Rethinking the Role of Motherhood in the Church
As a woman in the church, I’ve often heard it said that “motherhood is a woman’s highest calling.” While I understand the sentiment behind this statement, I believe it’s time for us to stop and think about the implications of this phrase.
The Value of Motherhood
Motherhood is a beautiful gift from God, and it’s something to be cherished and celebrated. As a mom myself, I love coming alongside other mothers and encouraging them to raise their children in the Lord. However, if we elevate motherhood to the status of a woman’s highest calling, we risk creating an idol out of something that was never intended to be one.
Our Highest Calling
As Christians, our highest calling is not to be mothers, but to know God and make Him known. Our primary identity is not as mothers, but as children of God. This means that our worth and value come not from our roles as mothers, but from our relationship with Christ.
The Impact on Single Women and Those Without Children
When we say that motherhood is a woman’s highest calling, we can unintentionally create a sense of inferiority among single women or those who do not have children. We may inadvertently imply that they are not fully mature or sanctified, or that they are less worthy or less valuable than those who are married with children.
A More Balanced Approach
While it’s good that the church has pushed against the secular perspective on family, marriage, and motherhood, we must be careful not to swing the pendulum too far in the other direction. We need to remember that our faith family, our family in Christ, is our eternal family. Our families here on earth are temporary and secondary to our belonging to the family of God.
Conclusion
In the end, while I understand the sentiment behind the phrase “motherhood is a woman’s highest calling,” I believe it’s a phrase that can cause more harm than good. Let’s focus on celebrating and valuing motherhood without elevating it to an unhealthy status. Our worth and value come from Christ alone, and that’s something to be celebrated.
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