I just started reading Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches by Russell D. Moore. I’m not that far into the book but I’m being challenged already. There were two paragraphs in chapter 1 that really struck me about the importance of keeping adoption connected to the gospel.
“Adoption is, on the one hand, gospel. In this, adoption tells us who we are as children of the Father. Adoption as gospel tells us about our identity, our inheritance, and our mission as sons of God. Adoption is also defined as mission. In this, adoption tell us our purpose in this age as the people of Christ. Missional adoption spurs us to join Christ in advocating for the helpless and the abandoned.
As soon as you peer into the truth of one aspect, you fall headlong into the truth of the other, and vice versa. That’s because it’s the way the gospel is. Jesus reconciles us to God and to each other. As we love our God , we love our neighbor; as we love our neighbor, we love our God. We believe Jesus in heavenly things – our adoption in Christ; so we follow him in earthly things – the adoption of children. Without the theological aspect, the emphasis on adoption too easily is seen as mere charity. Without the missional aspect, the doctrine of adoption too easily is seen as mere metaphor.” (emphasis mine)
Let me know if you’ve read this book & if you’ve got any thoughts on Moore’s view of missional adoption.
I have just finished this book. Wonderful book! I loved how Moore supported all his ideas about adoption with Scripture. I loved how he challenges his readers to really think about adoption as a mission and gospel. i love how he challenges the way one thinks about adoption. and I love his stories. He seems to have really struggled through a lot of the things he is talking about. And that shows character.
I would def recomend this book.
I have a hard time with adoption being seen as charity. Ever. That shouldn’t be an adoptive parent’s reason for adoption. We aren’t saviors.
That is so key! Thanks for sharing this great quote!
Haven’t read it, but if it joing missions, adoption and the gospel, I’m sure I would love it.