Sermon Snippet – R-E-S-P-E-C-T
INTRODUCTION – It is good that we still celebrate Mother’s Day in our country. A Biblical basis that goes beyond one day is found in Ephesians 6:2a: “Honor thy father and mother.” Jesus quoted this Fifth Commandment in Matthew 19:19. However, there is no doubt that a powerful segment of our society has little regard for motherhood and, in fact, is disdainful of mothers, believing that government is better able to raise children. The indoctrination that has replaced education in our schools is just one example of this mindset, with leftist teachers and bureaucrats certain that they are superior to parents. Why do leftist elites try to dismiss the importance of mothers?
1. MOTHERHOOD IS ATTACKED BECAUSE WE ALL HAD MOTHERS
One thing that should unite all people is that each of us had (and perhaps still has) a mother. The prevailing philosophy of the left is postmodernism, a subtle offshoot of Marxism; really, it is Marxism with better marketing. Central to this Satanic ideology is disunity, sometimes called identity politics. People are encouraged to see themselves as victims and to band together with similar folks to seek recognition and reparations. By dividing Americans into more and increasingly smaller groups, the ruling class believes that they can better control the population; it is a pragmatic application of the divide-and-conquer principle. Anything that unites us – marriage, faith, freedom, patriotism – needs to be destroyed so that these powerful and evil leaders can fully dominate others. Thus, motherhood must be assailed, for it is a unifying force for good.
2. MOTHERHOOD IS ATTACKED BECAUSE ONLY WOMEN AND HAVE CHILDREN
Rather than rejoice in the vital role of women as life-givers, postmodernists prefer to reject the absolute truth of two genders. This assault on basic biological fact is also an assault on Scripture. Genesis 1:27 states unequivocally, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Radical feminists used to bristle at the distinguished role of women as mothers; now they bristle at the obvious truth of two genders, male and female. It almost makes one yearn for the good ol’ days of Gloria Steinem! I didn’t check this week to see how many genders we are up to; I didn’t have to, for I know the truth of biology and of the Bible. The precious procreative plan of God should be loved rather than loathed.
3. MOTHERHOOD IS ATTACKED BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MOTHERS IN HEAVEN
Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, numerous women of faith are presented to all of us as godly examples. From Eve to Jochabed to Hannah to Elisabeth to Mary to Eunice, we are given the names and stories of women who are in heaven today. These individual women are a threat to postmodernism because that heinous doctrine seeks to demolish the concept of the individual, for the freedom of the human soul is a threat to the postmodernist emphasis on fragmented groups. In Hebrews 11:30-31, part of what is often called the Bible’s Hall of Faith, “the harlot Rahab” is singled out for approval for her act of faith, and she was further blessed by being an ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Because so many mothers set godly examples for their children (as Eunice did for Timothy), the enemies of Christianity feel (and they are driven by feelings, not facts) that the importance of motherhood must be diminished.
4. MOTHERHOOD IS ATTACKED BECAUSE OF THE LOVING NATURE OF GOD
In Matthew 23-37, Jesus, God the Son, uses the imagery of a hen protecting her chicks to express His sacrificial love for the very people who would crucify Him on a cross. As we have seen, God created male and female in His image. It is no surprise, then, that He has such a powerfully protective love for us; it is also no surprise that the hierarchy of hate has only disdain for this saving love.
CONCLUSION – In John 14:6, Jesus makes this absolute claim: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Postmodernists are actively endeavoring to obscure the unity of the one way to salvation, deny the concept of truth, and are ardent in their support of death (including through legalized addictions, through abortion and even outright infanticide, and through assisted suicide). Yet, Jesus make His offer of eternal life through faith in Him to all people. If you have never asked Jesus for His salvation, please do so now. He is the Lord of life – of human life and thus of motherhood and of eternal life in heaven with Him. May we love this Savior, and may we love what He loves. We need to respect rather than reject what God values. Remember, mothers, that God in heaven values you and what you do in raising your children.