Today is Mother’s Day. But in countries where their government is legalising commercial surrogacy, same-sex marriages and adoption of children by same-sex couples in the name of progress, inclusivity and gender equality, one wonders what is the position of these governments with regards to the role and importance of a mother in the family and in society.
Do these governments believe that a mother can be easily replaced by a father or by a man who identifies as a woman? If so, what do they think it means to be a mother in the first place? If they truly value mothers and acknowledge the latter’s unique contribution and positive influence upon their children, then why would any responsible and prudent government want to support lifestyle choices that are more likely to short-change the well-being of children and harm future generations? For that matter, will there even be a future generation to speak of, if certain lifestyle choices will only result in having lesser and lesser children born within the context of marriage?
From the Bible, we learn that motherhood is a unique role that God has assigned to women, beginning from Eve (Genesis 1:27-28. 3:20). God created women with a unique capacity to bear children for they are the physical vessels for bringing new life into the world. But even without invoking religious worldviews, we know that the objective reality as expressed in our human biology is that only individuals with female reproductive systems can become mothers in the physical, childbearing sense.
Apart from the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, we are mindful that a woman’s ability to bear children is not possible without involving a man. Scripture is unequivocal that God’s will is for humanity’s first parents to share in this same mandate of exercising dominion together and filling the earth with fellow image-bearers of God. Parenthood was part of how Adam and Eve were meant to glorify God as they worship and obey God and through their faithful and loving partnership multiply image bearers and steward all of God’s creation.
To be sure, this is not to suggest that marriage and having children is the highest good for a man or woman. As some scholars have noted, instead of finding a reiteration of the Genesis mandate to multiply humans in the New Testament, we find Jesus issuing a new mandate to multiply worshippers by making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
Scripture also shows us that being a mother goes beyond childbearing. Under God’s guidance and providence, mothers are also entrusted with the sacred role of nurturing, teaching and disciplining the next generation. So in this sense, Christian women who embody this high calling through their faithful and sacrificial love for others are also mothers, regardless of whether they are adoptive, foster or spiritual mothers.
In many ways, loving, caring and compassionate mothers point us to God, even if they imperfectly reflect a glimpse of God’s character and nature. More importantly, we thank God that while God reveals himself as Father, he is more than capable of relating with us like the ideal human mother that we all need and long for.
Surely it is no coincidence that in Scripture God is occasionally described to be like a devoted and compassionate mother to his people.[1] This is most evident in Isaiah’s prophecies, where God likens himself as a mother: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)
In another passage, God’s tender mercies and lovingkindness are also highlighted as he promises peace and restoration to a nation suffering under exile: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you, you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:12-13)
Interestingly enough, the Apostle Paul also used maternal imageries to describe his pastoral ministry amongst the churches. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Paul tells the church that he and his fellow Gospel co-workers “were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.”
Likewise in Galatians 4:19, Paul shared about the struggles he was experiencing in his ministry towards them: “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
From these scriptural references of motherhood, it is evident that there are traits and characteristics which are primarily associated with being a mother. Even if Christians can sometimes be too rigid in our understanding of gender roles and responsibilities such that it ends up being a stereotype or cultural construct, we should not then hastily conclude that apart from biology, there are no fundamental differences between being a father and a mother.
As God’s people, let us remain biblically grounded when it comes to the importance and significance of fathers and mothers in society. Contrary to what some may suggest, there is absolutely nothing wasteful, shameful or unfair when a mother chooses to focus and prioritises her family over climbing the corporate ladder or other pursuits. Moreover, God has no idealistic expectations where an exemplary Christian mother is one who can balance everything on her plates while still looking good.
Even though none of our mothers are perfect, we take heart that God is at work through them to bring about his kingdom purposes. Just as Christians need more than prayer support from other believers so that we can live a “life worthy of his calling” (Ephesians 4:1), may God give us wisdom and strength to come alongside mothers as they live out their unique calling in every season of motherhood.
[1]Although God is liken to be a mother, to refer to God as “Our Mother” or to suggest that there is another divine being who is God the Mother would be to distort God’s revelation of himself as some Christian cult groups are guilty of.
While God is our Heavenly Father, and from eternity has been the Father of his divine Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, God is not gendered in the same way that we are gendered.
