Mother Tongue: How Our Heritage Shapes Our Story

by Leonard Sweet

No one shapes our heritage or affects our legacy like our mother.
Most people know Leonard Sweet, one of the world’s most influential evangelicals, as a sharp cultural critic who helps us see how to get in front of the future rather than be bowled over by it. One of his greatest influences was his mother, a groundbreaking (and sometimes controversial) minister who defied convention while honoring tradition. In this exceptionally personal work, Len Sweet opens his mother’s memory box, and in the process he helps us all embrace the future with confidence while tethering us to a faith that transcends time. Through Len’s experience, we all will better understand and process how our own heritage affects our legacy.

An ideal resource for mothers, adult children, and families seeking resources to set up their kids to flourish.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2017

About the author

Leonard I. Sweet is an author, preacher, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergyman currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, New Jersey; and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Becky C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was like reading a perspective of my life. Not exact but close enough for my memories to come to surface. And perhaps the reason I enjoyed it so much.

We really are influenced by our mothers.

[Skipr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Mother Tongue: How Our Heritage Shapes Our Story a biography? Family memoir? Devotional meditation? Whatever the category, Mother Tongue is an inspiring remembrance of an amazing woman and an honest and engrossing recollection of Leonard Sweet’s mid-20th century growing-up years in a poor family led by his indomitable and devout mother, Mabel Boggs Sweet.

It is also a fascinating look inside the subculture of Holiness Churches of that era of which Ms. Mabel was an ordained, and then defrocked, minister. What made the story all the more compelling for me were the contrasts between the Len Sweet that I have come to know via his books, podcasts, and essays (and even a shared meal many years ago). Dr. Sweet is a sophisticated, urbane, scholar of American culture, college president, professor, semiotician (look it up!), and creative communicator extraordinaire. Although, I had inferred something of Sweet’s roots from passing allusions in his books and podcasts, I would never have guessed how humble his beginnings were, nor how saturated his formative years were in the Holiness stream of American Christianity.

Despite, however, Leonard Sweet’s impressive credentials and cosmopolitan persona, the singular trait that has always come through in his writing and speaking is his conviction that Jesus Christ is, as He claimed, the way, the truth, and the life. And, now, after reading this, his loving and respectful — although not entirely uncritical — portrait of Mabel Sweet, I know who planted and watered the seeds of Christian faith in Len Sweet.

Mabel Sweet’s life was in many ways a difficult life. I suspect that I’m not the only fellow follower of Christ who has read this book and wondered what might have been if she had been born in a different time and into different circumstances. But, in the end, most of us will join Len Sweet in thanking God that Mabel Sweet persevered and left the rich legacy that she did.

[Tim Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to hear the Story of Sweets upbringing by his mother and how she shaped his life. I was surprised to see how she appeared to be both very conservative (got a doctors note to excuse her children from dancing in school) and very progressive (thought the church should change service times so her family could watch their favorite TV shows) in her Christian beliefs.

Overall she clearly did a great job raising her children in the way of the Lord with the way Leonard turned out being a great evangelist and author. I loved the way this book was written and made me wonder how many other famous Christian evangelists could also write their own version of this book and what it would be like.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A son's honest revelation to the powerful God fearing, Jesus loving, and Teacher of virtue Mother. To be like this mother is a great privilege and challenge. Great read.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love most of Leonard's books. This one was Sweet. I wanted to meet his mama by the time I finished it. I thought maybe some of the chapters were a stretch but overall. Very. Good.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful memoir about what Sweet learned from his preacher mother throughout her life and faith

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leonard Sweet has done readers a service in his recent memoir of his mother Mabel Velma Boggs, called Mother Tongue (NavPress 2017). Two brief excerpts demonstrate why: “This book is my attempt to give Mother—fiery holiness preacher, passionate follower of Jesus, and driven woman before her time—her voice”p. xxviii. And, “The early Wesleyans were called enthusiasts. The word enthusiasm originally meant ‘God within’ – the belief in God’s power to occupy a person and speak through them. Mother didn’t just look for burning bushes; she was one” (p. 69). Mabel Boggs passionately put Jesus at the center of her life and lived that life, and her calling to evangelism, in every way possible. She was ordained by both the Pilgrim Holiness and the Free Methodist denominations and the subsequently defrocked from both – because she had cut her hair and wore make-up for her wedding, and because her allowed Television in her home – called by leaders in the Free Methodist denomination Hellevision. Her mission became raising her boys to be “sonified in the scriptures that would say and sing the scriptures till they became the soundtrack of life. Beginning at age five, we had to deal with Mother’s memorization requirement of a new Bible verse every day during the school year” (pp. 60-61). She also preached revivals services throughout the Appalachian area. Only 20+ years after her death did both denominations “formally apologize for their treatment of her”(p.15) and pay her the tribute she deserved. Mabel’s model in trying to redeem the time in her context, despite the heartbreak she experienced as a woman in ministry, is one people need to ponder today. M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 4/20/17