Religion of God

 

Verse:

 

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” – apostle James (James 1:27, KJV)

 

Focus: “the fatherless”.

 

Meaning?

 

“a child growing up without a father for whatever reason.”

 

The child is NOT at fault for whatever sin a parent could have made, Verse:

 

“Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” – God Speaks in (Ezekiel 18:19 – 20, KJV)

 

Please consider reading a theologically insightful article below written by an adopted child himself, to quote:

 

Adoption is not for everyone.

 

All Called to Help

 

The Lord doesn’t place a call on everyone’s heart to adopt. Nevertheless, I think the church should handle adoption and caring for the fatherless like we handle the Great Commission. While not everyone is called to adopt, as part of the church everyone does play a role in caring for the fatherless (James 1:27).

 

 

 

There are innumerable ways to carry out this role. Here are a couple suggestions:

 

Incorporate the issue into regular preaching from the pulpit. God’s care for the vulnerable is evident throughout Scripture, so instead of a topical sermon consider addressing these themes regularly.

 

Make adoption an inner-church dialogue between believers. Good theology should be the foundation of all action, and the theology of adoption should lead to action.

 

Assist those who’ve chosen to foster or adopt by offering financial, emotional, and spiritual support.

 

Pray for more children to be adopted. Pray for the parents fostering and adopting, and pray for the kids who’ve been adopted.

 

Three Common Objections

 

But what about those considering adoption who have concerns? Some of the common arguments against adoption are:

 

1. “We don’t have enough money.”

 

If the Lord wants you to adopt, he will provide the means to fulfill what he’s called you to. Yes, you may have to pinch pennies and save for a long time, and your desire for an adopted child may get delayed because of finances. But don’t lose hope. Domestic adoption is often a lot less expensive than international adoption, so consider adopting locally or fostering to adopt.

 

“Wait for the LORD,” the psalmist writes, “be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Ps. 27:14). May all who are watching you go through this process be encouraged and edified by your trust in God.

 

 

 

 

2. “I can’t love this child as my own since they don’t share my blood.”

 

Adoption’s been a part of my vocabulary for my entire life because I’m adopted, my five siblings are adopted, my cousin is adopted, and I seek to educate others on adoption. I readily acknowledge, though, that adoption isn’t as common for most.

 

Christians should be on the forefront of dispelling the notion you can’t truly love a child just because they don’t carry your genes. What a spectacular way to demonstrate the gospel to the world when we intentionally choose to love and care for those who aren’t like us. We can love extravagantly because God has loved us extravagantly. If it’s a temptation for you to think you couldn’t love a child because they aren’t your “own” flesh and blood, remember the essence of the gospel: God loved and chose you, even though you were an unworthy outsider.

 

3. “It’s going to be hard.”

 

You bet it is! But what worth having is easy? Ask yourself questions like:

 

Am I willing to die to myself, in order to rescue and love a child?

 

Am I willing to risk loving someone who might not immediately love me back?

 

As you ponder such questions, ponder Paul’s words:

 

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9–10)

 

It’s when you’re at your weakest that the Lord shines most brightly through you, invading your heart with his strength. Don’t shy away from something just because it may be difficult. Go into adoption with your eyes wide open, knowing the Lord will be with you every step of the way.

 

 

 

 

Adoption and the Gospel

 

Your actions on earth have eternal consequences. Choose wisely. Choose well.

 

Adoption is beautiful, but it’s not natural. It’s a result of the fall. Yet God in his stunning grace has redeemed what’s been broken. He not only redeems the fatherless; he’s woven adoption into the gospel itself. As John Piper has observed, “The gospel is not a picture of adoption. Adoption is a picture of the gospel.”

 

Regardless of the path we choose, or the plans the Lord has for us, as Christians we are benefactors of the greatest adoption in history. Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we are adopted into God’s family as his sons and daughters. Brothers and sisters, rest and delight in your immovable standing with your heavenly Father.

 

Source:

 

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-you-should-consider-adoption/?amp

 

 

 

P/S: A Good Local Example in Kajang, Malaysia?

 

Desa Amal Jireh. Please visit and support them (financially or otherwise) in link below:

 

http://daj.org.my/

 

 

Thank You!

 

 

 

P/S 2: I’m NOT a Mormon or LDS believer though this nice image is from them. They are certainly doing this part right!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P/S 3: Wolverine – A Marriage & Adoption Role Model in Real Life

 

To quote:

 

“Hugh Jackman may seem loud and dramatic on set but he is quite different in reality. He is a traditional family man who still upholds the values of marriage and togetherness. He is a Christian and is quite religious. The versatile actor has been married to his wife Deborra-Lee Furness who he met on the set of Correlli. He confesses that meeting the lovely woman was the best thing that came out of his stint with the production.

The couple who soon became friends and later lovers finally tied the knot on April 11, 1996. They have two adopted children Oscar Maximillian and Ava Eliot. Jackman and Furness opted for adoption after Furness suffered two miscarriages.”

Source:

https://answersafrica.com/hugh-jackman-biography-cancer-wife.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which Gospel? – The Gospel which Proves that the “Poor” are the “Chosen” ones.

 

Really?

 

Yes, Verses agreeing to the above & the quote in image:

 

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

 

For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,

 

and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

 

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God CHOOSE the POOR of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

 

But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” – apostle James (James 2:1 – 6, NASB)

 

P/S: Context?

 

The ‘Irrefutable Context’ of the meaning of the word “poor” in Verses above clearly refers to “those who have less in wealth or riches or materialistic things”.

 

Please allow me to repeat the ‘phrase’ which proves that ‘God CHOSE these POOR’ (Predestination, Election Doctrine) from the Verses above:

 

“… Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God CHOOSE the POOR of this world…”

 

Will it really happen?

 

Indeed,

 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:35, NASB)

 

Peace to you