Why adopt children?
My wife and I answered this question as follows: our decision should be motivated by theology and not by biology; After all, it is a person’s theology that will determine their biography; what we believe about God will inevitably shape our way of life. .
- In biblical theology.
- Do we see that adoption has never been?Plan B? Gods.
- This has always been Plan A.
- God’s plan has always been to adopt a people for himself.
- He’s a foster father.
- And the church is an adopted family of brothers and sisters.
So the process of earthly adoption? For Christians it must be based on the reality of our heavenly adoption. We have been adopted by God and have nothing in us to deserve it. We can’t claim any credit. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world; in love, he predestined us for adoption (Ephesians 1. 3-5).
This perspective must produce humility in each of God’s children and transform the way we handle the process of earthly adoption.
Humility is the underlying trend of any compassionate ministry. Should we get the word gently implanted? Every day. This is how we are supported and sanctified, we must receive the word, value it, and practice it (James 1:22).
If we do not “practice the word”, then one wonders to what extent we have internalized it. Imagine asking my children to do their homework on a Saturday morning, give them specific instructions on what to do, and then get to the end of the day asking if they did what I asked them to do. “No Dad, we didn’t do chores, ” they answer, but look! We did an in-depth study on dust suction, lawn cutting and waste disposal; We even write this information manual about it for others to read and appreciate !?What do you think I’d tell them?
Here’s my point: in today’s world, we don’t lack information; we lack applications. This is precisely what Tiago discusses in his book. James was concerned that God’s people were not only a listener of the Word, but also a practitioner (James 1:22). So, in fact, he said, “I don’t understand, let me illustrate?”
“For if anyone hears the word and not a practitioner, he resembles the man who contemplates, in a mirror, his natural face; for he contemplates himself, retracts himself and soon forgets what he was like. But anyone who carefully observes the law of freedom as a perfect law and perseveres in it, not being a careless listener, but a regular practitioner, will be blessed in what he does?(Stg 1. 23-25)
I really like the way Santiago calls the scriptures “the perfect law”, “the law of freedom”. The scriptures free us; they don’t enslave us. Notice what James says about those who practice the word: “You will be blessed in what you do. “The blessing lies in practice, not just listening.
James says the Bible is like a mirror. Most of us look in the mirror every day. Sometimes we don’t like what we see and identify the immediate changes that need to happen. Similarly, James illustrates the purpose of the Bible: as we internalize it, to be transformed.
There are many people who revel in the Bible but are not transformed by it. They have some admiration for the Word of God; They can even have a great Bible at home. They don’t read it, but do they do some kind of? Affection?from time to time. They are often delighted, but never transformed.
But here’s the important fact about the Bible: it shows us more about ourselves than a mirror could show. It shows us the inner reality. And the goal is for us to be transformed.
In this context, the book of James is deeply instructive. In James 1. 26-27, the Apostle gives us three practical ways to “practice speech”: (1) controlled language, (2) compassionate ministry, and (3) a life of his own.
Then sketch the rest of the book according to these three themes. In chapter 2, he speaks of compassion, “love of others. “In Chapter 3, language control. In chapter 4, on how to stay immaculate in the world.
And we must note how James unies two things that evangelicals often separate: compassion and purity. We tend to migrate to one of those positions. Some groups of Christians try not to get stained in the world, but they have never lifted a finger for the poor. Other groups donate to social ministry, but they don’t seem worried about what God says about marriage, for example. But Tiago unies, both of you.
It is possible to focus on both public compassion and personal holiness. Need an example? Look at the life of Jesus, I perfectly gathered these two aspects: no one was more holy than Jesus and no one cared as much about the poor as Jesus.
Tiago’s goal is to make his people mature. This helps us highlight some of the blind spots that Christians sometimes have (see Collin Hansen’s blind spots for more information on this topic).
So what does Santiago say about caring for orphans?”The pure and unspotted religion, towards our God and Father, is this: visiting orphans and widows in their tribulations and staying free from the world” (Stg 1:27).
Notice that he adds the words: “And Father. ” He didn’t have to say that. He could have simply said, “A pure, unspotted religion toward our God. . . ?But James wants to emphasize God’s fatherly nature, because God is the father of orphans. That’s what he is. “
The word? Visiting is also full of meaning, because Tiago refers to more than just “stop talking”.
This word appears at crucial moments in the history of redemption. In Genesis 21, Sarah could not have children, so the Lord “visits” her. Same word. In the book of Ruth, the people of Israel were hungry. So what did God do?” Has the Lord visited his people?Giving him bread (Ruth 1. 6) ARC In Luke 7. 16, Jesus goes to the widow of Nai, whose son died. Jesus resurrects him and gives him to his mother, the people exclaim, “God has visited his people. “
When God visits people, it means he’s involved. He’s intervening, that’s what Tiago has in mind. In fact, it is the Greek word from which we derive the word “pastor”. Is the orphan’s visit to the orphan’s flock of orphans?Get involved, identify with him, worry about his suffering. We must do no less for widows in their afflictions.
But why? In the end, because that is what God did for us in our affliction, He came to visit us.
Jesus said to his disciples, “I will not leave you orphans, I will return to you” (John 14:18). We are not superior to the orphan, the widow or the foreigner. No, in the gospel we are the orphans and God has adopted us; we are the widow and Jesus became our husband; we are foreigners without a homeland and we inherit the Kingdom.
Ultimately, caring for orphans is about reflecting the heart of the gospel. We do all this as an act to honor Jesus, who loved us and came for us. Why do we care about orphans in their afflictions?For God cared for us in our affliction and made us his sons and daughters.
So how could we do that in practice?I’ll close in 21 ways
1. Pray? “Father, what do you want me to do to help with the orphan crisis?” 2. Start small? talk, read, volunteer. 3. Do you support the right organizations? like 127 in the world. 4. Do you speak? orphans are not only helpless, they also have no voice. 5. Be vigilant and practice hospitality? cultivate sensitivity to the needs that surround your life now. 6. Adopt. 7. Become a temporary caregiver. 8. Support others in the adoption process. 9. Do you care for functional orphans? those whose parents are physically present, but not emotionally or spiritually. 10. Provide practical care to adoptive parents or foster parents. 11. Adoptions of funds. 12. Respond to needs as you learn about them. 13. Train leaders. 14. Plant churches? Planting churches in difficult places is one of the best ways to care for the poor and marginalized. 15. Promote / support the adoption of children from your own country. 16. Move? go and live among the poor and the orphans. 17. Visit with a purpose; Have a plan. 18. Provide transition support when orphans reach adulthood and leave orphanages. 19. Use your professional skills. 20. Fight against trafficking in human beings. 21. Warn the orphan? fight poverty and bad education, which often perpetuate the breakdown of the family unit.