I finally got around to reading Orphanology by Tony Merida and Rick Morton. They constantly reference the fact that adoption is central to the Gospel because of God adopting us into His family. For some reason while reading I thought about the fact people say the Gospel is offensive. So, if adoption is a central theme of the Gospel and the Gospel is offensive--it means adoption is offensive. How can adoption be offensive? Kids are cute and adoption is good. Certainly no one would EVER say something good is offensive, right? Psh, I'm pretty sure breathing is offensive to someone somewhere...I always thought that the Gospel being offensive meant simply that people didn't like hearing they were wrong and in sin. I think that is true, but it doesn't stop there. The Gospel continues to be offensive because it results in a transformation and that requires a personal sacrifice. No one is super excited to make a sacrifice, especially if it's something they enjoy or want to keep. I'm not talking about your new iPhone necessarily, I'm talking about a sacrifice of time, energy and attention. This is how adoption is offensive. It requires us to give something up.
"Do something. Do something for the good of the fatherless and the glory of God who has made us ex-orphans through Jesus Christ." (Orphanology)
Did you realize you were an orphan before you had a relationship with Jesus Christ, without hope or any kind of future? If we understood our true depravity without Christ we would be way less offended by the thought of "sacrificing" our life and time (don't forget, it's actually NOT your life, it's God's) to make a difference in the life of a child who has no earthly father and bring glory to God. Not only that, we extend the offer of a Heavenly Father and an eternal inheritance to a child through adoption that this child may have never otherwise had the opportunity to receive. Personally, that's a HUGE perk of adoption. I'm ready not only to change someone's present state but participate in changing someone's eternity.
So, "Do something." This may be my favorite line so far in the 50-ish pages I've read so far. Anyone who knows Kevy and me know that we are people of action, admittedly, to a fault. The hardest advice given to us and the most difficult Scriptures to obey are "be still," "wait," "listen." Maybe a few of you can relate.
I know what "Do something" means for us. We are supposed to adopt. We have a choice. We can be offended by the fact that we are going to have to make changes or we can recognize all God did for us and willingly "do something." Adoption requires us to make financial changes. Adoption is going to require us to focus on additional children and not just our biological ones. Our biological children will at times be offended by adoption because they will have to share our time. Adoption requires us as a family to put someone else's needs before our own comforts. Adoption isn't offensive--it's an opportunity to live the Gospel.
What is your response to "Do something?" What is your personal sacrifice? What is your step in living out the Gospel that was extended to you as an orphan? How are you going to respond to God's instructions to care for orphans?
We live in such a self-centered culture with a very me-centered view of God and an American Christianity. We have 2.5 kids because that's what still allows us to live a comfortable lifestyle. We turn on our faucet and out comes clean water. Sometimes we filter it simply because we don't like the taste. We feel we are struggling because we can't always give our kids the latest and greatest toy, pair of shoes or clothing. We have cans of random veggies, like hominy, (side note, who eats that other than MY husband?) in our pantries we will never get to because it's just not what we are in the mood for that night or any night. We treat God like Santa and make our list of petitions, especially when someone is sick. We believe God will give us all we need--food, shelter, clothing. We don't consider that in many places in this world people are loved by God and without those basics yet those people love and find joy in God in a way we never will.
We are all in a pretty easy position to do something. It may not be adoption, but find a way to do something, because someone else did something for us first!
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