When You Shouldn't Adopt: Insights from Russell Moore

This is an excerpt that I read on Justin Taylor's Blog this afternoon:

From Russell Moore’s post “Don’t Adopt!”

Children shatter your life-plan. Adoption certainly does.

It’s worth it.

But Jesus tells us we ought to know that a king going into battle must measure his troops, a tower-builder must count the expenses of the project (Lk. 14:28-31). Those who see adoption as a warm, sentimental way of having a baby are mistaken and dangerous. There are far too many who plunge in without counsel, without a commitment to fidelity no matter what. They search around for a baby who fits their specifications. And babies never fit your specifications…at least not when they grow up.

If what’s behind all of this isn’t crucified, war-fighting, eyes-open commitment, you are going to wind up with a child who is twice orphaned. He or she will be abandoned the first time by fatherlessness and the second time by the rejection of failing to live up to the expectations of parents who had no business imposing such expectations in the first place.

We need a battalion of Christians ready to adopt, foster, and minister to orphans. But that means we need Christians ready to care for real orphans, with all the brokenness and risk that comes with it. We need Christians who can reflect the adopting power of the gospel, which didn’t seek out a boutique nursery but a household of ex-orphans who were found wallowing in our own blood, with Satan’s genes in our bloodstreams.

If what you like is the idea of a baby who fulfills your needs and meets your expectations, just buy a cat. Decorate the nursery, if you’d like. Dress it up in pink or blue, and take pictures. And be sure to have it declawed.

The rest of the post is available here.

I can certainly testify to the fact that adoption, just like most things in life, seems much more glamorous and romantic on the front end. Don't get me wrong, I dearly love my children, and they are great blessings in my life, but the days are not always easy and the transitions are not always perfectly smooth. I must agree with Dr. Moore that we cannot bring orphans into our home to satisfy a longing in us...just as we should not marry to satisfy a longing or do a whole slew of things that we think will "make everything better". Only God can fully satisfy, so our purpose behind adoption must be to imitate the gospel and grace of Jesus. We love because He first loved us. We, who were once far off, have been brought near to God...are given the Spirit of sonship and have the grace of calling to the God of the Universe "Abba, Father."

May we, as recipients of this grace, champion adoption and extend grace to "the least of these" as an expression of love for our Father and care for the defenseless rather than seek our own selfish fulfillment in what cannot fulfill. I pray that more children find families but also pray that those families realize that the call of adoption is not an easy road by the standards of this world, but, as are all things that God calls us to, is good and joyful and life-changing.