Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
In the last few years, I have had the privilege to hang out with some people that make it their business to care for orphans and also families looking to adopt a new member into their family. As a board member for an adoption agency in California, I have witnessed first hand the unselfish nature of those who clear the path to help people in need; from the abandoned babies living in orphanages, to the teen mom with an unwanted pregnancy, to the family who can’t have children and are desperate to get their family started. I’ve witnessed first hand people who step up to the plate everyday to help real people through these real life situations. As I’ve spent time with these people, I’ve begun to realize that caring for orphans and those in the adoption community is something I’ve never considered (before I was asked to serve on the Board), but is something that all believers need to think about because it impacts us all. Why?
First of all it’s biblical. As a Christ-follower, my primary direction in life comes from God’s Word. The Bible is filled with many verses directing the people of God to care for those who are without families; the orphans and the fatherless. The strange thing is that I never thought of these verses very deeply until I got involved in the adoption community. I never heard a sermon preached on them, they were never the topic of my small group discussions. They were verses that I had read, but that hadn’t really seemed to apply to me, so I glossed over them. What I came to find out through observation, through study and through being part of this community is that we all are affected by the plight of those without family. When I see a family in our church, who try as they might can’t get pregnant; when I hear the stories of the abandoned children in third world countries who are without a family; when I hear the stories of how orphans are the easiest target for human traffickers, my heart is moved to listen to these verses and to do something that will bring some relief to those who are hurting. I believe at the heart of God, He desires for those without family and who are hurting to be cared for by the part of creation that has been fortunate enough not to have experienced this type of difficult life. It’s biblical, therefore, I must respond.
Second, I believe we need to care for orphans because they are the most vulnerable. I don’t know every kid that walks down my street but you can bet I am looking out for them. If they walk into the street or if there is a strange person walking around; I’m going to get involved. I’m going to tell that kid to get out of the street, I’m going to let that stranger know that I am watching him and that he better not think he has the ability to try anything toward the innocents on my street. I believe, that’s what responsible people do. When it involves the orphans of the world, they have very few people looking out for their safety and looking out for their needs. In the United States, we have a fairly myopic view of what life looks like or should be like. We think kids go to daycare, play soccer, enjoy Christmas presents and get tucked into bed every night. Now even though this isn’t true for all of the U.S., it’s definitely not true in many countries of the world. Children are left to fend for themselves and to care for their younger siblings: I’ve been to many third world countries and I’ve witnessed it many times. Unfortunately, where there are vulnerable children, there are also predators. Predators who prey upon the innocents. Whether they are rapists, human traffickers, or worse; these bottom-feeders look to take advantage of these children who they know have no one looking out for their well-being. I believe it’s our duty to look out for these children because they need responsible adults who will take the initiative to care for them because they are not yet in a place to do it for themselves.
Lastly, I believe we need to care for orphans because it helps us more than we know. In a day of increasing self-fulfillment, caring for the least allows us to realize the world is much bigger then just our own little place. Caring for orphans helps us to see that when we move past our comfort zones to help the most vulnerable in the world, good things and great results can happen. I believe these kinds of situations becoming defining moments for what the rest of our lives will look like and be like. Our actions also define how our family looks at humanity and life as well. It’s not just an action that has no additional possibilities; it’s an action that has unlimited possibilities.
A little help goes a long way and we may never see the full impact of what may happen in the life of one child, but I believe our assistance goes out exponentially and from that comes a life that could change the world.
