Recently in Gospel Focus Category

My fundamental identity is not found in the life I lived today, no matter how well I think I lived it. I have the privilege of working each day to bring justice to orphans, particularly the orphans of Ethiopia. There are approximately 10 million orphans in Ethiopia today, creating a huge need for physical support and for adoption. There are orphans as young as two years old who live on the street begging daily for food. James 1:27 says that one of the essential marks of true religion is caring for orphans in their affliction. I am committed both personally and vocationally to serving Ethiopia's orphans through our adoption program and orphan care ministry. It is certainly a great cause that is close to the heart of God. But my fundamental identity must not be found in my little work to bring a small measure of drop-in-a-bucket justice to Ethiopia's orphans.

My fundamental identity is found in the One who lived and died in my place, in the One whom God raised up from the place of the dead ones, in the One who is seated at the right hand of the Father. The One in whom the Father will unite all things, things in heaven and things on earth, is, amazingly, my fundamental identity. He is the One who savingly visited me in my affliction—affliction caused by my own sin and rebellion. Jesus frees me to do what little I can for the orphans of Ethiopia even when my efforts really amount to nothing when compared to the number of orphans who are in need. Fortunately, my identity is not found in what I do. It's found in who Jesus is and what he's done.

If you didn't get the chance to hear our interview today on Calling for Truth, you can stream the audio here or download it here. I first posted about this interview yesterday at my adoption blog.

Early today Kevin Boling and Paul Dean interviewed Laura Godwin (Director of Carolina Hope and adoptive mother), Dr. Voddie Baucham (conference speaker, adoptive parent and author of Family-Driven Faith), and me on the wonderful subject of adoption. If I may say so myself, it was an excellent interview. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing and learning from what Laura and Voddie had to say about this topic that is so close to the heart of God.

If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the relationship between spiritual and earthly adoption, let me encourage you to listen to this interview. Also, I am available to speak on theological adoption and its implications for the earthly practice of adoption in churches, Sunday school classes, and Bible studies, as well as conduct workshops. You can contact me through Carolina Hope’s office (go to our website’s contact page).

My most recent blog interview about transracial adoption and the gospel is with J.B. Watkins, Senior Pastor of St. Roch Community Church, a multi-cultural congregation called to serve the St. Roch and St. Claude neighborhoods of New Orleans. Desire Street Ministries planted St. Roch Community Church in an effort "to replicate its model of incarnational ministry and indigenous leadership development." Danny Wuerffel, Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, writes: "Desire Street Ministries exists—to revitalize impoverished urban neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. As a part of that mission, we consciously try to combat injustice and to share God’s heart for the poor." St. Roch Community Church was launched in January 2007 as a result of this mission. It is a community of believers that is committed to preaching the gospel in word and deed, discipling children, youth, and adults, and addressing the felt needs of these New Orleans' urban communities. Here's the link:

J.B. Watkins on Transracial Adoption and the Gospel

"The gospel word and the gospel community are essential. My heart needs to hear that word often if it is to be filled with 'inexpressible and glorious joy'. It is among the community of God's poeple that the word will be brought to bear on my life frequently and perceptively. It is through his word and among his people that the Holy Spirit works to break this sinner's heart and renews it so that I love God - truly, madly and deeply" (Total Church: A radical reshaping around gospel and community, p. 203).

There are currently three adoption interviews over at Carolina Hope's adoption blog. Give them a read. They're all very good (in my humble opinion).

Thabiti on Transracial Adoption and the Gospel Interview with Dorothy Bode (adoptive parent and member of Bethlehem Baptist Church) Interview with Sherrie Eldridge, author and adult adoptee

Carolina Hope's adoption blog, from hope to reality, just published an interview with Thabiti Anyabwile entitled "Transracial Adoption and the Gospel." I think you'll find it very helpful.

One of my deepest desires is that the doctrine of adoption would be recovered within the Christian church, that it would be valued, treasured and articulated by pastors (and their people) and theologians even as the doctrine of justification is. Progress is being made, but there is much more needed—not only in its recovery but also in its proper understanding. It is a doctrine that makes known the great glory of God's grace (see Ephesians 1:5-6). This is one of the reasons I am thrilled that Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency has commissioned me to study and articulate the precious, life-transforming doctrine of adoption.

"Of course it had never been doubted or concealed by any worthy expositor of the ways of God in salvation, that we are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Adoption is a Christian benefit. But much depends on the place in the mind given to a thought like this, and, especially, much depends on the dogmatic form it assumes, and the virtue allowed to it in the system" (Robert Rainy).

If you are an adoptive family (or are at least considering adoption), let me encourage you to read the book of Ephesians with your own adoptive family in mind. It is full of instruction that will strengthen and enrich relationships within adoptive families (or in any family for that matter). Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, author of The Spirit of Adoption: At Home in God's Family, writes:

“Shortly before he died, the New Testament scholar Bo Reicke was reworking his approach to Ephesians…In his revision, Reicke was going to assert that the last three [chapters of Ephesians], filled with practical application, were the heart of the book. Chapters 4-6 are filled with advice and admonitions about how to live and love as family of faith: Children of disobedience and wrath are to walk as children of light. Specific instructions are given as to how ‘beloved children’ related to one another. Household codes (rules of conduct) are offered in chapters 5 and 6.

“Why are these practical chapters the heart of the book? Because they reveal how to live as adopted children of God. Ephesians 4-6 develops the doctrine of adoption that is presented in the first three chapters. They not only talk about how to live as Christians; they tell us how an adopted family functions. For example, Ephesians 4:11-13 develops the theme of acceptance-of-differences, which is an essential theme in healthy adoptive families; the passage elaborates on this theme by advocating an acceptance-of-differences- of-gifts given by Christ for ministry. To illustrate this theme, in Ephesians 4:15-16 an image is developed of the various parts of the body. The body comprises different limbs, organs, and systems, but it is the very difference that makes the body truly functional. Ephesians 5:1 contains an exhortation to be as ‘beloved children’ as Christians in Ephesus. This injunction was not given to flesh-and-blood siblings, but rather to the diversified followers of Christ who were forming a family by faith” (Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, The Spirit of Adoption: At Home in God’s Family, 98-99).

You don't have to read too far into Ephesians to recognize that it is a letter that cares deeply about theological adoption. Just four verses in Paul writes, "In love [God the Father] predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace." Paul chooses to introduce this great epistle by highlighting God's gracious work of adoption through His Son. No other book in the New Testament does this (though the Gospel of John comes close—see John 1:12).

I think Bo Reicke was right when he argued that the purpose of Ephesians 4-6 is to instruct Christians about how to live within God's adoptive family. If you are adoptive parents that are looking for a book that will provide much wisdom for your adoptive family, start with Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Not only is it time-tested; it's also inspired by the One who not only knows everything there is to know about adoption but also invented it, God.

*Originally posted at from hope to reality.

This was originally posted at from hope to reality. One of my co-workers, Josh, made an insightful comment on the post. I included it below.

The writers of the Heidelberg Catechism, one of the most influential confessional documents ever created, thought the doctrine of adoption was important enough to be included in this beautifully written question and answer document. I'm grateful they did. In it they briefly address the relationship between Christ's Sonship and ours.

Question 33. Why is Christ called the "only begotten Son" of God, since we are also the children of God?

Answer: Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God; but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for his sake.

Josh's comment in response to the above post:

It’s interesting that even before the era of positive adoption language, theological adoption is framed in the Catechism in terms of “natural” sonship vs. sonship by adoption — rather than “real” sonship vs. sonship by adoption. I conclude from this that you might be able to make an argument from theology for positive adoption terms. If we’re thinking about those theological parallels, then saying “they have 3 real kids and 2 adopted” is not just insensitive (a good social reason to avoid language like that), but it’s also theologically pernicious! If adoption doesn’t create a real parent-child relationship, then what’s our relationship to God?

This also has implications for the fringe anti-adoption movement that claims adoption creates a “legal lie” when it establishes a new parent-child relationship. This argument rests on the assumption that BIOLOGY = REALITY or HUMAN DESCENT = TRUE IDENTITY. But St. Paul tells us that under the New Covenant, human descent isn’t the primary issue anymore.

Hm … lots of theological implications that you can post about in the future, Dan. Thanks for your thoughts on adoption.

Charles Garland, co-author of "The Current Intellectual State of Affairs in America" with Tim Keller, preached a very helpful sermon on law and gospel from Exodus 20:1-3 on August 19th.. Listen to it here. Dowload it here.