What Christian Freedom Means for Motherhood
“Oh wow, you work full time? How are you going to homeschool your kids? You know how schools are these days…”
It was a well-meaning comment from a mom friend who’s a few seasons ahead of me in motherhood. I know her heart well enough to know that she didn’t mean it how it sounded. She directs a homeschool co-op that meets in our church, so homeschooling is her world—and a wonderful world at that! I have cheered on many homeschool teens who have thrived in the homeschool/co-op setting. But for me, a full-time working mom of two (with one on the way), her well-meaning comment felt like a punch to the gut. I am excited for the school plans we’ve dreamed up for our kiddos, but that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with wondering if there is a “right” way to do Christian motherhood.
If moms are honest, we’d love a formula—a formula that tells us that X+Y+Z equals raising children who will know and love the Lord with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. But the beautiful yet frustrating reality is that there is no “right” way to be a Christian mom. Discipleship is unique and messy because people are unique and messy. However, instead of wishing we could crack the code on motherhood, we can revel in our Christian freedom and the fact that nothing and no one can add anything to what Christ’s already given us. Our salvation is secure, not because of our performances as moms, but because of Christ’s faithfulness on the cross.
What Is Christian Freedom?
The concept of Christian freedom is rooted in the New Testament, as Paul reminds Christians in the first century that faith in Christ’s death and resurrection is enough to secure their salvation. Christians no longer need to be circumcised or adhere to Jewish food laws (Galatians 5:1–6). These rituals are not enough to earn salvation. In fact, we could never earn our salvation in our own strength. All righteousness we have is Christ’s: “He [God] made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, there is no formula of life that we can achieve that will earn us any more favor with God than Christ has already achieved.
Therefore, Christians are free to make their own choices about their lives as long as their actions do not contradict God’s Word. Merrill Frederick Unger, author of The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, adds, “Actions are not to be pronounced sinful that are not sinful. Nonessentials are not to be elevated to the place of essential virtues.” So too, Paul writes in Romans 14:14, “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.” Christian convictions will vary from person to person, depending upon the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life.
What Does Christian Freedom Mean For Motherhood?
Christian freedom is profoundly comforting in motherhood. There is no right “formula” for us to follow to earn salvation for ourselves or our kids. God can work through the prayer-soaked decisions we make, whether we send our kids to public school, private school, or teach them at home. Mothers can be working moms or stay-at-home moms, enroll their kids in athletics or allow them to pursue the arts, vaccinate kids or not vaccinate—the list is endless. Scripture provides freedom for moms to prayerfully navigate the choices of motherhood depending upon their family’s personal convictions.
Why would God allow so much freedom? This freedom pushes us to press into the Lord in our decision-making. We are not robots who follow the Lord based on pre-programmed instructions; we are living, breathing, creative, and complex women made in the image of God. As we think through our decisions, we are called to hold them up against Scripture, ask God for wisdom, and ultimately step in faith, remembering that God is in control. Charles Spurgeon famously said, “ I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.” Often, when we are paralyzed by fear of making the wrong choice, these looming decisions feel like overwhelming waves. Yet, it is these waves that throw us up against Jesus. Christian freedom ironically leads us to depend upon the Lord. Our decisions are an opportunity to learn daily surrender—to do everything—even mother our children—for the glory of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31).
You can rest, mom. Pray for wisdom. Seek the Lord. Hold your decision up to Scripture and relax your shoulders. Social media does not hold the formula for raising Christ-loving children, though many ideas are helpful! Even our Christian mama friends have not cracked a secret code, though their wisdom is invaluable! God has made you—He has knit you together in your mother’s womb with special giftings, bents, and perspectives that He will wield to lead you and your children into truth. And best of all, God has given you His Spirit who will guide you into truth (John 16:13). You have all that you need for life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3). Take your next prayerful step and trust that God is with you.
The next time you find yourself comparing your motherhood to another mom who seems to have it all together, remember the concept of Christian freedom. Remember that your salvation is not secured in a clean house or in a specific education preference—your salvation is secure in Christ. You are saved by grace through your faith in Jesus. You are free from your sin—set free from the need to earn your salvation. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free (Galatians 5:1). Christian freedom allows you to imitate God’s love without fear of misstep or failure.
So love hard in gratitude for the love God’s shown you. Allow your children to watch you seek God’s face in prayer and in His Word, for all decisions big and small. And rest in the fact that your salvation and the salvation of your children are in God’s loving hands. All you can do is your best, and trust Him with the rest.
For more on finding rest in Christ, check out our new motherhood anthology, Beside Still Waters!
Sources:
Unger, Merrill, and R. Harrison. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Moody Publishers, 2006.
