Playing Politics With Kids Futures

It looks like foreign relations with Russia are getting worse and worse.

Within the last year, there have been sanctions made against Russia for human rights abuses.  Now they've decided to fire back by passing a law that would ban Americans from adopting Russian children. They cited cases of children who were abused and in some cases, died at the hands of their adoptive parents as a reason for this bill. In fact the bill is named after a boy, Dima Yakovlev, who suffered such a fate. 

 This is despite the public being dead set against it.  There have been protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg over this.  Also, there were candles lit and toys places on the steps of the Duma, which is the lower house of the Russian legislature.   The people know the conditions that the children in these orphanages live in, and that Americans adopting them is giving them a chance to live in a loving, decent home.  Also, they know that they can only be adopted by a foreigner if a Russian family doesn't show any interest. 

Another worrisome fact is that there are a few dozen children that are very close to being adopted, meaning that all the paperwork is done, the parents have met the children, gone to court, and the children are just waiting for their new parents to come take them "home" to America that are in limbo.  Sadly, that day will never come if Vladimir Putin signs this bill into law. 

The cases that the Russian parliament speaks of, while highly publicized, are very rare.  In most cases, they are loved and well-cared-for by their "forever" families.  In those rare cases, it can be due to either the orphanage not being forthcoming about the child(ren)'s past, or simply lack of education on fetal alcohol syndrome and reactive-attachment syndrome.  The latter is common in institutionalized children from all nationalities, and FAS is the result of the public health issue that is alcoholism.  FAS can also cause emotional problems in children.  If the prospective parents were better educated on this, and got help when they saw the signs (saw a doctor/counselor, got in touch with a support group, whether it be those who adopted children from overseas or has children with FAS or RAD), then we might have fewer tragedies.

Protecting the Shepherd at the Expense of the Flock

It appears that's what this is a case of at Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where Darrell Gilyard is pastor.  You see, Darrell is a registered sex offender, and for this reason, the church has banned children of all ages.

This angers me not only as a Christian, but also as a godmother (I have a two-and-a-half-year-old godson).  It violates the Bible in so many ways, it's not even funny.  The first way I can think of is the Third Commandment, which is "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy".  I feel bad that these kids are breaking this commandment because of their parents.  It's not really their fault.  If it were me, and my godson was one of the children involved, I'd take him to a different church.

Another way is in Romans 10:17, which says "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Going to church and hearing the word of God helps nurture their faith.  They need it. 

Jesus also said in Matthew 19:14 "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He also had some harsh words for those who would keep children from coming to worship. "But whoso shall offend these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone be hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea". Matthew 18:6.

It also says in Ephesians "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  Part of that is bringing them to church. 

Jesus told Peter to feed His lambs.  This church is starving them.