Review: Adopted for Life

For quite some time now, I've been interested in adoption. I would love nothing more than to have a diverse family that is a testament to God's grace in my own life. A friend of mine recommended this book to me and I read it in a matter of days (which for me is rather impressive). It is powerful and thought-provoking, as the author, Russell Moore, speaks of his own experience adopting his two sons from Russia. The book begins in a somewhat theological manner, and ends with more practical information regarding adoption. Initially I thought I knew all there is to know about the theological aspect of adoption- we're adopted as sons and daughters of God so we should love those less fortunate, like orphans. Simple enough. It wasn't until I read the first parts of this book that I realized how desperately I need to constantly be reminded of my own sinful state and my own beautiful story of adoption.

Moore poses a scenario of adoption that painfully puts things into perspective. He encourages readers to imagine they're adopting a child that is twelve years old, has been in psychotherapy since a very young age, is a pyromaniac, enjoys skinning kittens alive and acts out sexually. Furthermore, he has a long history of violence such as abuse and serial murder. All of his family has ended their life by suicide. Moore ends the scenario by saying "He's you. And he's me." Chilling. But what a beautiful picture of the sinful state (fire, skinned kittens & all) that Christ rescued us from, adopting us into his family!

Moore goes on to say we often think we're naturally born into Jesus' family rather than adopted from a sinful state. I find myself thinking that all too often, thinking I'm worthy of being called a daughter of God and that I'm "good enough" to be a part of His eternal kingdom because of my own abilities. Moore not only speaks to the theory of adoption but reminds readers, like my forgetful self, that we are adopted from a horrid, wretched state, a state from which we couldn't save ourselves.

Because we're adopted, we have a new identity, an identity that isn't tied to the flesh, an identity found in Christ. And since this identity is of Christ, not of the flesh, we can forgo the "I want my kids to look like me" mentality.  If Jesus would have waited until we looked like Him to rescue us, we would still be waiting.

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

-Galatians 4:4-7