Raising Radicals for Jesus

Relationships posted by Kim Wagner on 02/09/10; 15 comments

I'm a child of the ‘60s and was a teen in the ‘70s, which means I grew up in a pretty radical, revolutionary era. Although much of the ideology that sprang from that era was born of rebellion, the belief that our generation could "make a difference" motivated some positive social and cultural changes. For those of us on the fringes of the "Jesus Movement," we knew lasting change could only come through Christ, and we were ready to totally sell out to seeing our generation impacted by Him. We were radicals for Jesus.

family prayingAs a teen determined to make a difference, I wanted to live all out for Christ, whether that meant heading to a third world country to spread the gospel or immersing myself in academic theological training. One aspect of "making a difference" really didn't hit my radar screen, though—motherhood. Just the word itself sounded boring and frankly kind of "beneath" the lofty goal of winning the world to Christ.

I didn't realize it then, but the greatest opportunity for impacting the next generation, or making a lasting difference, was hidden in that mild term—motherhood. You may have a similar struggle when you hear the term. When you read the word "motherhood," do visions of drool and dirty diapers come to mind? You may see "motherhood" as some kind of life-sentence for losers. I want to challenge that kind of thinking.

Have you ever heard of Augustine? Other than the apostle Paul, he was perhaps the greatest theologian to impact Christian thinking. Guess who Augustine (once a partying, immoral pagan) gave credit to for his conversion? Yep, his mother!  

As mothers, women have the opportunity to influence the next generation by spending hours a day for multiple years in the span of their children's lifetime pouring in truth, inspiring hearts and minds to live for God's glory, and training them as change-agents for the next generation—kind of like raising little "radicals for Jesus!"

I'm not saying motherhood doesn't include plenty of drool and dirty diapers, but that picture is a far cry from what it's all about. Imagine having the opportunity to impact not just the next generation for Christ, but several generations beyond your own! As you raise radicals for Jesus as a mom, then as a grandmother, and then they raise future generations to live with a passion for Christ because of your influence, think of the number of lives and generations you've impacted through "motherhood!"

"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done" (Psalm 78:4).

What greater power of influence is there than that which comes from the privileged position of mom? I challenge you to consider thinking of motherhood from a new perspective.

Comments

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    Ann
    A strange thought in the back of my head
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 8:31 am
    Okay, this is probably going to sound really strange but here it goes.

    First, I loved both of your posts Mrs. Wagner, they made me think about motherhood from a different perspective. I always have this weird thought process when considering motherhood. I totally agree that being a mom means that you not only influence your own children's lives and generation but also generations to come. But, what if they don't come?? I always feel a sense of urgency when it comes to the future because I know Christ is coming back and what if it's during my lifetime. Then I feel like being a mother would be...a waste of time (that sounded horrible). I want to be totally focused on Christ and doing His work and I feel like being a wife and mother would hold me back from that.
    Elaina
    Re: and "To Save a Life"
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 9:04 am
    Thanks Kim! I can't wait to be a mother!

    Just a heads up for y'all: I don't know whether you've heard of "To Save a Life" or not, but if you haven't, don't wait! This is an amazing movie about God and very relevent to today's society! Check out the website at www.tosavealifemovie.com.
    Brittany Lee
    Motherhood!
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 9:58 am
    Wow, this is awesome! I daresay it, I think differently I guess...but that also has a lot to do with how my mother raised me. Because when I think motherhood, I think of that precious short time a child is just a baby, watching all their firsts! First words, first time crawling, first steps, first tooth...and all the joy that comes with it! I've often thought about what kind of mother I'm going to be, and I've decided that no matter what that my kids are going to be the next generation, and they're going to be radical! I know God has great plans for my baby...and I cannot wait to bring them up in Him! So many people think I'm crazy when I say this, but I'm proud of how my parents raised me, and I got the best parents I could ever be blessed with! SO motherhood is something I look forward too (no worries, I'm waiting. haha.) I believe it is a high calling. A mother and wife.
    Abbie
    Re:
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 10:10 am
    Wow. That was really cool to read because sometimes I feel very duanted with the thought of being a mother some day. Thanks for that, I needed it today.
    Kim Wagner
    Ann: A Strange Thought . . .
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 12:45 pm
    Ann,

    Not a strange thought at all! As believers we should all be anticipating and excited about the return of Christ -- knowing that it could happen at any time!

    But that expectation and hope should not prevent us from taking every opportunity to make a difference in the next generation -- because we don't know whether the Lord will return tomorrow or a hundred years from now. When my husband was a young preacher (he started preaching when he was 13!) he decided he wasn't going to waste his time with college, because he had such a sense of urgency and felt anything other than preaching the gospel would be a waste of time. He believed the Lord might return before he even had time to finish college!

    Thankfully, he did end up going to college -- because that is where we met! And college helped to prepare him to carry out God's calling on his life.

    I am so glad to hear your heart for Christ and know that there are young women, like you, who are totally focused on Him, but let me encourage you to consider that being focused on Him and His work may very well include motherhood. There are few who he calls to a life of celibacy. One of His earliest commandments was to be fruitful and multiply -- in order that a godly seed might be raised up to glorify Him (Gen. 1:28; Numbers 14:21)!

    I encourage you to go to Him in openness and honesty and ask Him to direct your heart on this issue. Proverbs 28:26 warns us that it is foolish to "follow our heart" but we need His counsel to walk in wisdom. He knows His plans for you (Ephesians 2:8-10) and whether that includes motherhood -- so ask Him to direct you into His plan for your life and be willing to surrender to whatever that looks like. This kind of heart is what truly glorifies Him.

    One more thing. I am now an older woman (wow -- it was hard to type that sentence!) and the desire you expressed sounds very much like my own heart as a teen. I assure you, motherhood has not taken my focus from Christ and His work, in fact -- it has given me a deeper understanding, knowledge of, and intimacy with Christ. I have a much greater understanding of sacrificial love, redemption, my own sinful nature, and the work of the Spirit, because of motherhood.

    Ann, I am so excited to hear your heart and your desire to stay focused on Christ. I pray you will always have a hot heart for Him and you will walk in the good plans He has for you. I pray you will bear much fruit for Him in the years to come!
    Lauren
    Re: Ann
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 4:37 pm
    I would say to Ann that we will and can never know when Christ will return, so we have to trust in God for the future and remember the promises He gaves us in His Word. It is definitely not a waste of time to be a mother. You are evangelizing by being a mother. You tell your children about Jesus, they tell their friends and family and so on. It has the ultimate domino effect. I have thought about this, so I don't think it's a weird or strange thought, but putting your trust in Him and raising your children with Jesus-loving zeal is one of the best and most effective ways to spread the Gospel to people of every tribe, tongue, and nation. And don't forget that being a mother doesn't mean you only talk to your children. I know a mother of two boys who is the most evangelistic person I've ever known. She loves Jesus so passionately that she tells EVERYONE she meets about Him. She went on a mission trip, to Africa, that my dad led. Motherhood is simply a starting place for the greatest mission trip ever! Hope this helps you.
    steph
    Re:
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:41 pm
    this is definitely true. motherhood is like raising up a whole family of warriors for Jesus!!!

    think if you radically affected 7 people for Christ. wouldn't that be great?
    well, as a mother, that is possible! God really had an awesome system that He set up.

    then, those children affect THEIR children!

    Exodus 20:5-6
    You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

    Did you catch that?
    SHOWING LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE ME.

    A thousand! how awesome! :)
    Heather
    Re:
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 9:42 pm
    No way! I wanna be a momma N-O-W! I wish God would show me who I should marry soon, so I can get married & start having the babiesssssss
    Kaitlyn
    Motherhood
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 10:33 pm
    I've always wanted to be a mom. Motherhood has never scared me except the thoughts of doing something wrong! I've always dreamed of getting married and being home for my kids. Of course I know I have a few years before it all happens, but I want to be a mom more than anything. I know God is going to lead me to the man who will always love me and has his faith in Christ so we can raise our children in a Jesus-loving home. I'm looking forward to the day I meet my husband!
    Maddi-ily<3
    Pay it forward
    on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 11:16 pm
    Kim, GREAT POST!!! I have often thought about the same things as Ann; your advice was really great Kim. (:

    I watched a movie one time called Pay It Forward. Lauren: you talked about the "ultimate domino effect", this is kind of what the main idea in this movie states. You tell 3 ppl about God then each of those 3 ppl tell 3 more ppl and they all tell 3 more and so on! So just by telling 3 ppl you meet about God, you are evangelizing!

    Ann,
    Many feminists (dont get me wrong careers are great and all) believe that being a wife and mother is demeaning to the woman race. Its not. God told us to be fruitful and multiply!! How can anything God tell us to do be demeaning to our womanhood. I understand how you said you think being a mother might hold you back from God but it wont. Chldren are a blessing from God, I have to babysit my 8 year old sister all the time. It's always "Sissy fix me a snack" "Sissy turn on my DVD" , But I often learn more about God from that little 8 year old girl than i do from any deacon in my church. So if my little sister can teach me about God then your little children (once your older of course) can teach you to!!

    ily<3 :) :) :) :)
    Brittany Lee
    Re: Ann
    on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 8:33 am
    Ann! I've thought the same way! "What if Jesus comes back before all that or during my lifetime?"
    lydia
    Re:
    on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 9:05 am
    I LOVE THE POST ! I LOVED READING IT!
    Ann
    Thank you
    on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:16 pm
    Mrs. Wagner, thank you so much for your reply. It really helped me and gave me a lot to consider. I appreciate you taking the time to explain things and for giving me examples of your husband and even yourself. I really identified with those thoughts and am glad you shared what you both learned from them.

    Also, thank you Lauren, Maddi and Brittany Lee for your thoughts!! :)
    Deborah Davis
    Re:
    on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10:18 pm
    I think that I am almost the complete opposite than Ann. I can't wait to become a wife and mother, so much so that it has become something that I have been dwelling on way too much. Yes I have dreams and goals for the future and I long to be able to raise up a generation in the Lord and for Christ, but I waist too much time I think thinking and dwelling on it that I should be spending preparing myself for it! Well this is definitely something that I have to work on, like future submission to my future husband(Lord willing!), and training my future children in the things of God. I have to stop fretting about the future. I am curious to see what lies I have been believing that has lead me to dwell so much on this and plan so much, instead of doing and spending my time wisely in ministry while I am still single and have no commitments like being a mother or wife. Hmm....thanks for the post! It's soul searchin time and lie killin time!!! :P
    Caty
    High-calling in Christ Jesus
    on Monday, February 15, 2010 at 6:10 pm
    This article was an encouragement to me. The older I grow the more I am realizing that it is not only our responsiblity but also our privilege to be a wife and mother. I think it is up to us to go against the flow and become the wives and mothers God intended us to be.

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