Transracial Adoption

I'm finishing a book that my friend sent to me called, Adopted for Life, authored by Russell Moore. It is primarily about the church's responsibility with adoption and the orphan crises. Frankly, I think there are very, very few churches that view adoption the way that it should be viewed - as the ultimate act of "religion." Frankly, it is so much easier to sponsor a child or go on a short-term mission trip than it is to commit your entire life to a child. While a bowl of rice or a VBS program is beneficial, it still doesn't provide the orphan what he really needs - a family.

I've also been discouraged how open some people are to Asian or Latino descended children, but not African. You also wouldn't believe how many times I've kindly had people explain that they couldn't do what we did, because their Great Aunt Ethel or their parents or whoever is just too prejudice. My thoughts are, "get over it," but they seem to think it disqualifies them from even considering a child of African descent.

Russell Moore writes (on page 157)... "For some Christians, though, the concern is about family members and how they'll react to a child of a different race. I've seen young couples convulsing in tears on the couch in my office, asking how they can love their new child and honor their father and mother at the same time. I've seen family members of every race and every region of the country turn up their noses at the idea of a niece, nephew or grandchild of another ethnicity, usually with some highly spiritual rhetoric about honoring father and mother or about 'best interest of the child' or a thousand other reasons."

"What I'm surprised by is how many of these extended family members are deacons or women's ministry directors or ushers or Sunday school teachers in their church. They're blissfully unaware, it seems, that what's resting on them is the spirit of the antichrist. They seem not to comprehend that their own devotion to their flesh would disqualify non-Semitic folks like them from the promises of God. If Jesus agreed with them on adoption and race, they'd be in hell."

"One of the most chilling comments I've ever heard is from an adopting white family told by a relative that he wouldn't have a black child in his family tree. When the young couple gently told the relative he was in sin and that, should he go to heaven, he'll be around a lot of persons of color, the man replied, "Well, then I'll have a long time to learn how to love them." Well, no, sir, you won't have that long. The Bible says you have a very short time - short as a vapor - to learn to love your brothers and sisters. The Bible tells us, "We know we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death." (I John 3:14)

Moore concludes.... "If your relatives love their bigotry more than your child, speak to them lovingly but directly, just as you would if they were caught in any other sin. But don't give them veto power to your family."

My sentiments exactly!