Paul VanderKlay's Podcast We Who Wrestle with Church, Job Edition
Mar 7, 2026
A wide-ranging conversation about moving from atheism to religious experience and finding a theological home. They trace struggles leading a local church and mistakes made trying to attract youth. There's deep appreciation for Reformed liturgy, old theologians, and practices that shape family faith. Listeners hear about hybrid prayer habits, workplace pastoral care, and navigating family estrangement.
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Switching To A Confessional Reformed Congregation
- Job and his wife left for a confessional Reformed subgroup after witnessing theological drift; his wife adopted traditional dress and they embraced longer sermons and psalmody.
- The new congregation held two morning sermons to fit attendees and revived older Dutch theologians for study.
Radical Grace Reframes Effort As Response Not Merit
- Reading older Dutch theologians (Bafink, Kolbrugge) reframed faith from performance to radical receiving: salvation is counted for the ungodly, freeing action from merit anxiety.
- Job found this liberating and said it compelled authentic fruitfulness, not quietism.
Form Kids By Practicing Simple Family Rites
- Practice faith in concrete family routines to form children rather than over-intellectualizing belief.
- Job blesses his son, reads Bible stories, prays before meals, and uses a simple grandfather table prayer that his children now recite.
