A Biblical Mandate to Care Scripture requires compassion for the vulnerable By ALLEN GRIFFIN
M
y introduction to caring for children in foster care was not by choice. My family hosted 26 foster children while I was growing up. I can remember thinking at one point, Why do we have to do this? Why can’t someone else help?
As I matured, though, resentment eventually gave way to acceptance and love. I came to see my growing family as a blessing, not a burden. When God created the first humans, He told them, “Be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:28). Adam and Eve produced offspring from whom the nations of the world were born. All were connected by a common ancestry. However, family fractures soon emerged. Sin corrupted human relationships, bringing division, dysfunction, isolation and marginalization. Yet God continued to reveal His love and compassion for all people. From the laws of the Old Testament to the teachings of Jesus and His followers in the New Testament, Scripture consistently calls for the care of the less fortunate in society. The Old Testament law established a series of commandments
Winter 2022
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