Episode 4 - Letting go of a Punitive God with Brian Recker
What happens when fear is the foundation of faith, and what does it take to unlearn it?
Brian Recker joins Blessed Uncertainty for a conversation about hell, grace, children, and letting go of punishment in favor of the God who restores.
Episode 4: Letting go of a Punitive God with Brian Recker
If fear is how we first met God, what does it take to unlearn that?
In this episode of Blessed Uncertainty, we talk with writer and former evangelical pastor Brian Recker, author of Hellbent, about how beliefs about hell shape our inner lives, our parenting, our politics, and the world we are building together.
This is a conversation about letting go of punishment as the foundation of faith and trusting in the God who restores. We explore hell as something we create here and now, the harm fear-based theology does to children, and why grace, not punishment, is what actually changes people.
We first recorded this episode in October, when Brian’s book was released. But with conservative evangelicalism doubling down on embracing a tyrannical and authoritarian regime more and more each day, this conversation feels even more urgent now than it did then.
Chapters:
0:00 — Welcome + Introducing Brian
Celebrating Hellbent and setting the stage for a conversation about fear, grace, and freedom.
3:10 — Release Day, Vulnerability, and Writing for Many Audiences
Why Brian wrote Hellbent with evangelicals, progressives, and deconstructed readers all in mind.
8:45 — The Problem with Hell After Death
How focusing on hell in the afterlife distracts us from the hells we create here and now.
13:30 — Gehenna, Jesus, and Hell on Earth
Reframing Jesus’ language about hell as a warning about the worlds we build through our failure to love.
18:40 — Fire and Brimstone Reconsidered
Why Brian still believes in urgency—and why the real fire is already burning in our political and social systems.
24:10 — Fear, Formation, and Childhood Faith
How meeting God through fear shapes our inner lives and leaves lasting marks on children.
31:20 — Children, the Kingdom of God, and Grace
If the kingdom belongs to children, what does that reveal about worth, love, and belonging?
38:00 — Punishment vs. Restoration
Why justice is not the same as punishment, and how restorative justice reflects God’s character.
45:30 — Parenting Without Hell
Releasing control, trusting love, and healing our own inner children along the way.
52:40 — What Do We Do with Jesus Now?
Letting go of punitive theology without losing Jesus—and learning to hold faith with curiosity.
58:30 — Liberation, Privilege, and Listening to Marginalized Voices
Why deconstruction often means finally hearing voices we were taught to ignore.
1:04:00 — Closing Reflections and Gratitude
About Our Guest:
About Our Guest:
Brian Recker is a writer, former evangelical pastor, and the author of Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Drawing from his experience in fundamentalism and evangelicalism, Brian explores how fear-based theology distorts our understanding of God, justice, and love—and invites readers toward a more humane, restorative faith. You can find Brian and a free discussion guide for Hellbent at www.brianrecker.com.
Transcript:
Read the full transcript here.
Podcast production by Kyle Lock, logo by Adam Lock, and theme music by J Lind.
Subscribe to Blessed Uncertainty on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and follow us on Instagram: @blesseduncertainty
Episode 3 - Holy Listening with Lacy Finn Borgo
Episode 3: Holy Listening with Lacy Finn Borgo
When we listen to children tell us the truth about who they are, what they want, what they need, what they see in the world, it is sacred and holy work.
In this episode, Lacy Finn Borgo reminds us that Incarnational faith requires trust—deep trust that God is already present in the life of a child.
How can adults make sure we don’t get in the way?
Chapters:
0:00 — Welcome + Introducing Lacy
2:15 — How Lacy Began Listening to Children Childhood wonder, early wounds, and discovering healing through children's spirituality.
7:40 — Children as Whole Persons : Wide consciousness, no hardened categories, trust in God’s presence already in them.
12:00 — Fear-Based Faith vs. Real Presence Undoing harmful theological narratives; “no fearful God lives in reality.”
15:20 — Why Spiritual Direction With Children? The practical, sacred rhythm of holy listening and honoring agency.
18:05 — Inside a Child Spiritual Direction Session Blankets, battery candles, choosing images, telling stories — a step-by-step look at Lacy’s process.
29:10 — Trust, Mystery, and Incarnational Faith Faith as trust with “legs on it;” listening instead of aiming; God already at work.
41:00 — Tradition, Silence, and Becoming Comfortable With Mystery Ignatian roots, Quaker formation, Eastern Orthodox wonder — spiritual streams converging.
50:10 — Parenting, Trauma, and Not Getting in the Way How caregivers can support children’s spirituality without coercion or fear.
56:10 — Blessing, Presence, and Closing Reflections Holy wonder, shared hope, and gratitude for this sacred work with children.
About Our Guest:
Lacy Finn Borgo is a member of the Renovaré Ministry Team. She teaches, provides spiritual direction and is the Student Care Coordinator for the Renovaré Institute for Spiritual Formation. She has a spiritual direction ministry for adults, and provides spiritual direction for children at Haven House, a transitional facility for families without housing. Her recent books are Faith Like a Child: Embracing Our Lives as Children of God, Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together and the children’s picture book All Will Be Well. Lacy lives on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains and worships with a local Quaker Meeting. You can find her at www.GoodDirtMinistries.org.
Transcript:
Read the full transcript here.
Podcast production by Kyle Lock, logo by Adam Lock, and theme music by J Lind.
Subscribe to Blessed Uncertainty on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and follow us on Instagram: @blesseduncertainty
Episode 2 - Children’s Liberation Theology with R.L. Stollar
Episode 2: Children’s Liberation Theology with R.L. Stollar
What if respecting children’s dignity isn’t radical at all, but the most basic thing? In this episode of Blessed Uncertainty, we sit down with author and advocate R.L. Stollar to talk about Children’s Liberation Theology — a vision that invites us to see children not as possessions or projects, but as full human beings made in the image of God.
Chapters:
03:16 — The Golden Rule & Anti-Child World
07:29 — Church, Homeschool & Child Protection
17:32 — Building Agency & Scaffolding
28:39 — The Two-Part Path of Liberation
40:09 — Listening, Power & Faith Communities
54:50 — Parenting, Education & Sacraments
About Our Guest:
R.L. Stollar is a child liberation theologian and an advocate for children and abuse survivors. The author of a book on child liberation theology, "The Kingdom of Children" (Eerdmans, 2023), Ryan has an M.H.S. in Child Protection from Nova Southeastern University and an M.A. in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College. He has served on the board of and run numerous social media campaigns for child advocacy organizations, including the Child-Friendly Faith Project, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, and Homeschool Alumni Reaching Out.
Homeschooled from kindergarten through high school graduation, Ryan worked over eight years as a public communications educator to high school students in homeschooling communities. He authored the first and only comprehensive curricula on child abuse awareness and suicide prevention specifically tailored to homeschooling families and communities. Co-founder of the viral website Homeschoolers Anonymous, his advocacy work on behalf of homeschooled children and alumni has been featured in national and international media.
Resources :
Transcript:
Read the full transcript here.
Podcast production by Kyle Lock, logo by Adam Lock, and theme music by J Lind.
Subscribe to Blessed Uncertainty on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and follow us on Instagram: @blesseduncertainty
Episode 1 - Why Children’s Spirituality Matters
Why Children’s Spirituality Matters
In our very first episode of Blessed Uncertainty, we introduce the season’s focus on children’s spirituality and why it matters for the life of the Church. We share stories from our own childhoods, reflect on how children are often overlooked or treated as “less than” in faith spaces, and wonder what it means to honor their agency as full participants in God’s story.
Children are the most vulnerable people group on earth—often underserved, underestimated, and seen only as “future adults.” But every child already lives in God’s presence. Their spirituality isn’t something we give them, but something we’re invited to honor and protect.
Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome + season overview
05:15 – Why children are often overlooked in spiritual spaces
12:30 – Personal stories of encountering God as children
21:45 – Why prayer with children needs to protect their agency
28:00 – Closing
Resources :
Transcript:
Read the full transcript here.
Subscribe to Blessed Uncertainty on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and follow us on Instagram: @blesseduncertainty