Book Review: Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt
One of my biggest struggles in the growth of my faith is my desire to remain independent. I am a naturally quiet, reserved and private individual, who would much rather assess my difficulties, fuel my motivation, and solve my problems on my own, then utilize the blessings of Christian fellowship and accountability. There are many reasons that God has established the Church, and one of them is that Christianity is not an individualists religion.
Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Mentoring Women by Susan Hunt, is a helpful guide in how Christian women can be fed and encourage others in the Lord based off of the biblical command in Titus 2:3-5.
Susan Hunt explains her own struggle to apply this in her own life: “God said older women should teach younger women – and I already knew that! But why wasn’t it working in individual relationships and in churches? What were the missing pieces? What did older women and younger women need to know to obey this command?”
This book at times seems to possibly infer too much from narrative examples of Scripture, but over all, Susan Hunt’s conclusions are Biblical, practical, and constantly pointing upward and outward to the grace of our Lord, which enables us to glorify Him and obey His commands.
How then can we encourage others in our faith? How can we point the hearts of others to the Lord when we fail so very often to point our own? How are we to mentor younger women? How are we to find a Titus 2 women at whose feet we can sit and learn? How should we utilize this present season of our life to glorify God as we minister to others, without neglecting the blessings and duties He has already given us? Well, “A proper approach to any situation or topic begins with God.” And that is how Susan Hunt begins to answer these questions – by pointing. That is the essence of Christian ministry. We are simply sinners showing other sinners the Great Savior.
This book is organized into three parts.
The first part focuses on The Mandate – the solid Biblical purpose from which we should view all the commands and promises of Scripture (God’s glory), and then narrowing our focus on the Titus 2 Mandate in itself.
Part Two is The Model, and addresses some of the more practical questions in approaching relationships, and how our theology and the grace of God affects the way we minister to others.
The final part takes a look at The Method, and handles some of the more difficult situations in which we often find ourselves when we are used by God in times of struggle, sin or tragedy. Each of the twelve chapters begins with a story from a woman who has experienced the growth in Christ that godly fellowship between Christian mothers and daughters can bring.
Why Should I Read It?
Because, as Christians – grappling with sinful natures, personal struggles, and difficult relationships – God has given us the blessing of His Church. The specific command to women in His Church can be difficult to understand and apply in our daily lives, but it provides the solid growth, the godly accountability, and the opportunity to learn from and minister to others for the glory of God.
Christian fellowship is not only helpful in our spiritual growth, it is essential, but too often it is brushed aside in favor of our individual strength. Relying and living in the grace of God for the glory of God is aided by the means of God. We must learn how to understand and apply these means, and sit with our sisters at the feet of our Savior.