The Mommy Wars and Our Call to Love

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Priscilla Du Preez

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~John 13:35

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person." ~Colossians 4:6

As we come to the end of our time together discussing how the mommy wars affect our understanding of the gospel, there is one more thing I want to share with you: the mommy wars adversely affect our ability to lovingly share the gospel with others.

The mommy wars, as characterized by all the drama, name-calling, and heated disagreements seen in mommy groups on Facebook, are driven by pride. I once believed I knew all there was to know in a particular area of parenting. I have viewed my decision as the best one, and believed that if others did not come to the same conclusion, they were sadly mistaken and in danger of harming their children. 

But, dear sister, when we, as Christians, become guilty of acting the way I once did, we are ruining our witness for Christ. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have a love for one another.” (John 13:35) Paul says we are to “Let [our] speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt,” (Colossians 4:6a). We are to “let no corrupt word proceed out of [our] mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:9)

As followers of Christ, we are to be known for our love, compassion, humility, and the grace we show others. If this is the case when dealing with topics which actually are expressly outlined in Scripture and are commands issued to us by God, how much more ought we show grace and humility when dealing with fellow mamas on parenting topics that are mere freedom issues!

We do the name and cause of Christ a disservice when we show to the watching world a group of moms who claim the name of Christ but who are judgmental, prideful, and condescending when dealing with one another on the topic of different parenting methods. That same watching world likely won’t want anything to do with us or the Savior whose name we bear if they see us treating and viewing one another in less than loving ways. The sobering reality is that we could actually prevent someone from wanting to know our Lord because of the unloving way we treat a fellow mama in the area of man-made traditions of motherhood! 

By God’s grace, may we seek to do better!