James Talarico’s HERETIC Pastor Exposed in Undercover Video (Pastors RESPOND) | Live Free with Josh Howerton
Episode of Live Free with Josh Howerton · September 28, 2026 · 1 h 46 min
Lakepointe pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham discuss 2 Timothy 4, outline five common false teachings, and critique a viral video of James Talarico's pastor.
Summary
The hosts opened by celebrating more than 800 baptisms at Lakepointe Church in one weekend and the podcast briefly overtaking Joe Rogan in chart rankings. Josh Howerton proposed a theory that American revivals have occurred roughly every 50 years, each following a new communications technology, and suggested podcasting could fuel a revival around 2026. Carlos Erazo offered a guide to which books of the Bible new believers should read for particular needs.
Howerton then taught on the Apostle Paul's final words in 2 Timothy 4, framing them through Michael Card's account of his mentor Bill Lane showing him "how a Christian man dies." He offered tests for judging whether a church preaches the Word, including clarity on the gospel, on gender and sexuality, and whether sin is called sin, while Paul Cunningham and Erazo cautioned against hypercriticism of pastors. Howerton also promoted a text-to-vote tool for the 2026 midterm elections and explained Paul's warning about "itching ears."
Cunningham defined heresy and walked through five false teachings: prosperity theology, Word of Faith theology (including the New Apostolic Reformation), progressive Christianity, works-based Christianity, and "cafeteria" Christianity, noting what truths each distorts. Howerton argued progressive Christianity hollows out the faith, and Erazo suggested selective belief leads to progressive and then post-Christianity.
The episode closed with a reaction to a hidden-camera video of Reverend Babs Miller of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, James Talarico's congregation, who questioned the virgin birth, the historicity of Jesus, and substitutionary atonement. The hosts rebutted her with scripture and historical scholarship, Howerton criticized progressive pastors entering politics, and he concluded that Jesus could still redeem her, before Erazo closed in prayer.
Chapters
- 1:11
Opening banter and baptism celebration
The hosts joke about Howerton shooting an armadillo and celebrate over 800 baptisms with individual stories.
- 6:15
Chart rankings and a revival theory
The hosts celebrate passing Joe Rogan in podcast rankings and Howerton proposes that revivals follow new technologies roughly every 50 years.
- 15:22
Where to start reading the Bible
Erazo recommends specific books of the Bible for new believers based on their needs.
- 21:29
Paul's final words in 2 Timothy 4
Howerton tells the Michael Card and Bill Lane story and reads Paul's final charge to Timothy.
- 29:26
Tests of a faithful church
Howerton lists signs a church is preaching the Word, and Cunningham and Erazo warn against hypercriticism of pastors.
- 43:48
In season and out of season; substitute, not second chance
Howerton discusses faithfulness amid decline in places like Germany and argues people need a substitute rather than a second chance.
- 49:24
Voting drive and itching ears
Howerton promotes a midterm voting tool and explains Paul's warning about people seeking teachers who affirm their desires.
- 55:10
Defining heresy
Cunningham distinguishes false teaching from heresy and explains the word's origin.
- 1:01:21
Prosperity and Word of Faith theology
Cunningham explains prosperity theology, Word of Faith teaching, and the New Apostolic Reformation, noting where they cross into heresy.
- 1:14:30
Progressive Christianity
The hosts describe progressive Christianity's view of scripture and its redefinition of sin, salvation, and atonement.
- 1:19:15
Works-based and cafeteria Christianity
Cunningham explains works-based acceptance and selective belief as widespread errors among churchgoers.
- 1:25:46
Reacting to the Babs Miller video
The hosts pause and rebut a hidden-camera video of James Talarico's pastor, then close in prayer.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Josh Howerton
Howerton estimated that Lakepointe baptized more than 800 people in a single weekend.
“I think this weekend we will have ended up baptizing well over 800 people”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton theorized that major revivals have been preceded by new technologies used to spread the gospel.
“Virtually every great awakening and revival in history is preceded by some new mechanism or technology being leveraged for the spread of the gospel”
- Carlos Erazo
Erazo recommended that new believers wanting to know who Jesus is begin with the Gospel of John.
“if you want to know who Jesus is, read the book of John”
Linked moment · 29:26Skip to 29:26 using a listen link in the info box.
Josh HowertonHowerton argued that pastors should preach the Word rather than cater to what attracts people.
“if you preach the word of God, the word of God attracts the presence of God and the presence of God will attract the people”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton advised people to leave churches displaying pride or BLM flags.
“If you walk into a church, especially in the Northeast or in Austin, and there's a pride flag or a BLM flag, run”
- Carlos Erazo
Erazo said that American culture shows little honor or respect for pastors compared with his home culture.
“I feel like here in America, man, the honor and respect for pastors is like zero, right?”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton pointed to Germany as a former center of revival that is now barely Bible-believing.
“There was a time where the greatest revival in the world was happening in Germany. Today, it's 1.7% Bible-believing Christian”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton argued that people need a substitute in Christ rather than a second chance.
“What she doesn't need is a second chance. What she needs is a substitute”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham argued prosperity theology fails because it would disqualify Jesus himself, who lacked health, wealth, and harmonious relationships.
“Any theology that would exclude the Son of God from qualifying it is generally a pretty crappy theology”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham argued that Word of Faith teaching misunderstands faith as a force for imposing one's will.
“Faith is not a force by which I impose my will upon reality”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham warned that many NAR-style apostles claim authority equal to Peter and Paul, encroaching on scripture's authority.
“many who refer to themselves as apostles basically say that their commands and their authority are on level with the Apostle Paul and Peter”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham said progressive Christianity subordinates scripture to modern beliefs when they conflict.
“If scripture conflicts with modern beliefs about God or about any kind of ethics or whatsoever sexuality, we don't go with what the Bible says, we go with what we say”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton argued that progressive Christianity empties Christianity of its content while keeping its outward form.
“The big thing about progressive Christianity is they will hollow out your religion and wear it like a skin suit”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton cited John Mark Comer's view that progressive Christianity leads toward leaving the faith.
“in my experience, progressive Christianity is just a stopover on the way to post-Christianity”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham argued that selective, pick-and-choose belief is the most widespread false teaching among ordinary believers.
“I would actually argue that this is probably the most widespread false teaching or false belief or heresy out there in most people”
- Paul Cunningham
Cunningham said cafeteria Christianity accepts Jesus as Savior while refusing his lordship.
“It makes Jesus my Savior, but I still get to be Lord”
- Carlos Erazo
Erazo argued that selective Christianity leads to progressive Christianity and ultimately to leaving the faith.
“selective Christianity or cafeteria Christianity eventually leads to progressive Christianity, and progressive Christianity eventually leads to post-Christianity”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton argued that progressive pastors such as Talarico and Hamilton are moving into politics as secularism declines.
“you're starting to see demonic false teachers moving from pulpits to politics”
- Carlos Erazo
Erazo countered Miller by stating that scholarly consensus, including among atheist historians, holds that Jesus existed.
“even like the most ardent atheist today that are historians, they will acknowledge that the vast majority that the consensus is like he definitely existed”
- Josh Howerton
Howerton accused progressive Christians of criticizing conservative Christian political engagement while doing the same thing themselves.
“They're running a bait and switch on you and you keep falling for the same play every time”
People
In the conversation
- Josh HowertonSenior pastor of Lakepointe Church in Dallas, Texas, and host of Live Free
- Carlos ErazoLakepointe Church pastor and Live Free co-host
- Paul CunninghamLakepointe Church pastor and Live Free co-host
Discussed
- James TalaricoDemocratic Senate nominee in Texas
- Joe RoganAmerican comedian and host of The Joe Rogan Experience
- Michael CardChristian musician and author of The Walk
- Bill LaneChristian professor who mentored Michael Card
- Tim KellerLate American pastor and author
- Kenneth HaginAmerican preacher associated with founding the Word of Faith movement
- Kenneth CopelandAmerican televangelist and Word of Faith teacher
- John Mark ComerAmerican pastor and author formerly based in Portland
- Adam HamiltonMethodist pastor in Kansas described as running for office
- Bart EhrmanNew Testament scholar known for skeptical scholarship
- Martin LutherGerman theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation
- G. K. ChestertonEnglish Catholic writer quoted on heresy
- JeromeEarly church theologian who translated the Latin Vulgate
- Charles Spurgeon19th-century English Baptist preacher known as the 'Prince of Preachers'
- Jonathan EdwardsColonial American theologian of the First Great Awakening
- George Whitefield18th-century evangelist of the First Great Awakening
- Billy GrahamAmerican evangelist whose crusade drew Cornwell's mother to North Carolina
- Joseph SmithFounder of the Latter Day Saint movement
- Jon TysonNew York pastor quoted on secularism
Topics
- Progressive Christianity
- Heresy in Christianity
- Second Epistle to Timothy
- Prosperity theology
- Word of Faith
- Cafeteria Christianity
- Salvation by works
- Penal substitutionary atonement
- Historicity of Jesus
- Great Awakenings
- Christianity
- New Apostolic Reformation
- Virgin birth of Jesus
- Christian nationalism
- 2026 United States midterm elections
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From the publisher
In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the Apostle Paul's final words in 2 Timothy 4 and his urgent warning about a time when people will reject sound doctrine and gather teachers who tell them what they want to hear. The conversation explores what it means to preach the Word, remain faithful “in season and out of season,” and know the gospel well enough to recognize when biblical truth is being distorted. The pastors also break down five common false teachings and react to a viral example of progressive theology that challenges foundational Christian beliefs about Scripture, Jesus, and the cross. In this episode: How to recognize faithful biblical teaching What Paul meant by “itching ears” Prosperity Theology vs. biblical blessing The dangers of Word of Faith Theology How Progressive Christianity redefines biblical truth Why works can't earn God's acceptance The danger of “Cafeteria Christianity” Why Jesus' death for our sins remains central to the gospel How to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.