Today’s guest blogger is Danielle Evans. Like me, Danielle is a member of Grace Fellowship Church. Unlike me, Danielle is a graduate of Southern Seminary. When I asked if she would like to contribute a guest post, she decided to talk to Dr. Russell Moore to ask him a few questions about adoption. (You may also like to read my review of his book, Adopted for Life)
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Dr. Russell Moore, author of Adopted For Life, shows why Christians are exhorted to take care of orphans and widows. He has first hand experience with adoption, as he has adopted two of his sons, Benjamin and Timothy. I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Moore a few questions regarding this important subject.
1.) Please share a little about your experience with adoption and how you and Maria decided to adopt.
Maria and I decided to adopt after years of infertility and three miscarriages. The Lord actually worked first on Maria’s heart. She waited for me to come around and I did, suddenly, sitting in my car. There was an out-of-the-blue enthusiasm for the idea that I hadn’t had before. People often wonder how we thought through all the questions of domestic vs. international or which country from which to adopt. The truth is, we didn’t think through it at all.
Maria happened to go to an adoption seminar here in our city put on by an agency with expertise in Russia. Because that is who we came to know, we went with their area of knowledge. At the time, Russia happened to be the quickest least burdensome route to take. We were quite simply too young (in our twenties) for some places to allow us to adopt, given their restrictions. I say these things “happened” to have been this way, but, of course, I believe God was working all things together to put our family together as it is.
2.) How does adoption represent the Gospel?
Adoption is representative of the gospel because the gospel is an adoption. In Christ Jesus, God has declared us to be beloved children. He has welcomed us to his table, given us a family of forefathers and foremothers, brothers and sisters. And he’s granted us an inheritance, everything that belongs to Jesus, which is the entire universe. Adoption shows precisely what the gospel shows that love is not simply a matter of biology (“the flesh”) but of the Spirit.
Moreover, adoption is part of a bigger biblical theme of care for orphans and widows. When we love orphans and widows, we are simply loving Jesus by showing mercy to those whom he calls the “least of these, my brothers and sisters.”
3.) Why should Christian families consider adoption?
Not every Christian or every Christian family is called to adopt or foster children. Every Christian is called to care for widows and orphans in their distress (Jas. 1:27). I think the first step for every Christian is simply to pray and ask for the wisdom to know how (not if!) you are called to care for widows and orphans, and then ask God for the opportunities to do so. You’ll be surprised how quickly he’ll answer this request, often in ways you don’t expect or even know yet that you’d want.
Beyond that, I think a family ought to ask whether there’s love enough and room enough in their home to welcome another child. A family ought to be sure though that they’re willing to “count the cost.” If you aren’t able to love beyond protecting your own genetic material, please don’t bring a child into that kind of situation, and work on your own spiritual condition first. If God is calling you to adopt though, I’d recommend looking around at adoption conferences or seminars in your area. There you’ll meet people who have adopted and who can help you see what would be the best situation (domestic, international, foster care, etc.) for you.