June 13, 2007
Orphans and the American Dream
Why Does America Have Orphans If It Has Christian Churches?
America has nearly 115,000 orphaned kids in foster care waiting to be adopted. Some wonder how this is possible in a country with Christian families. Surely, there are 115,000 missional families in America, right? Missional families, for example, embrace the redemptive mission of God and practice "true religion" in their local communities (James 1:27). Missional Christians in America could eliminate the foster care system tomorrow if we would stop "shootin' up" with the American Dream (heroine) in order to get high on a lame life lived for the sake of comfort and ease.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," writes James (1:27). As a matter of fact, the Bible has over 40 verses mandating God's people to look after orphans and the fatherless for various reasons.
According to the American Religious Identity Survey, conducted by the City University of New York, there are over 224 million Christians in the United States. So, why are there 115,000 orphans in a country that has over 224 million Christians?
Here's the rest of what I wrote at the Resurgence Site.
In the photo above: Once a resident of a group home, this teen appeared in person to social workers and made a case for why they should consider him for a special foster home where parents are trained to deal with troubled youth. He appears to be to be thriving in the hom thriving in the home and enjoys having a room of his own. (photo by NELVIN CEPEDA / Union-Tribune). Here's the story.
Posted by anthony at June 13, 2007 09:53 AM | TrackBackThis whole situation is the consequence of allowing the government to "take care" of a problem that is the church's/private sector responsibility. Since the government has co-opted this realm, Christian's tend to think they can sit back on their heels. "Well, that's waht my tax dollars go for," etc., etc. seems to be the prevailing attitude. Consequently, churches spend much money and time on foreign missions (which is a necessary part of the job of the church), but little of either focusing on problems in their own communities (another part of the job of the church). What bothers me is when Christian couples spend thousands and thousands of dollars trying to have a baby "of their own," when there are so many children foundering in the system. Even if a quarter of Christian families took in 1, just 1, foster child, think of the incredible impact it would have. And then, perhaps, we could dispense with a completely failed government program.
Posted by: dramaturge at June 13, 2007 11:31 AM"This whole situation is the consequence of allowing the government to "take care" of a problem that is the church's/private sector responsibility."
Drama, EXACTLY!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anthony at June 14, 2007 09:12 AMMy parents adopted my two oldest siblings, and I've always been glad they did. I'd like to adopt someday, too, even if we can have biological children. I have heard, however, that biological parents can impose their own will on the situation even after the adoption--especially when it comes to religion. This wouldn't prevent me from taking any kids in, but it still makes me nervous. Maybe someone here knows if there is any truth to that. It would be nice to know beforehand.
Posted by: Vida at June 14, 2007 01:29 PMSomething doesn't add up, brother. A while back you had a post lamenting the sad fact that black ladies in evangelical churches face long odds of finding a husband. The implication was that they can't get married because white guys are either knowingly or unknowingly racist and don't want to marry a black woman. Now you're lamenting the fact that lots of kids don't have homes, and blaming it on Christian families "shooting up the American dream." Both of these posts make some good points. But here's what doesn't add up. You're nearly 40. You travel all over America speaking at churches and conferences. And yet you're still single. Apparently you haven't been too impressed with the quality of the black women in the churches you interact with, but you're perfectly willing to judge others for not wanting to marry them. Why don't you marry one of these black women you feel so bad for, and then start adopting some of these orphans? It's easy to criticize others for what you're unwilling to do yourself. But it's far better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. In fact, in most states, a single man can adopt or take in foster kids, so that's another option if you really can't seem to find a suitable wife. You'd probably have to give up a lot of your travel and speaking fees, though. Or is that a part of the American dream that it's OK to shoot up?
Posted by: Von J. at June 14, 2007 11:02 PMI bet there are a lot of beautiful, godly black women that would love to be courted by and marry Anthony.
Posted by: Bianca at June 15, 2007 02:27 PMVon J. you said, "Something doesn't add up, brother." Based on your syllogism, this piece may not add up to you because you're not carefully thinking. I'm not sure the conclusions you made follow from any of your red-herring premises. Very funny, stuff though. Nice try.
Posted by: Anthony at June 15, 2007 04:08 PMThanks for writing what I have felt for the past 6 years. We have been a foster family for the past 6 years and truly believe that God's command to look after orphans and widow is just as important as all the others. The reason Christians don't do it is because it is hard, inconvenient and changes our "perfect" lifestyles.
Those kids out here need God's love but they will only see it when we make them tne priority that they should be.