The biblical notion of adoption stands as a cornerstone of the Christian faith and a crucial element within the global movement to rescue the innocent. Far from being a mere legal formality, adoption represents a radical, joyful, and exciting view of God’s delight over His people. Within the context of world missions and the pro-life movement, adoption provides a beautiful and redemptive option for women who find themselves pregnant but not yet in a position to assume the responsibilities of motherhood. Understanding adoption requires an exploration of its biblical foundations, its cultural obstacles, and the powerful personal testimonies that demonstrate how being “twice adopted” brings glory to God and salvation to many.
The Biblical Foundation of Adoption
The theological framework for adoption is most clearly established in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Galatians 4:4–5, we read that when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman and born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive “adoption as sons”. This indicates that adoption was always a central part of God’s original plan for humanity to become heirs to the blessings found in Christ Jesus. This plan is not a “Plan B” or a secondary reaction to circumstances, but rather a reflection of God’s “original, perfect, pleasing plan”.
Furthermore, the book of Ephesians reveals that God predestined believers for adoption to sonship according to His pleasure and His will. This concept of being “chosen” by God is a powerful dynamic that can help individuals overcome deep-seated shame or struggles with purpose and meaning. In the context of ancient Roman law, adoption carried significant legal weight; an adopted heir technically possessed more rights than a biological child. Once a person was adopted under Roman law, their name was changed, and it was legally impossible for the parent to reject or abandon them. Consequently, being adopted into God’s family means being permanently and securely sealed as an heir. This biblical reality provides a profound sense of assurance of salvation, as it mirrors a parental love that covers a multitude of sins and invites an intimate relationship with God as “Abba Father”—a term akin to “daddy” or “papa”.
The Cultural Conflict: Adoption in China
The biblical view of adoption often stands in stark contrast to prevailing cultural attitudes, particularly in East Asia. In China, adoption is frequently shrouded in negativity and viewed as a mark of shame or rejection. This cultural stigma is so pervasive that it influenced the very translation of the Bible into Chinese. Translators, fearing that the word “adoption” would be looked down upon by the culture, chose to remove the word and replace it with the phrase “treated like sons” or “treated as sons”. This linguistic shift was a significant miscalculation, as it fails to capture the true Greek concept of adoption and lets cultural shame dictate the presentation of scriptural truth.
China operates as an “honorific” and “shame-based” culture, where being adopted can feel as though one has been “thrown away”. Even among believers in China, there has historically been a lack of biblical input on the topic, leading to a situation where people who are adopted often hide that fact to avoid the sting of social rejection. In this environment, the biblical declaration that God chooses and loves the adopted child is a transformative and counter-cultural message.
The Testimony of the “Twice Adopted”
The power of adoption is most vividly seen in the personal story of John Sisle, who describes himself as being “twice adopted”. Sisle was adopted as an infant in the early 1960s after spending time in foster care. His birth mother, facing an unplanned pregnancy likely resulting from a brief encounter, made the brave and loving choice to give him up for adoption rather than pursuing an abortion. He was brought into a family where his parents, unable to conceive biologically, chose to love him and his sister—who was also adopted and unrelated to him—as their own.
Sisle did not learn of his adoption until he was seven or eight years old, when his mother shared a picture book of his infancy with him. His initial reaction as a child was one of intrigue and a sense of being deeply loved; he knew nothing different than the affection of his adoptive parents. However, it was not until he became a believer in high school through the ministry of Young Life that the concept of adoption took on a richer, spiritual meaning. He realized he was “twice adopted”: first chosen by his earthly parents to be loved, and subsequently adopted through Jesus Christ into the sonship of God the Father.
This personal history profoundly shaped his philosophy regarding the pro-life movement. Recognizing that he would not exist if his birth mother had not had a network of support and the option of adoption, he dedicated himself to a “one mother at a time” approach, helping women choose life. This ripple effect of one life being chosen has eternal consequences.
Redemptive Cycles and Global Impact
The redemptive power of adoption often comes full circle, impacting the very people who facilitate it. In a poignant example of God’s providence, Sisle’s adoptive mother herself was “adopted” into the kingdom of God just three weeks before her death. Sisle wrote her a letter reflecting on her love for him and his childhood memories of learning he was adopted. He shared with her that the only thing God the Father wants to know is, “Are you in the family?”. By using the imagery of adoption that she had practiced herself, she was able to understand the Gospel and happily accepted Jesus as her Savior before she passed away.
The impact of this testimony has extended globally, particularly into the challenging environment of China. While teaching at a seminary in the Early Reign Church in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Sisle shared his “twice adopted” story with a group of Chinese students. In the audience was a young woman who had been adopted but had carried the shame of that secret her entire life. Hearing that someone could testify to adoption with such joy and a sense of being “chosen to be loved” transformed her. Through the Holy Spirit, her eyes were opened to the fact that God had a “plan A” for her life, and the burden of shame dropped away.
The results of this transformation were visible one year later when the mission team returned to the same seminary. The student, who had since graduated, returned to see the team, but she did not come alone. Inspired by the biblical declaration of adoption, she and her husband had intentionally sought out and adopted a child of their own. Furthermore, she became an advocate for parentless children in China, starting an adoption promotion ministry to help other “fatherless” children find families. This single testimony of being “twice adopted” rippled out to create a new movement of adoption advocacy in a culture that previously shunned the practice.
Practicing a Pro-Life Ethic Through Adoption
The global crisis of abortion is staggering, with the United States accounting for only 3% of abortions worldwide, leaving 97% of the crisis as a world missions challenge. In the face of this carnage, the church is called to be a rescue movement that practices what it preaches. For many, this means moving beyond political rhetoric to the actual practice of adoption and foster parenting. Adoption is a beautiful way of giving life and living out a pro-life ethic.
While horizontal adoption—adopting others into our families—is sometimes viewed as a “Plan B” for those who cannot conceive, the biblical perspective elevates it to a position of high honor. There is an encouraging “new wave” of attitudes among younger generations who enter marriage with adoption as a “Plan A” part of their family planning. This shift reflects a growing understanding that adoption is one of the greatest ideas flowing out of the heart of God. As John Piper has noted, “the gospel is God’s adoption plan,” and there is nothing bigger than adoption in the heart of the Father.
Conclusion: Heirs and Co-Rulers
The journey of adoption leads ultimately to an incredible destiny. Believers are told that they are not just children of God, but co-heirs with Jesus and future co-rulers in the heavenlies. This staggering reality is only possible through the miracle of adoption. Whether a person was born into a loving biological family or came into a family through adoption, every believer shares the status of being “chosen” by God the Father.
The practice of adoption in this needy world serves as a physical parallel to what God did for us in Christ. It provides a tangible way to give testimony to the pleasure and will of God. As we look at the needs of the fatherless around the world, the church must remain a place that celebrates and promotes adoption, recognizing it as a path to healing, a tool for rescue, and a profound source of glory for God. By embracing our identity as the “twice adopted,” we find the fortitude to live out our journey of faith and our destiny as sons and daughters of the Living God.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.