"America has nearly 115,000 orphaned kids in foster care waiting to be adopted. Some wonder how this is possible in a country with Christian families. Surely, there are 115,000 missional families in America, right? Missional families, for example, embrace the redemptive mission of God and practice "true religion" in their local communities (James 1:27). Missional Christians in America could eliminate the foster care system tomorrow if we would stop "shootin' up" with the American Dream (heroine) in order to get high on a lame life lived for the sake of comfort and ease."
Anthony Bradley in his blog made a pretty convicting argument for the sad state of American Christianity.
"The Washington Times reports that there are about 65 million evangelicals in America. So, again, why are there 115,000 orphans in America's foster care system? Does this mean that there are 65 million people missing huge sections of their Bibles? Would someone please alert Crossway and Zondervan!
Here's the deal: pagans were introduced to Jesus because Christians were taking care of the needy in obedience to Scripture. Taking care of the needy is not done only for the sake of evangelism. Practicing "true religion" is an extension of the kinds of Kingdom-oriented, salt and light, truth-bearing, grace-filled, Jesus-loving people who live to treat other people the same way God treats them (Ephesians 2:8-10).
We were all orphans and God adopted us in his family, remember? "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Rom 8:14-16). As such, the best possible home for an orphan is in a home where a family is following Jesus together as former orphans themselves.
If your church is not cultivating an ethos that practices "true religion" it may not be missional at all. It may be dying or sinking into a consumeristic, entertainment quicksand where people come to have their "felt needs" stroked. Your pastor might wear "cool" clothes, have a "cool" blog, or be in the process of trying to make God and Jesus androgynous but God seems to care that his people are being led by capable men who lead the rest of God's people in bringing the Kingdom to their local neighborhood in all its forms.
While not all Christians are gifted or equipped for taking in orphans it's pretty convicting that 65 million American evangelicals can't rescue 115,000 kids from an unstable hell. If the pagans in our neighborhoods aren't struck by how our churches are applying the Word of God to the needy it's possible that we aren't the real deal yet. May we all pray that our churches are soon as mature as James commends. The revolution continues. . ."
Anthony recommends:
Bethany Christian Services (a Christian adoption agency operating in the US and abroad; www.bethany.org)
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3 comments:
You definitely bring up some good points, I would argue, however, that taking care of orphans does not require taking them into your home. It might be setting up a Christian orphanage, or working at one, or some other similar work. Adopting and fostering, if not done in accordance with God's will, can tear a family apart. It's happened before. I do think that Christians should be open to and praying about actually adopting or fostering, but this may not be God's will for all. In that case donating to causes that help provide for these (whether with time, money, or some other way) is also acceptable.
Thank you for your comment.
I would say that of course, not all Christians have the means or ability to take in an orphan...
the point of my post was that there are 115,000 people, who could be shown the love of Jesus Christ...
65 million evangelicals, and we can't find 115,000 faithful?
That is sad.
Wow! I thought this post was absolutely incredible (and convicting!). If I do get married, adopotion is something that I have considered. And if I had children of my own, I would adopt around the same time as having my own, that way there would not be any uncomfortable/jealous feelings with my children (if that is possible to avoid).
I wonder, though, how my wife and I would finally tell the child that they are adopted -- I have heard some rather painful stories about that.
Great post!
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