A Review - Adopted For Life
Owen Strachan has a great review of Russell Moore's, Adopted For Life. He writes:
The text itself is full of passion, biblical theology, and humor. It is not a straight theology of adoption, a personal reflection on adoption, or a handbook on the rudiments of the adoption process. It is a mixture of all three. As a result, the text simultaneously teaches, edifies, provokes, and moves the reader. Though a text that purports to cover adoption, it ends up covering much more, and stands in my mind as something of a mini-biblical theology of salvation.Further on:
I cannot commend the book highly enough. In the face of numerous heartbreaking miscarriages, Moore and his wife Maria traveled to Russia to adopt two boys some years ago, the story that provides the backbone of the text. After beginning with this personal touch, Moore proceeds to cover theological and practical aspects of adoption in midrash-like chapters that set the matter in cosmic perspective. Adopted for Life is a good title, though The Drama of Adoption might also have captured the spirit of the text.
Many Christians are catching a heart for adoption. This is a most welcome trend. I am quite sure that those who are on the fence about adoption will, after reading this powerful book, find themselves irresistibly drawn to contributing to the cause in some way. The image painted by Moore of his first visit to the Russian orphanage where his sons lay in darkness and filth is indelibly printed in my mind. It will be in yours, too, and with the rest of the book, it will drive you to pray and to work to contribute to the culture of gospel-centered adoption as an application of the theological doctrine.
In orphanages across the world, children languish, unwanted, unnoticed, unheard. Their lives have no purpose or beauty. Most of them will suffer through childhood and go on to an early death, fizzling out like comets in a sky that nobody sees. It is my hope and prayer that the book will go far and wide, spreading a culture of adoption in Christian churches, causing families to abandon ordinary, easy, low-cost, low-reward Christianity and drive them instead to take on the challenge of adoption. Whether fertile or infertile, rich or poor, all who live wisely and generously can in some way participate in this outworking of biblical theology.(HT:Z)
2 comments:
From the movie Martian Child, starring John Cusack...
"...I've already argued the reasons not to bring another child into this world. But how do you argue against the logic of loving one that is already here?"
I've been feeling for a couple of years now that anyone who speaks out against abortion should also be prepared to be a strong proponent of adoption. And not just by "other people." What do you think, Mark?
Amen, Angela! I am starting to write a message for our church about adoption and desiring to see people (especially Japanese people) start truly considering it as a great means of sharing about what God has done for us - both to their child, the rest of their family, and to outsiders. Adoption is simply a beautiful thing! We are also praying about it... God is already beginning to stir in me. We'll see what He has. I would appreciate your prayers about this.
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