Adopted for Life

First of all, let me just say that I LOVE this book. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I've read it 5-6 times over the past year... I tend to pick it up every time I get a little frustrated with this whole process and need some solid, Biblical encouragement.  It also wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this book played a powerful role in helping us decide to begin the adoption process. I could preface this by giving a lot of personal endorsements as to why it's so good, but I think I'll let this quote speak for itself.

The gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans close to home and around the world. As we become more attuned to the gospel, we'll have more of a burden for orphans. As we become more adoption-friendly, we'll be better able to understand the gospel.  I want to call us all to consider how encouraging adoption- whether we adopt or whether we help others adopt- can help us peer into the ancient mystery of our faith in Christ...

It is one thing when the culture doesn't "get" adoption. What else could one expect when all of life is seen as the quest of "selfish genes" for survival? It is one thing when the culture doesn't "get" adoption and so speaks of buying a cat as "adopting" a pet. But when those who follow Christ think the same way, we betray that we miss something crucial about our own salvation. 

Adoption is not just about couples who want children- or who want more children. Adoption is about an entire culture within our churches, a culture that sees adoption as part of our Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself. 

... what would it mean if our churches and families were known as the people who adopt babies- and toddlers, and children, and teenagers. What if we as Christians were known, once again, as the people who take in orphans and make of them beloved sons and daughters?

When we adopt- and when we encourage a culture of adoption in our churches and communities- we're picturing something that's true about our God. We, like Jesus, see what our Father is doing and do likewise (John 5:19). And what our Father is doing, it turns out, is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters.