A well-written review of the new Rob Bell book...I know there are a lot of Rob Bell fans out there, and certainly a fair share of critics. In reading the selections from "Love Wins," it is clear Bell is making some dramatic leaps beyond the fringes of orthodoxy. It's a long, but valuable, read.
God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of “Love Wins”
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Called to Adopt?
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress" James 1:27
Most people in the United States would consider themselves "religious." (I know, I know, that word is not popular among Christians these days, but I don't mean it in the legalistic sense...I just mean that most people believe in something supernatural, something bigger than themselves.) In fact, the vast majority (the last number I read was something upwards of 80%) of Americans label themselves as a Christian. Given that most people self-identify as Christ-followers, why is James 1:27 ignored by the majority of us? If we consider ourselves "religious," then why don't we want the right kind of religion, a type that God considers "pure" and "faultless"?
Maybe our Biblical illiteracy keeps us from grasping the heart of God when it comes to adoption. Sadly, a growing number of Christians spend very little time in the Bible, much less have an in-depth understanding of what Scripture teaches. Adoption is close to God's heart. James 1:27 is not the only place where God mandates orphan care...the Bible is full of references to taking care of children, the poor, the weak, and the voiceless. But, even more importantly, the Bible makes it clear that we are spiritually adopted by God. Through the sacrifice of Christ, we are grafted into God's family tree as his sons and daughters. When we see God participate in a process on a major scale, it usually means that we need to imitate his work on a human scale. Adoption is a God-act, and therefore needs to be a part of the work of the Church as well.
Maybe we don't understand the gravity of the problem. UNICEF estimates that there are 140-210 million orphans in the world. Every day, nearly 6,000 children become orphans. Over 2 million children become orphans each year in Africa alone. This is an epidemic of epic proportions. The Bible mandates that we take care of the orphans. Maybe we have such a problem on our hands because the Church has dropped the ball for 2,000 years and failed to be what God has called us to be. If the Church isn't taking care of orphans, who is going to? (And on that note, if the Church isn't feeding the hungry who will? clothing the naked? housing the homeless? And the list goes on)
Maybe a lot of us are waiting around to have the feeling we are "called" to adopt. We are no more "called" to adopt than we are "called" to be kind, to help the poor, to share the Gospel, etc. James doesn't say that adoption is part of pure religion for the super-spiritual or "called to adoption" crew. It's for Christians. That includes me, and if you're reading this, probably you. It's not just for middle-aged couples who already have kids. It's for young couples with babies. It's for widows. It's for couples with children and without children. Pure religion is for every Christian which means adoption is for every Christian. Maybe some circumstance keeps us from bringing a new child into the house (although I would venture to say that most of us have some pretty lame excuses for why our circumstances keep us from adoption), but even in that case we can contribute to the cause of adoption by giving to someone else, supporting others, etc.
Alyssa and I are in the same boat as all of you. So, we are going to stop worrying about the finances, family dynamics, waiting for our own babies, etc. God wants Christians to adopt. We're Christians. So, we're exploring adoption options and considering what our next step is. We would appreciate your prayer and wisdom, but more so I hope you consider this epidemic and get involved personally. Tonight, all over the world, children are alone, without parents or a family They are hungry, cold, alone, and sad. Their one dream is to have a family. How can you help?
Most people in the United States would consider themselves "religious." (I know, I know, that word is not popular among Christians these days, but I don't mean it in the legalistic sense...I just mean that most people believe in something supernatural, something bigger than themselves.) In fact, the vast majority (the last number I read was something upwards of 80%) of Americans label themselves as a Christian. Given that most people self-identify as Christ-followers, why is James 1:27 ignored by the majority of us? If we consider ourselves "religious," then why don't we want the right kind of religion, a type that God considers "pure" and "faultless"?
Maybe our Biblical illiteracy keeps us from grasping the heart of God when it comes to adoption. Sadly, a growing number of Christians spend very little time in the Bible, much less have an in-depth understanding of what Scripture teaches. Adoption is close to God's heart. James 1:27 is not the only place where God mandates orphan care...the Bible is full of references to taking care of children, the poor, the weak, and the voiceless. But, even more importantly, the Bible makes it clear that we are spiritually adopted by God. Through the sacrifice of Christ, we are grafted into God's family tree as his sons and daughters. When we see God participate in a process on a major scale, it usually means that we need to imitate his work on a human scale. Adoption is a God-act, and therefore needs to be a part of the work of the Church as well.
Maybe we don't understand the gravity of the problem. UNICEF estimates that there are 140-210 million orphans in the world. Every day, nearly 6,000 children become orphans. Over 2 million children become orphans each year in Africa alone. This is an epidemic of epic proportions. The Bible mandates that we take care of the orphans. Maybe we have such a problem on our hands because the Church has dropped the ball for 2,000 years and failed to be what God has called us to be. If the Church isn't taking care of orphans, who is going to? (And on that note, if the Church isn't feeding the hungry who will? clothing the naked? housing the homeless? And the list goes on)
Maybe a lot of us are waiting around to have the feeling we are "called" to adopt. We are no more "called" to adopt than we are "called" to be kind, to help the poor, to share the Gospel, etc. James doesn't say that adoption is part of pure religion for the super-spiritual or "called to adoption" crew. It's for Christians. That includes me, and if you're reading this, probably you. It's not just for middle-aged couples who already have kids. It's for young couples with babies. It's for widows. It's for couples with children and without children. Pure religion is for every Christian which means adoption is for every Christian. Maybe some circumstance keeps us from bringing a new child into the house (although I would venture to say that most of us have some pretty lame excuses for why our circumstances keep us from adoption), but even in that case we can contribute to the cause of adoption by giving to someone else, supporting others, etc.
Alyssa and I are in the same boat as all of you. So, we are going to stop worrying about the finances, family dynamics, waiting for our own babies, etc. God wants Christians to adopt. We're Christians. So, we're exploring adoption options and considering what our next step is. We would appreciate your prayer and wisdom, but more so I hope you consider this epidemic and get involved personally. Tonight, all over the world, children are alone, without parents or a family They are hungry, cold, alone, and sad. Their one dream is to have a family. How can you help?
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