It has been WAY TOO
LONG since I have posted anything, but I knew when I began this blog
that there would come a time when I just could not get around to it. Since we
began this adoption journey, it has sparked countless conversations and
discussions. I recently had one that I would like to share with a very caring
individual, who is very sincere in their Christian faith and walk. This
individual was asking us questions about the process and about the adjustments
we will have to make in our family to accept a special needs child. With a very
caring and sincere heart they asked, "Have we really considered the
impacts and difficulties a new child, especially a special needs child, will
bring to our family? This could really strain your marriage and impact what
your kids are able to do, have you really considered all that?" And to
that I said, "Well, I am trying to take a Gospel-centered approach and
think of it like this, 'what happens to that child if we do not go get
her?'" And this person's response to me was something like this, "Oh,
I try not to think of what happens to her if she is not adopted as I know her
life will be horrible and hopeless."
I want to take a minute to focus on this last statement.
Now, this person's last response is significant, and shows us where our hearts
really lie. As I have discussed before, Scripture is crystal clear that the
church is COMMANDED, NOT
called, to look after orphans (the fatherless). However, we have somehow taken
a clear command for the church and turned it into an option for only some in
the church. That in mind, back to this person's last statement. Based on their
response, we must ask 'why do we feel that sting in our conscience when we
think about these orphans?' The reason we feel that sharp sting of guilt when
we think of these children is because the Spirit is convicting us of "the
good we ought to be doing" that we are not doing (the Spirit is here to
convict us of sin!). When we are confronted, since we have changed this clear
command into an option, we choose to look away (or give our "table scraps")
and justify our lack of action by saying "we are not called to do
that". The Spirit is convicting, but our hearts have become hardened.
These children are essentially out-of-sight-out-of-mind.
We as Christians have a choice, the hard road (confronting
our SIN and following Christ) or the easy road (turning away,
out-of-site-out-of-mind). Let us never forget Jesus' strong words of warning in
Matthew 7:13 - 14, " Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate
and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the
road that leads to life, and only a
few find it."
I will end this discussion as I ended a class I taught
this summer where we discussed this topic and ended with this question,
"What would you do if that was your child over there?" I have no
doubt most of us would gladly, speedily, sell everything we have to go and get
them as fast as possible! If we did not have the resources, we would HOPE the CHURCH (meaning the people who are
the church, not an institution) WOULD STEP UP and help us get there! If we couldn't get to them, we
would hope and pray someone would! The last thing they would be is
"out-of-sight-out-of-mind"! The real question is, "do we REALLY want Jesus to break our
hearts for what breaks His?" Not just the thought of the horrible lives these
unadopted orphans will live break His heart, but to make it even worse, His
followers intentional actions
to avoid them and put them out-of-sight-out-of-mind breaks His heart even more!
My hope and prayer is that NONE of us is so deceived to
think we are on the narrow road to life, only to really be on the easy road to
destruction, eternal destruction (Matt 7:21 - 27). How thankful I am that Jesus
is a "friend of sinners", sinners like me!
"Oh Jesus friend of sinners, open MY eyes to the world at
the end of MY pointing fingers. Let MY heart be led by mercy. Let us reach with
open arms and open doors. Oh Jesus friend of sinner, break MY heart for what
breaks yours!" - Casting Crowns
Andrew
