There is this common misconception about Christians that many people outside of the Christian square often seem to miss or overlook. That is that believers are “only pro birth” and not pro-life.

A misconception that Christians only truly care about one thing and that is a child being born even if that means not a good life for the mother or for the child. The reality is, Christians are overwhelmingly pro-life from the womb to the tomb.

Much can be said about how Christians have historically and continually loved and cared for the vulnerable in this world. One way that Christians have this love and care is through adoption.

With the overturning of Roe v Wade, it is anticipated that more children are going to enter into the foster care system and are going to need to be adopted. Adoption is needed across the board as it is estimated that more than 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States and are without a permanent home. That number continues to grow.

Christians have historically been at the forefront of adopting children who are without a family. According to EthicsDaily.com, five percent of practicing Christians in the United States have adopted, which is more than twice the number of all non-Christian adults who have adopted.

In addition, one survey showed that 38 percent of practicing Christians had seriously considered adoption, while only 26 percent of all adults had. When you see a statistic like that, it is understandable why so many Christians have taken the step to adopt.

The Scriptures are full of the beautiful picture of adoption. Adopting a child is a beautiful picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It replicates what happens when God adopts someone when they are saved. One example of this is found in Galatians 4:6-7.

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” 

When you become a believer in Jesus Christ, something happens where He causes you to no longer be a slave to sin but a child of God. You get to be an heir of God. What is great about adoption is those without a home and a family get the same rights as any child would.

The problem is that, even though there are so many who have the desire to adopt, several factors limit people from going forward in adopting those who are in need. One of the primary factors is the cost of adoption. It is estimated that any given adoption can cost between $2,000 to $5,000. This really limits those who want to seriously pursue adoption.

However, a positive development has happened in Oklahoma that will help cut the costs down for those who adopt, thanks to some strategic legislation that was enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.

Recently Oklahoma State Sen. Julie Daniels said, “This session we passed legislation to give more financial support to those seeking private adoption by providing a 10 percent tax credit for adoption expenses of up to $2,000 for an individual or $4,000 for those filing jointly. It might even be used to cover out-of-pocket expenses of those adopting through DHS.”

When hearing this news, one adopting couple said, “We felt led to open our home to children in foster care, then God called us to adopt three little boys. This wonderful blessing did not come without trials, and a $4,000 child credit would have been extremely helpful with our transition to a family of eight.”

For people looking to adopt, this new tax relief may help them in a significant way.

As Christians, we need to continue our efforts to help others who want to adopt. This means that we must put our money, resources and talents into places that help those who help others adopt, so we can continue to advance the pro-life movement, and love others how Christ loves us. With these actions, we will help children in need and advance life in Oklahoma and beyond.