Tragic Beauty

Just imagine that you are in the middle of your favorite sports arena for your favorite team, for us it would be the Red Sox, you have this overwhelming feeling knowing that all of these people are here for one reason-to see them win. We wear our jerseys and baseball hats, we take pictures of everything, and we high five the person next to us when they score.

Now imagine that all of these people are not fighting for their favorite team to win but rather are defending someone- the fatherless, the orphan. Imagine that you are surrounded by hundreds of believers who have adopted children domestically and internationally, children with special needs, older children, and children of different skin color. Imagine that everyone around you believes in orphan care-welcome to my weekend. I had the privilege of going to Pure Religion Conference that was sponsored by Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina. We had speakers like Dan Cruver from Together for Adoption. We enjoyed music by Geoff Moore and hearing his story of adopting his little girls. What a weekend. My heart is bursting at the seams.

I have so much that I want to say but I believe I will have to write a few posts. I want to share with you somethings that I learned from the opening session then in the next few days, I will write about the workshops. So let me share with you what I learned...

Adoption is tragic beauty. It is tragic because some child had to lose his parents but it is beauty because some family got the joy of hand picking that child to be in their family. This is deeper than adopting a child, it is the simple story of Christ's love for us. My adoption into the kingdom of Christ is a tragic beauty. I disowned my father, I sinned against Him, I had hate in my heart. And what does He do? He picks up my pieces, my life and places me back together; welcoming me into His kingdom. I am not Fatherless. I have been adopted. When one stops and realizes this they should fall to their knees in adoration of this Maker. We have been adopted. We are saved. Adopting a child is a physical picture of the spiritual picture that Christ has drawn for us.

Now look at James 1:26-27 and be amazed. What I learned from Pastor Davey, the head pastor as Colonial, is that James is not writing to brand new believers, he is writing to those who are already strong in their faith. (This makes me understand why some Christians simply do not get adoption, they aren't there yet in their spiritually journey) James is saying that pure religion in the sight of God, not man, is to visit the orphans and widows in their distress. Now visit (that's the word used in my ESV Bible) means organized care, to strengthen someone. The pastor said that that word "visit" and the meaning of organized care is only use two other times in the Bible and it refers to Christ visiting us. Wow. So we are called as Christians to have organized care towards orphans and widows. And guess what he said? Adopting a child does not exempt you from this. Just because you did something amazing one time, doesn't mean your off the hook. He also said that adoption is not for everyone but orphan care is for everyone.

A different pastor went on to say that God funds what He favors. Did you get that? Yup, God funds those things that He favors. How many stories do you know of people just donating thousands of dollars to help someone bring home a child? I know many and I strongly believe that when you are in God's word, doing what God has called us to do, God will provide.

One of the exhibits gave 10 ways that every Christian can help the orphan or waiting child. And honestly, it doesn't sound like God is giving us an option. It sounds like He is commanding us to do something...

1- Pray for them. Tape a waiting child's picture on your dashboard and pray for them.
2- Speak up for them.
3- Provide for their needs. Give sacrificially (make it hurt...) to a reputable orphanage or someone who is adopting.
4- Support those who are already supporting the orphans.
5- Protect them from harm. Become a foster parent, adopt, raise money to help a children's home remove children from the streets. www.ebenzerfamily.org
6- Visit them where they are. Go on a mission trip. (This is where my heart is... I want to go!!) Take a dinner to a foster group home.
7-Give sacrificially. www.showhope.org or www.abbafund.org 
8- Encourage them to press on. Sponsor a child and offer hope.
9- Adopt them into your home
10- Mobilize your church for them.

If you looked through that list and thought that there is nothing that you can do for them, then you need to get into the Word. You need to strengthen your faith and realize how close adoption is to God's heart, after all He did adopt you.

 I will not apologize for being honest and stepping on someone's toes. The truth must be heard and I will speak for the Fatherless. I will do everything that I can to defend these children, after all did they have a choice? No one asked them to become orphans. Just remember that.

More on this conference to come...