Mothering, God, and the Mothering God: The Relevance of Biblical and Historical Narratives Today

Mothers today face unprecedented pressure as contemporary American society feeds into the culture of intensive mothering, leading many to be consumed by their role as mothers. Many grapple with additional expectations stemming from the teachings of today’s evangelical church. Rather than serving as a countercultural influence encouraging women to cultivate their primary identity in Christ, women often receive the message that to be a “good” Christian, they need to make mothering their top priority. The effects of this ideology impact not only women who are mothers but also the church and society at large. How does Scripture inform this conversation, including both biblical mothers and references to “God as Mother”? Which biblical and historical mothers have been celebrated, why, and how do they stack up with today’s expectations? How can mothers today simultaneously follow God and faithfully fulfill their roles as mothers, and how can the church support this endeavor? This book seeks to reset mothering expectations for the church today by examining examples and expectations of mothers as depicted by Scripture and church history, namely, the expectation to locate primary identity in Christ. Read more