Can Adoption be a sin?

[CoilyFields]

We know that God designed for children to be raised in a two-parent home. So is it a sin for a single person to adopt a child?

On the surface I see nothing wrong with it (gives a child a home)...but Im also aware that my environment (i.e. growing up in a nation where single parenthood is a norm) may have distorted my understanding.

I am asking because I know someone who is single and getting older (mid-30s) and wants children and so is going to adopt.

What do you ladies think?

Does anyone know any supporting scripture or doctrine that may make this issue more clear one way or another?

 

[Laela]

wow! interesting topic, sis... Off the top, I believe it CAN be a sin, if the intentions/motives of the people who plan to adopt aren't pure... i.e., use the children as s-x slaves, etc. I believe the intention of the heart is what matters.

I'll be back w/ some relevant Scriptures.. I live by the Word.

 

[dlewis]

I can't think of any scripture at this time but I believe the Bible speaks encourages adoption if done with a pure heart, heart for Christ.

Many many people in the Bible were adopted. I believe you have an obligation to do for other who can't do for themselves. Maybe that's not physically adopting for everyone but you have to take care of those who can't care for themselves.

 

[dlewis]

adoptees in the Bible
Ishmael (not a good example of a loving adoption, maybe not an adoption?)
Moses
Ester
Ruth

 

[Poohbear]

Matthew 25 (New International Version)

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

 

[dlewis]

Matthew 25 (New International Version)


45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

 

[Laela]

This is a great Scripture -- and certainly underscores the need for a pure heart when it comes to our fellow man. If a person isn't of a pure heart in adopting (abuse), whatever they do unto the least, they WILL do unto Jesus. The topic is adoption...

We can feed the homeless children, clothe them, etc by volunteering and donating as well, thus, adhering to this very Scripture. Thanks for posting it...

But are you intimating that not wanting to adopt is a sin??

Matthew 25 (New International Version)

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

 

[Laela]

Great examples, dlewis... Also,

Joseph adopted Jesus....

adoptees in the Bible
Ishmael (not a good example of a loving adoption, maybe not an adoption?)
Moses
Ester
Ruth

 

[loolalooh]

Mary was probably a single mother at this point. (I assume if Joseph were alive he would've been at the cross too or at least been mentioned.) Here are Mary and John.

John 19:25-27
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (NKJV)

 

[dlewis]

This is a great Scripture -- and certainly underscores the need for a pure heart when it comes to our fellow man. If a person isn't of a pure heart in adopting (abuse), whatever they do unto the least, they WILL do unto Jesus. The topic is adoption...

We can feed the homeless children, clothe them, etc by volunteering and donating as well, thus, adhering to this very Scripture. Thanks for posting it...

But are you intimating that not wanting to adopt is a sin??

That's something to think about. I believe it is a sin if you see a need is there and you do nothing. IMO it doesn't always mean going through the adoption process. My belief is you should always take care of your kids first, then if you are able to do more, take care of your extended family.

If someone sees a need in their family and they choose to go out and adopt a child from China, I don't believe that's right.

Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 

[dlewis]

Great examples, dlewis... Also,

Joseph adopted Jesus....

Yes, How could I leave that out.

And the ultimate adoption, Gd adopted all of us into his family.

 

[Poohbear]

This is a great Scripture -- and certainly underscores the need for a pure heart when it comes to our fellow man. If a person isn't of a pure heart in adopting (abuse), whatever they do unto the least, they WILL do unto Jesus. The topic is adoption...

We can feed the homeless children, clothe them, etc by volunteering and donating as well, thus, adhering to this very Scripture. Thanks for posting it...

But are you intimating that not wanting to adopt is a sin??

Lol! No, not at all. To me, not adopting is NOT a sin.

 

[aribell]

Interesting question.

I think that adoption to meet a perceived need could never be sinful.

For a single woman, adoption to have the family that she hasn't been able to have, I think is more grey. Not that the adoption itself would be wrong, but sometimes the attitude can be if it comes from a place that disregards the importance of a father or godly family life. But then, people have biological babies for self-centered reasons as well, so...

 

[loolalooh]

delete ... answered me own question. Lol.