignores Christian history or he is ignorant of it.
“Talarico’s belief is not exotic.”
Respectfully, bro. Does God need a gender check? Do you really think God has a penis because Jesus is the Son of God?
If calling God nonbinary constitutes apostasy, Howerton needs to explain what makes God biologically male. Does God have male anatomy and a Y chromosome? A physical body?
What Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and the Westminster Confession consider normative, Howerton condemns as heresy.
The Westminster Confession declares God to be “without body, parts or passions.” Aquinas and Augustine taught that God does not have a physical body. These are not the opinions of progressive theologians from Austin. They are respected voices in the same Christian tradition Howerton defends. But for him to agree with historic Christian teaching would concede Talarico’s point.
Christians can debate whether “nonbinary” is the best choice of words. But God’s transcendence of biological sex is not some new radical invention.
Respectfully, Josh, why is it so difficult to recognize what your own Bible teaches?
Start with Genesis. Both male and female are made in God’s image. Then listen to the prophet Isaiah. He compares God’s faithfulness to a nursing mother’s love and describes God as a woman crying out in labor. Deuteronomy speaks of the God who fathered Israel and gave birth to the nation. Even Jesus reaches for the image of a mother hen gathering her chicks beneath her wings.
This is the Bible talking. These are not secular progressive talking points.
“This is the Bible talking. These are not secular progressive talking points.”
Belmont University professor David Dark asks in We Become What We Normalize, “Am I responsible for the lies other people voice in my presence unchallenged?”
I think so, because I believe faith leaders have a moral responsibility to speak up when pastors like Howerton denigrate biblical truth to demean others.
Howerton seems to have appointed himself the guardian of Christian orthodoxy, where apparently everyone is either a “bro” or a heretic. He ought to know its bloody history of persecution. Every Christian tradition that ever has reformed the church has been called a heresy by the institution it reformed. Catholics and Protestants used it to condemn each other. Reformers turned on fellow reformers. Those with religious privilege used accusations of heresy to silence people who challenged their power. Jesus himself was accused of blasphemy. Church history has no shortage of men who mistook the sound of their own voices for the voice of God.
Howerton is undaunted by that possibility. He freely judges other Christians as though God appointed him the final authority on who qualifies as one.
Moral credibility requires humility enough for accountability and correction. When has anyone ever heard Howerton say, “I could be wrong, but here’s how I see it”?
It doesn’t take much integrity to call someone a false teacher. Accusing others of heresy does not mean you are teaching the truth. To call someone a deceiver does not prove that you understand the doctrine being debated. Calling someone a heretic does not automatically make you orthodox.
“Calling someone a heretic does not automatically make you orthodox.”
It’s even harder to ignore the hypocrisy when Howerton’s spiritual condemnations collide with his political associations.
This past week, Howerton decided that progressive and post-evangelical pastor Zach Lambert is a heretic and false teacher, because he voted for Talarico. But who could possibly take Howerton seriously when he publicly welcomed far-right politician Bo French to Lakepointe Church?
French is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner. The “America first warrior” has called for mass deportations targeting Muslims, Chinese Americans and Native Americans. He has used the dehumanizing phrase “third world savages” with straight-faced alacrity.
Howerton’s public response to French’s visit was cordial. “An honor to have you and meet you.” To borrow a term from systematic theology, what?
Consider the contrast. A progressive Christian pastor supports a Bible-quoting political candidate whom Howerton opposes and finds himself accused of heresy. Then there is another political candidate who has reportedly demeaned entire groups of people. How could it be that he receives a public welcome without another word?
Besides being good for building a brand, it’s because Howerton cares more about defending Christian doctrine than he does about defending human dignity. He lacks the guts and humility to leave room for the possibility that he could be wrong.
“Howerton cares more about defending Christian doctrine than he does about defending human dignity.”
Howerton is reckless in condemning theological disagreements as heresy. He is feckless in failing to hold his political allies to the same moral standards he demands of others.
A false teacher can twist Scripture to fit his own beliefs. Deceptive religious leaders can mislead people by turning complicated truths into lazy lies. Idolatry begins when we mistake our own prejudices for the character of God.
These are warnings every faith leader should take personally.
Including me.
Including Josh Howerton.
Jesus had plenty to say about religious authorities in love with their own certainty. He blew the whistle on those who laid heavy burdens on others. He ridiculed religious leaders who strained out gnats while swallowing camels. He asked why anyone would obsess over the speck in a neighbor’s eye while ignoring the plank in his own. Jesus stands up to men who build reputations by publicly measuring everyone else’s righteousness.
Josh Howerton does not get to decide what Christian orthodoxy is willy nilly. Centuries of debate, church councils and the blood of martyrs shaped this faith. Before handing out heresy verdicts, Howerton should learn the difference between a wolf in sheep’s clothing and sheep who refuse to let Howerton be their shepherd.
Howerton can challenge progressive theology until his face turns MAGA-hat red. He can dispute other pastors’ interpretations of Scripture and preach his own with all the fire he can muster. But “heresy” is not a catchall term for Christians who disagree with him.
Josh Howerton has made a public ministry of warning the church about false teachers, master deceivers and heretics.
Respectfully, Josh. Those are the right words. You are just pointing them at the wrong person.
Andrew Daugherty serves as senior pastor of Pine Street Church in Boulder, Colo. He writes at the intersection of Christianity, culture and the common good at his Substack. And long ago, he was a church planter in Rockwall, Texas.