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Paul Janssen

Rev. Paul G. Janssen is the Pastor and Teacher of United Reformed Church in Somerville, New Jersey. A son of Iowa, he has served parishes in Hackensack and Park Ridge, New Jersey. He has been a weekly preacher for nearly 40 years, in addition to writing nearly 100 hymns (words and/or music). He was raised a Minnesota Twins fan, but since moving to New Jersey in 1981 he has rooted (tepidly) for the New York Mets.

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Sport and Religion

Ultimately, sport opens windows to transcendence. One can hardly watch Usain Bolt run the 100 meters, or Simone Biles do a floor exercises, or Caitlin Clark sink a three-pointer, or witness Jim Redmond supporting his injured son Derek across the finish line without recognizing that God is at work in an extraordinary way.
Paul Janssen
April 15, 2024
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Why This White Guy Observes Black History Month

by Paul Janssen This white guy observes Black History Month because there is no way that I would be living the life I live today without the mostly unwilling contributions of African Americans. I am who I am because they did what they did. That might sound odd coming from a fellow who grew up in Iowa, which during my youth was one of the whitest states in the nation. I didn't meet an African American until I was in…
Paul Janssen
January 29, 2013
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But We See Jesus…

The three historic doctrinal standards of the Reformed Church in America (the Belgic Confession of 1561, the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563, and the Canons of the Synod of Dort of 1618-1619) offer up a standard Reformed portrait of the Lord of the Church. Jesus Christ was present with the Father at the creation of the world, and all things were made through him. Eternally begotten, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, he possesses both the…
Paul Janssen
January 1, 2010
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Extra Ecclesiam, Salus

Those who see the church as instituted by God take comfort in the ancient Latin dictum, Extra ecclesiam, nulla salus (Outside the church, there is no salvation). Indeed, prior to Vatican II (as I understand it), this was the official teaching of the Roman Catholic church, and continues to hold for those who have a high doctrine of the church. In his latest movie, Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood proclaims a kind of salvation that is decidedly outside the church--a salvation…
Paul Janssen
April 1, 2009