Closed Adoption

~ Erin Blair

For many of you who may not know, my husband and I are in the process of adopting a child.  We could not be more excited or anxious to bring this precious soul into our home.  But with the excitement comes a bit of nervousness as we complete our packet, fill out forms, go through a home study and meetings with the social worker, and deciding whether to have an open or closed adoption.  As we are getting “all our ducks lined up,” I can’t help but think about the spiritual similarities between our relationship with God and that of us bringing a child into our home.

Before we become Christians, we are part of the world.  As such, we are following Satan who is our “father.” (John 8:44)  Just like that little boy who clunks around in his daddy’s boots, we are following in Satan’s footsteps as we sin and do whatever pleases our flesh.  But God is a Father as well.  When we put away the old man of sin (Romans 6:6), we are adopted into a new Family – the church (Galatians 4:5). God then becomes our Father and we are to walk in His light (1 John 1:7).  But is this an “open” or “closed” adoption?

For those who may not know the difference, an “open adoption” is where the adoptive parents keep in touch with the birth mother/family via pictures, letters, phone calls, etc.  A “closed adoption” is where the adoptive parents “close off” all communication with the birth mother, not allowing phone calls, letters, or contact with the child. 

We are not to have an “open” adoption policy with God.  Once that old man of sin is crucified (Romans 6:6), we don’t need to raise him back up!

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them to not have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:20-22

My husband and I have two Labrador Retrievers and have seen what is illustrated in verse 22.  We have seen a dog throw up and then immediately eat it. Yuck! What an unpleasant vivid illustration! It should be just as disgusting to us to return to sin as it is to see a dog throw up, then eat it again.  This is what a spiritual open adoption is – we return to our previous “father” (Satan) and keep the lines of communication open and thus soil ourselves with sin yet again, just like that pig in the mud. 

When we become Christians, we should seal the adoption and make it “closed.” We should not desire to have that communication with Satan or want to go back to sin.  Once we have been adopted into God’s family, then God is our Father and no one else.  All lines of communication should be broken with the old man of sin and the old way of life. 

Just like that child we pray comes into our home, we as Christians are now welcomed into a healthy, loving home where our spiritual hunger is richly fed and we await that rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29).

Erin resides in Ben Wheeler Tx with her husband, Jordan. Erin has been involved with preparing and organizing the work of the church since she was a teenager by teaching all ages of Bibles classes, helping prepare and organize Ladies Days, Prom Alternatives, Youth Rallies and VBS.  She is currently works as a paralegal for a law firm. She and her husband also spend their time enjoying their garden, dogs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, quail…etc.  Life is never dull at her house.