The Mama Bear Apologetics book is an essential resource for Christian parents, it dives deep into the ideals that are shaping the Western world today. A world that has the power to shape the minds of our children, unless we first teach them to critically engage this warzone with the Christian worldview. I use the term warzone because yes, we are at war! Our faith is continually being attacked and we need to understand the underlying reason for this. When we understand what we are fighting, then we can stand firm and show with truth and grace that our view is in fact the best and most reasonable way of viewing the world. Ephesians 6:12 says, ‘For we do not war against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’
Empowering your kids to challenge cultural lies is your physical sword for this battle, and I love how the Mama Bear book has also added in our spiritual weapon, prayer. The acronym ‘PAWS for prayer’, (Praise, Admit, Worship with thanksgiving, and Supplication) is written after each cultural lie is exposed. Here is a prayer, under the heading Supplication, from the chapter ‘God Helps Those Who Help Themselves’:
‘Lord, as I move from the lie of self-helpism to God-helpism, I ask that You help me bring every thought captive to You. Empower me to discern Your gifts from the rights I demand. Help me to teach my children the balance between independent thinking and dependence on You. May I foster in them the desire to seek Your Holy Spirit as their ultimate helper. Expose, and help me to recognise, the wolves in sheep’s clothing – to recognise psychology disguised as theology so I can protect my children. May I teach my children to make the Bible their first self-help source. Help me to be a good steward of my mind and gifts, and to point others to You as the source for their help. In the name of Jesus, my Helper, amen.’
The main topics covered in Mama Bear Apologetics are: Feminism, Marxism (surprisingly, I realised, very much an underlying view in this nation of New Zealand), New Spirituality, Postmodernism, Skepticism, Self-helpism, Naturalism, Moral Relativism, Emotionalism, Pluralism and Progressive Christianity. By teaching these issues in a clear and exampled way, Hillary has made true on her statement ‘this band of Mama Bears offers you tools to train yourself so you can turn around and train your kids.’ The training part with my kids has become quite fun, this book has lots of interactive suggestions for you and your children to recognise underlying messages together and weigh them up beside what the Bible says.
Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of the ministry Mama Bear Apologetics, has brought together a team of well-known women apologists to help her write this book, there is a real depth of information and also a great mix of wit and personal stories. After several email interactions, following Hillary on social media for a few months, and reading many of her blogs on her website, I can tell you she is deeply passionate about providing apologetics resources for mothers. Hillary has a heart to protect our children from being snatched up by the enemy and falling away from the Church. She has a master’s in biology and speaks regularly at apologetics events. Her online blogs cover many of the topics the Church is facing today and will help you to answer the toughest questions raised in parenting Christian children.
This is the sort of book you won’t be able to put down and then will happily reread with a group to discuss the issues being raised. It truly is an amazing resource, one that will help you navigate the troubling waters of our time, confidently and fearlessly. I highly recommend you read it so you too can ‘ROAR like a mother’!