The Church – A Portrayal of Motherhood

By Diane L. Vaughan

A little over ninety years ago, a national proclamation declared the second Sunday in May, a day “as a public expression of our love and respect for the mothers of our country.” The Congressional Resolution reads:

“Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of country’s strength and admiration; and Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we do anything to give emphasis to the home as the fountain head of the State; and Whereas the American mother is doing so much for good government and humanity, we declare that the second Sunday of May will henceforth, be celebrated as Mother’s Day.”
Did you read that thoroughly? This proclamation recognizes the American mother as “the greatest source” of this “country’s strength and admiration.” It says the American mother “is doing so much for good government and humanity.” And did you notice what it said about the “home?” “Home” is called “the fountain head of the State.”

What a difference almost one century has made. Motherhood has fallen far from the esteem and honor it once had in our land. Now a different proclamation is heard in our nation’s streets. It is the seductive voice to abandon the priceless position of motherhood for a selfish life of luxury, lucre and self-gratification. And sadly, many have done just that. This makes finding a good example of motherhood almost as difficult as trying to find a needle in a haystack. It also shows the lack of honor given to this important and God honoring vocation. So where does one go to learn about motherhood? Where are examples supposed to be found and where has all the honor gone?

Honoring the Church, Our Mother
One interesting scriptural paradigm given to women to follow is found in the role of the Church as a portrayal of motherhood. Of course, most people see the Church as a model for brides since the Church is referred to as the “Bride of Christ.” But the Church is also referred to as the “New Jerusalem” and the New Jerusalem according to Galatians 4:26 is “the mother of us all.”

From Scripture we see that the Church is identified as our Mother. But before we follow Her motherly example, we ought to first ask ourselves if we are honoring Her as our Mother? The Fifth Commandment tells us to “honor our father and our mother.” It also promises that if we do, it will go well with us and our days will be prolonged in the land. So are we treating Her, the Church, with the respect and the gratitude She deserves? Will it go well with us and will our days be prolonged if we are?

Unfortunately today, the Church has fallen on tough times. A particularly disrespectful phenomenon, unimaginable in previous centuries, is occurring in our land against our Mother, the Church. It is the phenomenon of churchless Christians. In other words, Christians are wandering aimlessly away from their mother, the Church.

Many reasons exist for this departure. Some say “The Church Age” has ceased while others have been persuaded to embrace the cultural independent individualism and impulse against authority in our society. Neglect of doctrinal teaching on the Church and an overemphasis on a personal relationship with Christ which neglects a relationship with the Church has also added to the multitudes of spiritual orphans in our midst.

There is also the indecisive Christian who can’t make up their mind as to who their mother will be. So, they float every few years from church to church. In fact, according to a George Barna poll, one in seven Americans change church affiliation every year while one in six rotates between churches. Such disregard to the kind of covenantal commitment God desires for His Church displays ingratitude to the gifts and blessings that are ultimately provided by Her.

We must understand that a Christian without a church home is not a natural state. It is like an organ apart from its body, a sheep without its flock, a child without his mother. In fact, New Testament teaching on the Church assumes participation in a local congregation. Moreover, almost every time the word Church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation, an “assembly” or “gathering,” as is its literal meaning.

Granted, there are no perfect churches. There are also no perfect mothers. This however should not give either church member or child an excuse to disregard their respective devotion at the first hint of disappointment. Rather, this should be what sets Christians apart from their noncommittal society – the devotion to stick it out and work it through when things get tough. Devotion and commitment are ways to display honor to the Church, our Mother.

Following the Church, Our Example

A true church operating according to God’s design is not difficult to honor. What may be difficult is trying to find such a church whose example mirrors God’s intent for its existence. The tentacles of our post-Christian culture have reached into many of our nation’s churches conforming them to a secular standard. And just as many mothers have abandoned their calling to raise their own children in the Lord; likewise, many churches have abandoned their maternal role to raise disciples after a biblical pattern. The marks of a Church that fulfills Her God-ordained responsibilities to her children give us a wonderful example of motherhood to follow.

One distinctive maternal mark of the church is to feed and nourish the flock under her care. There are many exhortations towards this responsibility in the Bible. Peter was instructed three times to feed the Lord’s sheep. Then in his first epistle, Peter writes to Christian converts to be like newborn babes and “long for the pure milk of the word,” so they could mature. The Apostle Paul tells us that pastors and teachers were given to the Church for the benefit of Her growth. As they are fed the truth, God’s children will be fortified to withstand the waves of heresy. Nurturing mothers want their children to grow up healthy and strong. So mothers who fight the temptation to give in to continual spoonfuls of junk food can imitate this example and see her children mature in stature.

Another responsible mark of Mother Church is to administer discipline or correction to Her children. This is to be done in love and with a view to restore the straying lamb as Matthew 18 and Galatians 6 teach. The book of Hebrews tells us that paternal affection is one reason discipline is given. In the same manner, the mother who loves her children will also offer correction when correction is needed. The responsibility the Church to discipline Her members represents a familial connection. Even God deals with us as sons in His chastening. To be without discipline when discipline is needed is to be fatherless, motherless, and illegitimate. Discipline’s goal is “to share His Holiness,” and thus it is for our good.

Sadly many churches have disregarded this important parental duty. As a result, the spiritual barometer within their walls is shallow and carnal. Mothers need to see that discipline is still an acceptable form of child training when properly done. For her and her children’s sake, she needs an example to emulate. Otherwise, her children will be left to their unruly ways and inevitably bring shame to their mother’s name.

While there are other God-ordained responsibilities of the Church that picture motherhood for us, one last mark to mention in this article is the duty the Church has to be fruitful. Fruitfulness comes in a variety of ways. Most obvious is to birth new converts by way of evangelism. Obedience to the Great Commission is one way the Church can be fruitful. Scripture tells us plainly that unless we go and preach, “How shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” Christian parents have also been given the charge to be “fruitful and multiply.” In the proper context of marital union, one man and one woman are to bring children into this world. Children are a great blessing as the Psalmist proclaims and mothers are to be as a “fruitful vine” within their homes.

Fruitfulness can also mean fruitfulness of Christ-like character. Listed in Galatians 5 are qualities of the Spirit available to us, almost like a bountiful fruit basket for our palate. There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Both Church and the individual mother should abound in this aspect of fruitfulness towards those they know, but especially towards those within their own households. The very next chapter of Galatians exhorts believers to “do good to all men,” but “especially to those who are of the household of faith.” And Proverbs 31 tells us that the godly mother “looks well to the ways of her household.” Unless one is walking in the Spirit and bearing the fruits of the Spirit, “doing good” or “looking well” may not be possible. Christ’s very words remind us that “apart from Him we can do nothing.” Only by abiding in Christ are we able to bear fruit and thus bring glory to the Father.

Being the Church, Our Hope

As believers honor the Church and follow Her footsteps on a path blazon with the Word of God, they will be what the Church is meant to be, hope for the nation. In fact, being what the Church is meant to be has the potential to surpass all the nation’s mothers combined as America’s “greatest source of strength and admiration.” The Church’s maternal traits of loving nurture and gentle compassion can do more for “good government and humanity” than wealth, power, or prestige ever could. This is because the Church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of His body. And out of His body “flow rivers of living water,” a true “fountain” of salvation and hope. Christ will build His Church – our Mother, our example, and our hope. Honor Her, follow Her, and live well in the land.

Diane L. Vaughan is the wife of Pastor David J. Vaughan of Liberty Christian Church in O’Fallon, MO and home schools her four children. Her book, The Beauty of Modesty is available at www.cumberlandhouse.com. To contact her to speak at your women’s group, call (636) 240-4412.