20. Brian Recker (Ex-Evangelical Pastor) – Hell Bent on Reclaiming Love

Listen to this episode from The Sacred Slope on Spotify. 20. Brian Recker (Ex-Evangelical Pastor) – Hell Bent on Reclaiming LoveAlexis Rice welcomes Brian Recker (@berecker) — former evangelical pastor, founding voice of Beloved on Substack, and author of Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love (out Sept 30)👉 Order on ThriftBooksWith honesty and pastoral clarity, Brian explores why hell-talk became the center of so many Christian upbringings—and how returning to Jesus’ core command to love can free our faith from fear, control, and gatekeeping.Alexis and Brian dive into:What fear-based theology does to kids and communitiesGehenna vs. “hell”: context, metaphor, and why it mattersDeconstruction without losing God—and why Brian stayed ChristianLeaving inerrancy, re-meeting Jesus, and finding church againWorship as deeply humanJustice now vs. afterlife anxiety: building a world where love is in charge💡 Key Takeaways“Perfect love casts out fear” isn’t optional; fear-built faith produces punishment, not Christlike loveReading Scripture with history, genre, and language (Gehenna/Sheol/Hades/Tartarus) expands—not erases—faithThe Kingdom of God is about this world’s flourishing, especially for the most vulnerableCuriosity and honesty are spiritual practices; consent and freedom belong in our faith lives👤 About Our GuestBrian Recker is a former evangelical pastor turned writer and creator whose work centers love-forward, justice-rooted Christianity. He speaks widely on faith, deconstruction, and reimagining spirituality beyond fear.📚 Resources Mentioned (with IG handles)James H. Cone (The Cross and the Lynching Tree) Marcus Borg (The Heart of Christianity, Jesus: A New Vision) — @mjbfoundbell hooks (All About Love) — @bellhooks_Rob Bell (Love Wins) — @realrobbellRev. Darrell Goodwin (Executive Conference Minister, UCC) — @revdgoodwinUnited Church of Christ — @unitedchurchofchrist✨ Beyoncé @beyonce, John Legend @johnlegend, Jon Batiste @jonbatiste — if you’re listening, we’re ready for that Christian worship album. Please and thank you. 🎶🙌#Christianity #deconstruction #ProgressiveChristianity #Exvangelical #TheSacredSlopeWhere the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity, exploring its many expressions. 🌿 Community Guidelines If we claim to follow Jesus, let’s be known by our love—evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control🕊 May our words online and actions offline reflect that love. 🔗 Connect🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]