“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress . . ." James 1:27
A
few years ago one of the cool-teen/hipster clothing stores sold
graphic tees that displayed the words, “Adoption is the new black.”
The adoption world went into a frenzied uproar over those tees,
ainsisting that adoption is not trendy. Adoptive parents were angry
that the idea of adoption was being reduced to the likes of rubber
bracelets, Uggs, and neon. I wonder, though, if that line of tees
wasn’t close to correct. Adoption has been very popular in the
past few years with singers singing about it and famous people
showing off babies from foreign countries. Like the rest of the
world, the Christian culture does not seem to be immune to fashions
and fads and passing fancies. In the last fifteen years, many
pastors that have changed their preaching styles – from standing
behind a pulpit preaching to pulling up a stool and chatting, as if
casually discussing with friends. Last week, I had an ironic
discussion with my daughter about why they change the Bible, as her
new NIV doesn’t match my old NIV. Churches not only have coffee
cafes with frappes and lattes, but they serve up a good serving of
wi-fi on the side. We live in a changing church culture, and I
wonder if adoption isn’t also on the negotiation table; but the
concept of adoption is used throughout the Bible and is central to
the core of Christianity.
“How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God!”
-1 John 3:1
The
first definition in Webster for “adopt” is, “to take by choice
into a relationship.” Adoptive families live every day as if they
were on the mission field. They, like every other parent, lay down
their lives and their hearts for their children, but they have had to
take an extra step to “take by choice into a relationship.” They
learn about another culture, learn to braid black hair, learn to
speak another language, learn to relate to birthparents in less
fortunate situations, and learn day-in and day-out how the Grace of
God is very present. Adoptive families know like no other the
distance that God crossed to rescue us from our own sin. Believers
have been adopted by a gracious God whose mercies are new every
morning. He learned to wear skin, to speak human, to relate to man
in a less fortunate situation, and he sacrificed for us so that we
can commune with him. He chose us, and he chooses to relate to us.
He has rescued us from squalor and filth and given us every richness,
even the privilege of being called children of God. Let adoption be
a reminder of our rescuer Father God.
“Religion
that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their distress . . . “ –James 1:27
A
while back, my husband and I were at a church leadership meeting (not
the church we attend now). The topic of hospitality came up. In a
room full of leader-ly people, with probably fifteen to twenty
families represented, we were the only family that had invited
neighbors over for dinner. While the story of the good Samaritan
clearly tells us that our neighbor extends outside the geographic
boundaries of our physical neighborhood, we are remiss if we miss out
on sharing the gospel with those people who live closest to us. In
addition, we are indeed called to care for the widow and orphan.
Some interpret this to say that we are all called to adopt. This
calling in my own life was an irresistible force that has led to the
most amazing blessing for our family, but God may not be calling you
to adopt. That said, I do know that God has set into motion many
ways to care for widows and orphans. For every child that needs to
be adopted, there are hundreds – maybe thousands – who need to be
sponsored so that they can stay with their birth families. For every
orphan overseas, there is a widow just down the street. For every
woman in a desperate situation, there should be a safety net. For
every teen whose parents are absent, there could be a mentor. For
every broken heart, I believe that God desires to send his love –
in the shape of human hands. In the midst of our broken world, can
we be the haven for the sad and mourning soul? Let us remember God’s
adoption is not just spiritual; He desires to use human hands and
feet to rescue a needy world.
“For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11
Our
family is borne of a reality that most don’t bear. Our family is
borne of brokenness and sadness and mourning; our family only exists
in this adoptive form, because some of our children suffered the loss
of their most important relationships, their parents. One of our
children remembers her father’s death, so she calls my husband,
“Daddy.” We talk of an Ethiopian Mama who I am pretty sure would
do a lot better at this than I. And there is always wondering,
wishing in the background music of our lives that sings out, “What
if . . . what if . . . what if their first family were whole?”
Every time the still, small answer is, “For I know the plans I have
for you, …plans to give you a hope and a future . . . “ There
are many examples of adoption in the Bible. In one of the most
amazing twists of the Old Testament, Pharaoh’s daughter finds and
adopts Moses; this allows him a unique perspective when later in life
he is called to speak to Pharoah on behalf of the Israelites. I have
heard it said that Jesus himself was adopted, because Joseph was his
father by choice and not physical means. Joseph taught him how to be
a man, the very thing he needed to relate to mankind. This process
of adoption is not simple or tidy, yet over and over it seems to be
the means that God chooses to provide what is best to his children.
Let us be aware that both spiritual adoption and the choice of
relationships in our lives can be used to bring about the best of
God’s plan. Let us worship the God who uses the most unlikely
events to bring about his good and perfect plan!
Back
to the tees that I mentioned earlier: the store eventually pulled
all the tees off their so very hip shelves. And I wonder will we
allow the world’s push and pull to wear us out, to distract us, to
make us forget that God’s calling is for spiritual deliverance,
active love, and worship. The recent emphasis on adoption has been a
wonderful blessing to many, many families and millions of children .
. . but let us not grow weary in doing good. Let us not forget that
adoption – that of children in need and that of souls in need –
is central to the name we bear.
Let
it be known that adoption is not just a trend in the Christian world.
This month's Guest Writer is an adopting mother of two African children. She preferred to remain anonymous
Sources:
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and an NIV (1984
version) Bible
Image by Leaping Lizard
Image by Leaping Lizard
