How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home

(with Barrett & Jennifer Johnson)

Episode Snapshot

What happens when “good behavior” gets mistaken for gospel transformation? In this episode, Fletch and Kendra sit down with Barrett and Jennifer Johnson to talk about how Christian families (especially homeschool families) can unintentionally raise kids who know the rules—but don’t know grace. They unpack legalism, “recipe parenting,” identity, and what it looks like to shepherd kids toward Jesus instead of toward performance.

This is a replay of an earlier broadcast and links and events mentioned in the podcast have been updated in the show notes.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About…

Why legalism and moralism can quietly “check God out of the equation”
The viral blog post: “How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home”
The difference between raising well-behaved kids and raising kids who understand grace
The trap of recipe parenting and the myth of “perfect outcomes”
Moral Therapeutic Deism and why it resonates with many Christian families
Homeschool pressure: when kids become a reflection of the parent’s identity
“Shepherding a Child’s Heart” (what’s good, what can go sideways)
Helping kids engage the world with discernment instead of fear
Why kids need space to ask questions and wrestle with faith
What dads need to hear: modeling humility, confession, and relationship

Guest Spotlight: Barrett & Jennifer Johnson

Barrett & Jennifer Johnson share their family story, ministry background, and what led Barrett to write the viral post that sparked this episode.

About the Johnsons:

Live in Atlanta (after moving from Texas)
Married 23 years
Parents of five kids, including a sweet adoption story with an open adoption relationship
Barrett runs INFO for Families (Imperfect & Normal Families Only)

Barrett shares how the post went viral:

150,000 views in 5–6 days
500,000+ views in the first month

Big Takeaways

Christianity isn’t primarily about “being good.” It’s about Jesus.
Kids can learn rules without learning grace.
Homeschool culture can unintentionally encourage identity-driven parenting (“Don’t embarrass me.”)
The goal isn’t to “have your kids’ hearts”—it’s to point their hearts to Christ.
Parents modeling confession (“I was wrong. Forgive me.”) matters more than image management.
Dads play a powerful role when they lead with love + relationship, not distance + pressure.

Encouragement for Dads (Don’t Skip This )

Barrett speaks directly to fathers about being the “lead confessor” in the home:

Don’t confuse leadership with being harsh or distant
High standards without grace create discouragement and disconnect
Kids are more likely to listen to someone they like and trust
Model repentance, humility, tenderness, and truth

Jennifer adds what mattered most in their homeschool years:

How to Raise A Pagan Kid In A Christian Home – HIRL Replay