Whenever I tell people we are adopting, I usually get two types of responses: very excited and somewhat interested. Whatever group you fall into, I thought I would take a moment to explain why we are adopting and why we fall into the “very excited” camp. This list is not exhaustive, but these are nine great reasons why we believe in adoption (and maybe you should too).
1 – Adoption is a part of your story
If you are a believer in Christ- you too are adopted. As believers we can relate on a very real, intimate level with the entirety of the adoption process, because we have lived it. We are all orphans. We are all prodigals. We are all adopted.
2 – Adoption is true religion
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble James 1:27a
This seems like a crazy statement from James. Of all the things he could have listed as real evidence of a relationship with God (what he means by “true religion”) why does he choose orphan and widow care? Simply put, caring for those who cannot return that care to you is directly a product of God’s love. When we know God, and we want to imitate Him (as little children), then we will care for others as He cares for us – His orphans. Adoption is tangible evidence of the Father’s love.
3 – Adoption helps us understand the gospel
Adopting a child into our family is going to infuse irrevocably the story of the gospel into our family tree – and that’s a beautiful thing. The process of adoption that we have embarked upon will always provide me a reference to share the gospel with my children, my family, my friends, and others.
Adoption helps us understand the Father’s love as it exists in reality. Even as I am in the beginning stages of being an adoptive father, I understand more deeply what God feels when we are far from Him; when He wants to bring us home; when He is waiting for us to be safe. Adoption helps us process and appreciate the gospel more fully.
4 – Adoption adds credibility to our witness
Being a Christian means that I have a unique insight into adoption. Adoption is a picture of God’s love for me – my adoption in Christ. Living this out through adopting a child, again, allows me to share God’s love in a tangible way – and share that story with others. People will see that I actually live what I believe, and believe what I live. That’s a powerful way to share Christ.
5 – Adoption is the Great Commission
Adoption is not separate from the Great Commission. Adoption is not a part of the Great Commission. Adoption is the Great Commission. There are many ways to be involved in the command to “go and make disciples”. You can plant a church. You can witness in the park. You can preach in a soccer stadium. You can adopt a child. A child adopted into a Christian home will be bathed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will have ample opportunity to become a disciple of Christ. Adoption is the Great Commission on a personal scale.
6 – Adoption is directly from the Spirit of God
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
I love this truth. God’s Spirit is a spirit of adoption. The essence, the idea, the heart of adoption is from the eternal God. Adoption is Who God is. If we are being honest, we cannot speak of adoption without speaking of God, and viva versa. God’s Spirit is an adoptive Spirit, and as we follow His leading, we will be more in tune with adoption opportunities. Adoption is close to the heart of God, because it is the heart of God.
7 – Adoption is spiritual warfare
Satan hates adoption because Satan hates the Spirit of God. And adoption, the essence of it, is from God. So adoption is not just a cute little way to help a child. Adoption is warfare among the unseen forces around us. Satan would rather that child have been aborted. If that doesn’t work, he would rather that child grow up in a soulless, non-family environment where he will never hear the gospel. It’s his way of combating the Great Commission. My job as a good soldier of Jesus Christ is to combat the enemy in any way that God leads me too- and adoption is a “front line” way to do that.
8 – Adoption is a part of Christ’s story
We often reference Joseph as being the “earthly father” of Jesus. I’m not sure if this is because we are afraid of offending God the Father, or if we don’t really pay attention to Scripture. The Bible references Joseph as the parent of Jesus (Luke 2:48) not the “step-father” or “earthly-father” of Jesus. Jesus was adopted by Joseph, and the Bible references Joseph as the blood lineage “dad” of Jesus; Christ came through the line of King David, fulfilling prophecy, and in Matthew we find out that Joseph is His legal connection to this line.
In short, if Joseph is not the father of Jesus, we are all doomed because Jesus is not the promised Messiah. Adoption is so close to the heart of God, that He gave His own Son up for adoption – for us.
9 – Adoption is an answer to abortion
I hate abortion. I wish Congress would vote to make it illegal yesterday. I fancy God raising up a person to be the William Wilberforce of abortion who would lead the effort to eradicate it from the face of the earth. But until that time, adoption is an incredible answer to abortion.
You don’t want or can’t care for that baby? Give her to me, I will. That’s the voice of adoption. You don’t view that baby as a life? That’s okay – I do – give him to me. Adoption is the exact opposite and the complete answer to abortion in every way.
Conclusion
My prayer is that these nine reasons have helped you understand more about the biblical basis for adoption. And in doing so, I hope it has perhaps challenged you to consider following God’s Spirit and opening your home to a child who doesn’t have one. For a Christian, adoption is only natural.
This post is the result of looking at God’s Word, conversations with my wife, reading the fantastic book Adopted for Life, and much intense prayer on the subject.