the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Orphans Calling

This has been sitting heavily on my mind the past 12 hours or so.  I am grieved.
It is something I heard yesterday... from a Christian...

"My daughter and son-in-law (both "devout" Christians) want but can't have children... and they don't want to adopt and inherit another person's mess... I guess not everyone is called to adopt." 

I don't know about you... but this sits heavily on my soul.  This makes my heart hurt.

What if God said that about YOUR mess?! 

Hanna?  She's a complete train wreck.  I don't want to inherit THAT!  Let's turn away from that! Out of sight out of mind!

What if HE said that your mess was too big for Him to adopt YOU!?
Thankfully, our God NEVER abandons us as orphans.  He is involved!  He has adopted US as his own children.  He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Eph 1:5)  We can cry out to Him, "Abba! Father!" He makes our mountains of messes into tiny little molehills. Walls come crumbling down. Evil, diabolical rulers fall at God's command.

Did you know that if less that 10% of the Christian population adopted, there would be NO orphans. Only 1 in 10 of us need to adopt. Christians, caring for orphans is NOT a calling.  It is commanded.  You can not cry out for the unborn and then abandon the resulting child.  Turning your back on the orphaned is the SAME thing, the VERY same evil as cutting an unborn child from the womb of it's mother.  Stop using the vast excuses of the enemy and step up!  BE the Church.  Care for the fatherless.

So how do you care for orphans?  
1. Adoption, Foster Care or Orphan Hosting (New Horizons for Children)
2. Fundraise or donate to people who are adopting or hosting.
3. Advocate. Pray. Stop allowing our American self-centered comfy Christian culture to sit and do nothing.

Do you think I'm being dramatic?  Here only a handful of the Bible Verses on Caring for Orphans...
Psalms 82:3-4 - Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
 
James 1:27 - Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
 
Galatians 4:4-6 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
 
Psalms 68:5-6 - Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.
 
Psalms 10:18 - Defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
 
Psalms 10:14,17-18 You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
 
Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
 
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 - He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
 
Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
 
Matthew 18:5 - And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
 
Matthew 25:40 - I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!
 
Hosea 14:3 - In you the orphan finds mercy.
 
Exodus 22:22-23 - Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.
 
Romans 8:14-16 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
 
Job 29:12 - Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.