It has been my experience that many people do not really begin thinking about adoption theologically until they themselves are involved in adopting (or at least considering adopting) a child. Very often, the consideration to adopt a child precedes the consideration of the truth that God has graciously adopted us to be His children.
So is this a problem? Of course not. It's natural and right to long for a child, and many people choose adoption for the same reason that couples bear children: in order to be parents. But for all those who are adopting - and have adopted - we desire to enrich your understanding of this act of love by showing how it relates to the theological concept of adoption.
Our goal at Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency, and this is my primary focus as Carolina Hope's Ministry Outreach Coordinator, is take this vision to adoptive families and to people who are not yet considering adoption. We want Christians who might not otherwise think about adopting a child to reflect on adoption theologically (i.e. God adopting us as His children).
Why is this our goal? First, because we are convinced that the more we think about God's gracious work of adopting children into His family, the more we will see and appreciate His glory, grace, beauty, love, etc. Adoption is first about the glorious God of the universe coming to profoundly needy people in the person of His Son to give us the adoption as sons (Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). When we grow in our understanding of who this God of grace is and what He has done to adopt us through Jesus Christ, we will find our love for and pursuit of Him steadily increasing. So, ultimately, we want to see people grow in their enjoyment of God Himself.
Second, if people better understand God's work of adoption, they will find themselves joyfully compelled to extend this same kind of compassion to orphans, both here and abroad. Christians who love the wonderful doctrine of adoption will become increasingly passionate about "visiting orphans in their affliction" (James 1:27), whether through short-term mission efforts, adopting a child, or assisting others in the adoption process.
I have found that understanding God's love in adoption has helped grow me as a Christian and also as a father - both to my adopted sons and to my biological daughter.
Amen! I have found this to be true in my own experience. I couldn't have said it better.
I am very excited about what God is doing, your heart, the goal of Carolina's Hope, and what this means for the Gospel, the glory of God, and the sake of the orphans worldwide!
Thanks, Jason, for visiting our blog. I can't tell you how excited I am to look at adoption and orphan ministry through the lens of the gospel. It will be exciting to see what God does here.
It was good to hear from you again. Also, thank you for putting the word out about our adoption blog on your blog!
[...] Christian Faith and Christian Adoption It has been my experience that many people do not really begin thinking about adoption theologically until they themselves are involved in adopting (or at least considering adopting) a child. Very often, the consideration to adopt a child precedes the consideration of the truth that God has graciously adopted us to be His children. [...]
[...] posted at from hope to reality, the blog of Carolina [...]
[...] are several of our key posts that have addressed adoption theologically: Christian Faith and Christian Adoption Adoption: No Better Way to Understand Christianity The Life of Adoption “This is my Beloved [...]
A co-worker once commented to the group that her sister-in-law had adopted a child and that their bond could never be as strong as hers and her biological child's. Because after all, she carried her child for nine months and had already established a bond before she was ever born. I thought, what a cold, callus and insensitive thing for her to say. I had no idea what was coming in my future. After marriage and years of trying to conceive, I found out that I was considered infertile. I was devastated. No one in my family had ever been diagnosed "infertile". And I yearned to have a child of my own. My husband and I finally decided to adopt. When our dreams came true and we were blessed with a beautiful child of our own, we thanked God for our blessing. Just as Hanah said, this was the child we prayed for. Our prayer was answered. It was only then that I read the scripture in Romans about us being "adopted" by God. I love my child and she loves me whole heartedly. There could be no closer bond. She knows she's adopted and loves her family. We know God adopted us and thank Him for making us His children. I pray one day my ex co-worker realizes she too must be adopted in order to become a member of God's family. She certainly doesn't want to remain a part of her "natural" family considering we were all born in sin.
Soni