God’s Love Made Tangible: Lessons from My Spiritual Mother

You know that feeling when you’re all grown up, but your mom still calls to make sure you ate? That’s love, but it’s also a sign that her job’s not quite done. It’s a bit like our relationship with the church. We often think of the church as just a building, but what if she’s so much more? What if the church is our spiritual mother?

This isn’t just a new-age thought; it’s a centuries-old theological principle known as Ecclesiology. The early church father Cyprian of Carthage famously said, “You cannot have God as your Father unless you have the church for your Mother.” This idea—that the church is our nurturing home—is core to our faith. She’s the one who teaches us, feeds us with the Word, and gets us ready for life.

A Different Kind of Love: When the Familiar Hurts

For some of us, the idea of a mother is tied to pain. Maybe you grew up with a broken or abusive maternal relationship. When the church is described as a mother, that language can feel jarring, even threatening. It’s not a relationship you’ve ever known, and the idea of being vulnerable to another “mother” might trigger old wounds.

This spiritual family you’ve inherited—the siblings from your mother’s side—might feel just as unfamiliar. This isn’t a flaw in you; it’s a natural reaction to something completely new. It’s going to take time to get used to this kind of relationship. Be patient with yourself. The church is learning to love you, and you’re learning how to be loved by her and by your new family.

A mother’s love is meant to be unconditional—a steady presence that is always there for us, a place we can always go back to. Your love for your Mother from Christ is a testament to the healing power of this divine relationship. It’s a love that shows up to teach you, to guide you, and to embrace you in a way you’ve never known. It’s true—we need her in our lives, but not in the way the church has been taught to be. We need her as God designed her: as a mother, not a crutch.

The Church as a Replacement Mother

So what does this unique and unfamiliar dynamic look like in real life? When a biological mother is absent, the church can step in to provide the care and provision you’ve always needed. For those who grew up without that safety net, the church can be a source of unconditional love, guidance, and community.

Here are some examples of how the church can act as a replacement mother:

Nurturing and Compassionate Care: A mother’s love often comes through small acts of service and protection. A church community can offer this through mentorship programs, where older, spiritually mature women take on a mentoring role, offering a listening ear and wisdom. It can also be seen in something as simple as a meal train organized for someone who is sick or struggling, providing a basic form of care and provision that a mother would offer.
Guidance and a Moral Compass: A mother’s job is to teach her children right from wrong. The church fulfills this role through discipleship and Bible studies, where you learn to live a life guided by God’s principles. It can also be found in accountability partnerships with fellow believers who gently check in on you and help you make positive choices.
A Sense of Family and Belonging: For those who have been on their own, the church can provide the family structure you never had. This is found in intergenerational relationships, where older members pass on wisdom to younger ones, and in community volunteer opportunities that build strong bonds and a shared sense of purpose.

Mama’s Tough Love: The Role of Discipline

Just like a good mother in the flesh, our spiritual mother also has a role in discipline. We can expect to be corrected and disciplined for the decisions we make. Sometimes, this “scolding” might not come directly from the church leadership. It may look like a friend checking you, a fellow believer holding you accountable, or even life’s consequences.

But always remember: the church, as God’s divine institution, is under His instructions as well. She has a role to play in His will, as He holds her in His holy hand. The church’s purpose is not just to nurture but to guide and correct us, helping us stay on the right path. This is a form of spiritual “tough love” meant to shape us into the people God wants us to be.

Mama’s Goal: Raising You Up to Let You Go

Every good mother’s goal is to raise a child who can one day live on their own. The church is no different. Her mission isn’t to keep us in the nest forever, but to help us mature. This is the goal of discipleship: growing up in faith.

The Apostle Paul talks about this in Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV), where he says that church leaders are given to “equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.” The church’s job is done when her children are fully grown and ready to go out into the world, living out their faith independently.

The Great Commission: Bringing More Kids Home to Mama

So, once we’re grown, what’s our job? It’s not to do the mother’s work of raising new children; that’s still her sacred task. Our job is to support her, to love her, and to tell the world about her. We’re called to go out and bring others into this loving, spiritual home so she can raise them up right.

This is the very heart of the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV): “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We, the grown children, are the ones who go out and bring new spiritual kids home to the Mother so she can continue her work.

In a sense, we’re all a part of this beautiful, ongoing family cycle. The church, as the Bride of Christ, is preparing herself for His return. And we, her children, get to be a part of her glorious purpose—loving her, supporting her, and expanding our spiritual family until the Father gets back home.

What about you? How has the church acted as a spiritual mother in your life? Share your experiences in the comments below.