The Worst Justification for Adoption Ever

 From a blog I happened to read to other day

The Bible commands us to “go into ALL the world and make disciples of ALL.” Adoption IS setting the captives free.  It’s rescuing children out of captivity (neglect, starvation, abuse) and bringing them into His glorious light.  Adoption is totally about bringing precious souls into the kingdom of God!  It’s salvation, people!

I don't even know where to start.  

To start with the desire to adopt should ONLY. EVER. BE. ABOUT. ONE. THING and that one thing is the desire to parent.  Notice that doesn't say SAVE- it says parent.  And even if the child is in the most deplorable, horrible, terrifying conditions ever- what happens after adoption is PARENTING- not rescuing or saving.  If you are adopting for any other reason besides you want to parent that child- DON'T ADOPT.  Sit home and write a big check to a NGO on the ground somewhere but do not adopt.

Many children who are being adopted are not in captivity.  And while group care is by no means an ideal place for children to be raised- many of them are not neglected, not starving and not being abused.  (in fact- watch the end of K's adoption video and look at the faces of the nannies and you will see she was not only not "in captivity" but she was loved beyond measure)  She didn't need rescued at all.  

Not only are most kids not in "captivity" some of them are even living or could live with their first families (gasp!) Families who have relinquished their children due to illness or poverty or coercion or corruption.  
(Maybe we should worry about that just a little bit more then we worry about their "captivity"- or does captivity not matter if what they are captive to is in some way our creation)


And what happens if you happen to adopt a child who was already Christian- who were already in His "glorious light"  Does God frown if you adopt a child who was already in the Kingdom of God.  Does that mean somewhere a pagan baby doesn't get saved because there's no more room at the inn so to speak?

And what message is the adoptee to take from this- that they were a charity case, that their first family was wrong or evil, that they should be grateful, that the reason they were ripped from everything and everyone familiar so that their adoptive parents can score some brownie points with God?

How awful it would be if every Christian stayed right here and never had a heart for our brothers and sisters across the ocean!

There are many, including some adult adoptees, who would argue that if that is your reason for adopting, it wouldn't be awful at all.