Is the American Dream Keeping Us From Adopting?

This video was created by an adoption ministry called The Zoe Foundation.  They are working hard to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion by helping families fund the cost of adoption, educating the church about the redemptive power of adoption, and providing quality care for birthmothers who decide to place their child for adoption.  The following is a short video they made which provides some food for thought:

I don't believe that everyone is called to adopt.  However, I do wonder with over 147 million orphans in the world, if there are people who are called that are NOT considering adoption because of their pursuit of the American dream. 

We felt a clear call to adopt, are doing it, and I still wrestle with the fundamental question of how much is enough.  I, like everyone else, want my stuff and my comfort.  I cannot, however, deny that God has rescued me, not so that I can spend my life focusing on my own spiritual development, doing a couple of good deeds here and there or chasing after the world's definition of success.  He has rescued me for something more--something greater.  President and CEO of International Justice Mission, Gary Haugen, said in his book, Just Courage,  "God calls us to make the transition from being those who have been rescued from the world, to those through whom God is literally rescuing the world."  He went on to say:

"Indeed, many Western Christians simply have no idea what an utter, desperate disaster is taking place twenty-four hours a day around our world.  They have no vivid picture of what life is like for hundreds of millions of people in our world who live in crushing, spiritual darkness, humiliation and despair.  They just don't realize that there are millions of people crying out every day to be rescued from aching, urgent hunger; from degrading and hopeless poverty; from the ravages of painful disease; from torture, slavery, rape and abuse.  The vast abundance and isolation on the Disneyland island of the world's affluent communities means that many Western Christians miss God's great calling to a life of heroic rescue simply because they are largely oblivious to the need.  They just can't imagine that there could really be any great heroic struggle that would need their help."

There is a great heroic struggle that needs our help, and may we all be better for considering whether or not the American dream or our own indifference is keeping us from it.

 "And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  --Micah 6:8