When Mercy Hurts: The Risks of Cross-Cultural Adoption

Jerry Eicher of Anabaptist Theological Perspectives examines the pitfalls of well-meaning interventions in non-Christian cultures, using a personal story of a young couple who adopted foster children to illustrate how good intentions can go disastrously wrong. Topics include the limits of charitable aid, the spiritual and biological consequences of entrenched sin (including neural patterns passed across generations), the danger of prideful “rescue” missions, and the need for patient, gospel-centered transformation rather than quick fixes. Key points: caution before adopting or relieving suffering with material wealth alone; faithfulness often requires long, costly cultural change across generations; and the only lasting remedy is true contact with Christ and sustained discipleship.