God’s Heart for the Fatherless

The Bible makes clear that our lives as followers of Jesus should look remarkably different from the world around us. Because Jesus has become our King and his Kingdom has become our treasure, we will willingly sacrifice ourselves for him and for others.

One of the specific applications God gives of that is caring for vulnerable kids in their distress (James 1.27). The Bible calls God a father to the fatherless (Ps. 68.5) and says that he executes justice on their behalf (Deut. 10.18), and God tells his people repeatedly to do the same (Ps. 82.3).

Caring for the fatherless is not a small theme of the Bible. In fact, it is a clear and explicit picture of the gospel. Romans 8.15 says that while at one time we were slaves (not children of God), thru Christ he adopted us as his sons and daughters. So we are no longer slaves; we are children of God and heirs with Christ. And our adopting and caring for vulnerable kids is a perfect picture of what God has done for us.

Missional Implications

The Bible calls God our Heavenly Father (Mt. 5.16), and Jesus tells us to address him as Father in his teaching on prayer (Mt. 6.9). He goes on to say that our heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask him (Mt. 7.11). The image of a father is one of the primary ways our relationship with God is described.

But many do not know the love and relationship of a good earthly father, especially those who have been orphaned or have experienced neglect, abuse, or abandonment from their parents. So when the Bible calls God their heavenly Father, it does not make them want to love him.

But God, in his mercy and redemption, wants to use loving foster and adoptive parents who will patiently and graciously walk with hurting children and point them to the kindness and love of God in Jesus, to be a means of mission, and ultimately salvation, to these fatherless children.

The Call to Care for the Fatherless

Because we believe that caring for the fatherless is a clear call on the people of God in Scripture, we regularly invite all of our people to participate in caring for vulnerable kids in some way. Some families will adopt or foster. Some families will give financially to support these families. Some will give of their time and energy to provide care and support. Some will participate in other ways. But we take the call to care for vulnerable kids seriously.