Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

To Look after Orphans 2

posted by Scot McKnight | 12:07am Thursday November 26, 2009

Tomorphan.jpgIn a week or two we will be making an announcement about an exciting opportunity for the Jesus Creed blog community. Today I want to quote some Bible and remind us that whether we take this verse in a more literal or more expansive sense, you and I — people of global privilege — have an obligation to care for orphans, widows and (to expand these) the marginalized and suffering and neglected. Now from James 1:27:

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James, brother of Jesus, defines “pure and undefiled” religion — as kosher of terms as you will ever find — as caring for orphans and widows and holiness. 

There are about 150 million orphans in the world today.

Do you know how many people that means? If you cut the USA in half, run a line down the Mississippi, and take everyone West of the big river, you will have approximately 150 million. Imagine everyone west of the Mississippi being an orphan, and dwell on it a minute. 

Millions of kids, millions of young adults, millions of folks emerging into adulthood with little parental modeling, less parental care, nurture and love and — here’s the worst part of this — millions of orphans sold into slavery, sexual slavery, and prostitution. Approximately 2.5 million orphaned children have the AIDS virus … and it is not possible to calculate the diseases, illnesses and lack of medical care for millions of orphaned children.

What ought also to disturb us is this: James says that “pure and undefiled” religion is to care for orphans (and widows). How pure and undefiled is our religion? Your religion?

In a week or two, as I said above, we will be making an announcement of an exciting opportunity we have been offered to care for orphans. The details will be clear soon, and when they are I’ll let you know.

I have posted this on Thanksgiving Day here in the USA for a reason: when we look at our abundance, may we think of those who suffer and are hungry and are orphaned.


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DJ

posted November 26, 2009 at 2:08 am


In 2007 we jumped through all the necessary hoops to adopt a special needs child from China. Her name was NiJun. Everything was ready and we expected to see her and take her home within only a couple of months. China then contacted our agency at the last minute and said we no longer qualified and would have to wait 2 more years to reapply. It had to do with rules changing in 2007 and how some of our paper work was submitted in 2006 and some in 2007. Long story short, even though we had been pre-approved, given NiJun’s picture and profile for selection, told our letters of intent to care were accepted…they canceled on us at the proverbial last minute.
In the meantime, our second child was conceived and born. He’s now 1.
The two years are up…
We are now starting the process again, come Jan. We’re told there is little chance of us adopting NiJun. She’d be at least 3 by now. We now feel called to adopt special needs domestically. Please pray for us. Please pray for NiJun with us. Please pray for the waiting child God will bring us. Please pray for the orphanage in China we support called Harmony House (http://www.harmonyoutreach.org). And…if you haven’t, please read Russell Moore’s book on adoption (http://www.crossway.org/product/9781581349115) should this issue be something important to you.
DJ|AMDG



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Steph

posted November 26, 2009 at 10:15 am


Our world has been profoundly changed by the adoption of our two boys from the foster care system here in the states. http://www.adoptuskids.org. I believe it’s a Kingdom issue – and everyone who even considers the idea should do it, because so few consider it. We have two adopted boys, two biological kids, and a house full of the best kind of chaos. Joy, indeed.



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Tim Franklin

posted November 26, 2009 at 5:18 pm


My wife and I, and our four children, are in the process of adopting a child from Haiti. It has been a winding, two-year journey and isn’t over yet. In this process we have learned so much about orphans and God’s heart for them. I am so glad that you are raising this issue and look forward to your announcement.



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Becky

posted November 27, 2009 at 10:35 pm


Thanks for your post. Orphan care is very close to my heart, and it’s disturbingly easy to ignore in America.



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Pastor Jachin Charley

posted December 5, 2009 at 9:40 am


My name is Jachin Charley, I am form India. I am serving the Lord as an Evangelist and helping the poor. I have started Jesus Gospel Ministry. Please pray for us.
Please visit our website
http://www.jesusgospelministry.webs.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS



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