THE PAINS OF LABOR

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19 NIV).

I was experiencing labor pains again. This was my third baby, and when I was suddenly awakened from my sleep, I felt that stabbing, sharp pain radiating from my back to the front there was no doubt that I was in labor. Despite the intensity of the birthing pains, the entire birth process lasted less than two hours from the moment I woke up to the time of delivery, making it my fastest delivery yet. The memory of the pain faded quickly as I held my gorgeous curly black-haired baby boy. Those precious first moments are something those who have given birth can relate to.

In Galatians 4, Paul uses the metaphor of birth pains once more in an unexpected comparison. Women who have given birth can resonate with the apostle’s feelings. New life often comes into the world through pain and struggle, and new Christians experience a similar journey.

Paul expresses his suffering because he desires that Christians remain grounded in the foundations of their faith. He wants Jesus to be formed in their lives. The apostle is not merely interested in making converts; he is focused on creating true disciples of Jesus, as he himself was. This journey is not easy; it is a complex, narrow path marked by miracles, wonders, trials, and the “cross.” The road to encountering Jesus is a path of holistic transformation, affecting our body, soul, and spirit.

We call this discipleship. The concept has gained popularity (like a trending topic) and is frequently discussed among people, churches, and in various books. For thousands of years, Jesus’ community has been bringing people to maturity through Scripture and the actions of the Spirit. The church recognizes the importance of such teachings and practices. Today, the church must disciple others as the early communities did to fulfill the command of Jesus: “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. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV).

Discipleship is rooted in forming Christ in the lives of those who repent from their sins. We come to Christ, initially moved by the Holy Spirit, and we begin to grow and mature much like a newborn does throughout life. For newcomers to the faith, growth and maturity involve leaving behind our sinful nature and becoming representatives of the kingdom of God. This journey is challenging; it requires an integral transformation that impacts our mind, feelings, will, desires, plans, and relationships—essentially, it affects our entire being, body, soul, and spirit.

In Education that is Christian, Louis E. Lebar, a Ph.D. in Religious Education, reminds us how the Jewish people were taught after being chosen by God. They learned through “precept and example, knowing and doing, questions and moral discipline, memorization, and sensory appeal.” In the time of the apostles, the Word of God was both studied and practiced through the illumination and power of the Holy Spirit.

Women bring practices from our homes that could be incredibly beneficial in our churches. As parents, we nurture our children as they grow, talking to them, providing discipline, validation, comfort, and example, while allowing them to learn from what we model. We walk alongside them because it is our responsibility to raise them with strong values. We can use those same practices and become excellent examples for those who are maturing in their Christian Walk. While this may challenge us to step out of our comfort zones, it is what the kingdom of God encourages us to do. We can assist others in moving “from shallow Christianity to deep transformation,” as Peter Scazzero teaches in his book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship.

Women who have brought children into this world have their own unique stories, filled with various experiences. Similarly, the process of discipling others shares many commonalities across individuals, churches, and cultures. We can share our similarities and differences while helping others grow in Christ-like discipleship. Ultimately, the most valuable and rewarding outcome of labor pains is the new life that enters the world. As women who disciple, we are collaborators in the kingdom of God.

Dr. Miriam E. Figueroa is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS). She is the Director of the Center for Latino Studies at the PTS and is member of the Intercultural Ministries of the COG. Along with her husband, she pastors a bilingual Hispanic COG in Cleveland, TN. She is the mother of three, mother-in-law of three, and grandmother of eight.