Be The Fruit

Adopted For Life — Book Review

by Bill Blair on 11/12/09 at 8:15 am

Adopted For Life

In naming Adopted For Life by Russell Moore his number one read for 2009, well-known blogger Tim Challies described his reaction to the book as feeling like “Moore left it all on the field.”(link) I can think of no better way to describe this work that Dr. Moore has written.  In this book, Moore not only gives practical wisdom about adoption, but also the theological underpinnings that should drive all Christians to be involved in orphan care at one level or another.  Such information would be enough for a good book on adoption, but what puts this book over the top is how Moore pours out his heart, soul, and passion for adoption.  Such passion is derived not only from his personal experience of adopting children himself, but also from his love for Christ whom those of us who believe have been adopted into for eternity.

Why I Read the Book
To begin, I picked up this book because I have had the privilege of ministering to a several people who have either struggled with infertility, thinking of adopting children, have adopted children, or have been adopted themselves.  I have observed various struggles and questions that  each has encountered so I thought it would be helpful for me to help such people if I understood the topic a little better.  Second, while this is a fact I often forget, I am a parent who has adopted as well.  I adopted my oldest daughter as a stepparent dropping the “step” and became just “parent.”  The reason I often forget is a point that Moore drives home in this book:  “Adopted is a past tense verb (ch 8).”  As Moore points out, when a child is adopted he or she simply becomes a son or daughter and there is no perpetual state of being adopted just that he or she came into the family by unconventional means (much like the way those of us who are Gentiles becomes sons of Abraham through adoption in Christ).

Summary
In Adopted For Life Dr. Moore begins by recounting his personal experience of adopting two boys from Russia and proceeds to weave in a biblical/theological understanding of adoption showing its application from his experience.  As Moore recounts his experience, he does not just give a rosy picture, but gives reality.  Moore recounts the dismal conditions of the orphanage his boys came from showing how great the need is for parents to adopt kids and for whole communities to join in on the process.  Not only does Moore recount poor conditions in the orphanage, but he also recounts some poor conditions within his heart which were uncovered through the process.  Moore recounts several moments of repentance as he dealt with pride, a bad attitude, among other things.  I highlight this point because I think it is important.  For anyone going through this process (or any for that matter), there will always be a mix of motivations with some being godly and others being carnal and selfish.  I have seen people struggle with these mixed motivations as they desire to do something that glorifies God, but become concerned as they encounter motivations to glorify themselves.  Moore does a great service as he plainly reveals his difficulties showing that as we encounter mixed motivations, we should not become worried but simply repent and continue to grow into the likeness of Christ (We are all in a process).

As Moore proceeds, he shows that adoption is not just for individual couples, but for the entire community of the local church.  Moore lays out a vision where entire churches become involved in the process adoption by raising money, teaching classes, collecting information, bringing food, and certainly prayer.  A key component for the local church to become a great promoter of adoption is for churches to reclaim their identity as a family of believers.  Moore suggests that as church members see each other as brothers and sisters abnormally brought together by the Spirit, they will naturally seek to uphold and promote the idea of people bringing together families that might be viewed as abnormal through adoption.

Moore also answers many practical concerns as well.  International or domestic?  Can I afford it?  Same ethnicity or different? Should I adopt?  In all of these examples and others, Moore doesn’t give simple answers, but provides a solid framework to work through such questions.  The advice given is very helpful throughout, and Moore does a great job showing that much of these answers boil down to a series of basic decisions that fit your situation.

Finally, the surprising aspect of this book for many will be just how Moore ties the reason for adoption with a theological understanding of the gospel.  Moore rightly believes  that the adoption of children is a reflection of something greater going on in this world:  the work of God to reconcile people to himself through Jesus.  Much of the practical logic spelled out in the book is immediately informed by this understanding.   Attitudes toward birth parents are informed by the gospel.  The treatment of the children is informed by the gospel. etc… etc… etc…  Most of all, Moore shows that our motivation to adopt should be fueled by the gospel.  Just as God sought to adopt us into his family, so should we seek to bring children who do not share our DNA into our families as well.  The quote on the back of the book sums this up well:  “The gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans close to home and around the world.”

Conclusion
I could go on and on and still not begin to explain all of things contained in this book.  Pick up a copy of Adopted For Life today (find it here), and just see how Dr. Moore left nothing on the field.  As an aside, the most remarkable aspect of this book may just be how he packed all this info into just over 200 readable pages.  So there are no excuses.  I recommend this book because I know you will be blessed by it.