Many readers have heard Augustine’s adage, “He cannot have God for his Father who will not have the Church for his mother.” By these words he meant that you cannot have a true relationship with God as your heavenly Father if you do not experience that relationship in the context of the church.

Perhaps Protestants are uncomfortable with this language because Catholics refer to Rome as the Mother Church. So we ask, “Is Augustine’s sentiment biblical?”

Indeed! Augustine was echoing the teaching of the Bible. The prophet Isaiah describes Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem or the true Church, as a spiritual mother who gives birth and then takes care of her children.

“Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.…Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her, that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, that you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom” (Isa. 66:7-9, 10-11).

This metaphor of motherhood is rich in imagery and application. In the New Testament, Paul sums up this teaching explicitly: “The Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother” (Gal. 4:26). We can see why we should view the Church as our mother in at least three ways.

The Church Gives Birth to New Believers.

Isaiah 66 expresses that the church as the heavenly Jerusalem is the place where the children of God are born. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:7; also Ps. 87; Matt. 18:3).

Indeed, Isaiah even indicates what every mother would appreciate—a birth with no pain! Through the sufferings of Christ, the Church often bears children without pain. John Mackay reminds us that the church has times of “sudden and abundant blessing,” such as when the gospel has been preached in seasons like Pentecost or in periods of revival.

Do we believe like Abraham that God will grant spiritual children? Do we long and pray for them like Hannah prayed for a child? Do we bring the gospel to unbelievers, and bring unbelievers to the gospel? The church must act in accordance with its belief that God grants new life to people.

The Church Nurtures Her Offspring.

Perhaps there is nothing more wholesome than the imagery of a young mother giving nourishment to a babe cradled in her arms, with her eyes locked in love on her child, her words soft and soothing. Similarly, the Church is to be a place where the people of God come and find sustenance and gentle care.

Sadly, Reformed churches often do not know how to nurture the “newborn babies” who “crave pure spiritual milk” (1 Pet. 2:2). Congregations can become rigid and doctrinaire, neglecting basic discipleship by piling heavy theological doctrines on young Christians and expecting behavioral maturity beyond their spiritual ability.

We need to have the spirit of Paul, who said to the Thessalonians, “We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). We can nurture the spiritual needy by having discipleship materials designed for them, encouraging an atmosphere of mentorship, preaching in ways that nourishes the babes and gives meat to the mature, and teaching simply on the sacraments when they are offered.

The Church Comforts Her People. ­

As anyone with children knows, a little child who gets hurt typically cries out for and seeks the attention of its mother. Mommy is the comforting one in the family. Likewise, the church is where the Holy Spirit (who is known as the Comforter) dwells, and is the place where people come for help.

People who are suffering should be reassured by a congregation exemplifying the love and presence of God through prayer and aid. Those who struggle with sin should find others in the congregation who remind them of the Advocate who will forgive and set them free. Folks who are lonely, needy, or weak should experience companionship, hospitality, and the strength of others in local congregations.

From a young child bringing a dandelion bouquet to its mother to the professional athlete saying “Hi Mom!” on television, the seat of affection runs deep for mothers. Even if the church has neglected or hurt you, or just grown irrelevant to you, you should still honor your spiritual mother. “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old” (Prov. 23:22).