Thoughts on adoption

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MsMediator

MsMediator

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#1
What are your thoughts on adoption? And, is there Biblical support for/against adoption?

Some people are strongly in favor of adoption, while others go to the extreme end by saying things like adoption is kidnapping, unnatural, etc.

I know this topic may be sensitive, and my intention is not to open wounds, etc. However, I feel the need to ask about this topic on this forum.

Also a related question is, why do (some/most) people have an urge to pass on their genes? Does God, or man for selfish reasons, create this urge? Please note I am making a distinction between people who marry and as a result have children (due to sex) without much thought to genes, versus for example the "blood is thicker than water" people who care a lot about genes and won't even adopt if childless but want children. I am talking about women who spend money freezing their eggs or older men who marry younger fertile women to get biological kids, rather than adopting. Are these routes Biblical? Where does adoption (and consequently adopted kids) fit in within this space?
 
Magenta

Magenta

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Jesus would have been legally adopted by Joseph, if there even was such a
process back then. And we are heirs to the promises of God by adoption :D
 
Billyd

Billyd

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I know four adults who were adopted as young children. They are much better adjusted to adult life than most of their peers.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

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Magenta said:
Jesus would have been legally adopted by Joseph, if there even was such a
process back then. And we are heirs to the promises of God by adoption :D
Click to expand...
This is the ideal way to view adoption. However, in reality I believe things are different.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

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Another adoption story in the Bible is the Pharaoh's daughter and Moses. However, Moses felt closer to his own people, the Jews. I wonder if the Egyptians were not persecuting the Jews, would Moses have felt the same way?
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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Didnt Abraham use Hagar as his surrogate when Sarah was too old but that didnt work out. However Ishmael was treated like an enemy even though he had Abrahams genes. But Sarah at first agreed though Hagar had no say of course. She was used.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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IVF is expensive, I dont know why people do it. Half the time or most of the time it doesnt work and then they when stop couples end up having a baby naturally anyway. ?!
 
GardenofWeeden

GardenofWeeden

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Jul 27, 2018
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Wasn't Moses adopted? And Jesus was adopted, or at least cared for, by Joseph. I am sure there are other instances of this in the Bible that I don't know yet too. The Bible says something about the nature of religion being how one cares for widows and orphans, so while that doesn't specifically say to adopt them, it does say to take care of them.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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Mephibosheth

adopted by David. But I would have changed his name to something easier to say :ROFL:
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

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Jan 16, 2021
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Esther was adopted too.
So was Caleb's father.
So is my Uncle.
Samuel was given to God to be raised by the High Priest.

Adoption today is nothing like it once was.

Most of the time today it's older children adoption...where the children have been under severe neglect and/or abuse. Which these children then try to destroy the home they were adopted into. The psychologists name it "Reactive Attachment Syndrome" where the child cannot react positively to a normal loving home.

They don't have orphanages or group homes in the USA anymore.
Foster care system is still horrible. It's better in some states than others. 80-90% of the children in the foster care system have severe emotional and psychological problems requiring large amounts of psychotropic drugs. Not something that normal, healthy children should be exposed to inside a home.

But if you are an older couple with grown children who want to...not a bad idea.
 
TabinRivCA

TabinRivCA

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#11
Oct 23, 2018
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#11
MsMediator said:
What are your thoughts on adoption? And, is there Biblical support for/against adoption?

Some people are strongly in favor of adoption, while others go to the extreme end by saying things like adoption is kidnapping, unnatural, etc.

I know this topic may be sensitive, and my intention is not to open wounds, etc. However, I feel the need to ask about this topic on this forum.

Also a related question is, why do (some/most) people have an urge to pass on their genes? Does God, or man for selfish reasons, create this urge? Please note I am making a distinction between people who marry and as a result have children (due to sex) without much thought to genes, versus for example the "blood is thicker than water" people who care a lot about genes and won't even adopt if childless but want children. I am talking about women who spend money freezing their eggs or older men who marry younger fertile women to get biological kids, rather than adopting. Are these routes Biblical? Where does adoption (and consequently adopted kids) fit in within this space?
Click to expand...
Imo to rescue an orphaned or unwanted child is a true act of love. I see families who have 3 or more kids trying for a boy or girl and get all boys or girls. Just adopt one! Sure there are those who do it for money, so an easy fix would be to have a 4-6 month trial period to check back with the child. I can see a childless couple wanting a child with their own genes but if that can't happen, I know many families who've adopted and are so blest with the outcome.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

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JohnDB said:
Most of the time today it's older children adoption...where the children have been under severe neglect and/or abuse. Which these children then try to destroy the home they were adopted into. The psychologists name it "Reactive Attachment Syndrome" where the child cannot react positively to a normal loving home.
Click to expand...
Yes that is a concern. I can see why people don't want to adopt from foster care or older children. I would not know how to handle someone who is manipulative or worse.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

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GardenofWeeden said:
Wasn't Moses adopted? And Jesus was adopted, or at least cared for, by Joseph. I am sure there are other instances of this in the Bible that I don't know yet too. The Bible says something about the nature of religion being how one cares for widows and orphans, so while that doesn't specifically say to adopt them, it does say to take care of them.
Click to expand...
That's true about what the Bible says. However, I do not find the Moses adoption successful.
 
Pray_without_ceasing

Pray_without_ceasing

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Sep 29, 2022
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#14
MsMediator said:
What are your thoughts on adoption? And, is there Biblical support for/against adoption?

Some people are strongly in favor of adoption, while others go to the extreme end by saying things like adoption is kidnapping, unnatural, etc.

I know this topic may be sensitive, and my intention is not to open wounds, etc. However, I feel the need to ask about this topic on this forum.

Also a related question is, why do (some/most) people have an urge to pass on their genes? Does God, or man for selfish reasons, create this urge? Please note I am making a distinction between people who marry and as a result have children (due to sex) without much thought to genes, versus for example the "blood is thicker than water" people who care a lot about genes and won't even adopt if childless but want children. I am talking about women who spend money freezing their eggs or older men who marry younger fertile women to get biological kids, rather than adopting. Are these routes Biblical? Where does adoption (and consequently adopted kids) fit in within this space?
Click to expand...
Why would anyone be against adoption? It is a wonderful thing! The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle, sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
 
T

Talljake

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Jul 17, 2022
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#15
I believe people who adopt are very unselfish. It takes an extremely heartfull type of person to welcome others to live in their home. If someone is willing to feed,clothed,give warmth, drink (non-alcoholic of course),shelter,love,provide and much more..... Are these not things the lord wants us to do for others. Love our neighbors. I am certain the lord would be so happy and thankful to see people do these things. When someone is willing to adopt they should be willing to be a family figure if the child is old enough to choose and chooses the adopter to be so.
 
Genipher

Genipher

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Jan 6, 2019
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#18
Lanolin said:
IVF is expensive, I dont know why people do it. Half the time or most of the time it
doesnt work and then they when stop couples end up having a baby naturally anyway. ?!
Click to expand...
Adoption is expensive. As is giving birth to your own flesh and blood (especially if one doesn't have insurance).
Easy to judge others and their decision to go the IVF route when you (general you) don't have problems conceiving.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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Dec 15, 2018
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fos-adoption is not expensive, in fact, its free unlike other types of adoption. So Ive heard. Its not tens of thousands of dollars unlike rounds of IVF that dont guarantee coneception.

I think ppl dont know what other options are around or they seem intent on buying a child.
 
Magenta

Magenta

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The ultimate goal of the foster care system is to reunite the child with their biological parents.
 
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