Is it a sin to not tell a child that they are adopted?<\/p>\n\t
There are many times when we restrict access to information to only those who need it. A government does not tell everything about its security preparations because those against the government will use that information to find weaknesses. A salesman, negotiating a contract, will not reveal how desperately he or his company needs that contract to stay in business. To do so would be inviting the buyer to force lower prices. Not saying everything you know is not necessarily a lie, it is a mark of wisdom. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly<\/em>” (Proverbs 12:23).<\/p>\n If it is obvious from physical characteristics, then it is likely the fact that the child is adopted will be pointed out to the child. Thus, the question would be whether you want to explain the situation before this happens or wait until it becomes an issue. If the child asks, you cannot lie. In such a case, you need to explain why you chose him to be a part of your family.<\/p>\n If it is not obvious from physical characteristics, then you can delay telling the child if you so desire. A child needs to know he has a mom and dad who both love him and want him. That is the most important thing. If later in life he has genetic problems or needs to know his family’s medical record, then you can explain that while you are his parents, you are not his birth parents. However, you have caused no harm by not mentioning something that might traumatize the child.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Is it a sin to not tell a child that they are adopted? Answer: There are many times when we restrict access to information to only those who need it. A government does not tell everything about its security preparations because those against the government will use that information to find weaknesses. A salesman,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[30,392],"class_list":["post-4717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-adoption","tag-lying"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47990,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-man-be-an-elder-if-his-adopted-son-is-unruly\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":0},"title":"Can a man be an elder if his adopted son is unruly?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have a question about the children in the qualifications for elders. If a man has a natural-born child and adopts a child, would this be plural children? What if the adopted child is unruly and irreverent and eventually moves away from home?\u00a0To me, this does not fit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67458,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-married-couple-to-give-up-their-child-for-adoption\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":1},"title":"Is it wrong for a married couple to give up their child for adoption?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I hope you are well! If a married couple (who got pregnant after marriage) is willing to give the baby up the baby for adoption because they don't have the money to keep it, is this a sin? Answer: Adoption is not wrong, though it may not always\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49376,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/twice-adopted\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":2},"title":"Twice Adopted","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant Those familiar with Branson, Missouri's entertainment mecca may know the musical \"Twice Adopted,\" featuring ten adopted children who share their singing talent with thousands. Their story touches the heart. Randy and Linda Koenig were childless until they adopted a child from Guatemala. One thing led to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/adopted-300x169.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":93791,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/always-a-child-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":3},"title":"Always a Child of God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton If it is true that \"once you are a child of God, you can never be lost or cease to be a child of God,\" then what happened to Adam and the rest of the sons of God? Adam is called the son of God (Luke\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35625,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-man-got-me-pregnant-and-now-wont-marry-me-or-support-the-child-what-do-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":4},"title":"A man got me pregnant and now won’t marry me or support the child. What do I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day sir, I am a single lady, in my late twenties, who was impregnated by a man in his early thirties. Initially, when he found out I was pregnant, he accepted responsibility and promised to marry me. But shortly afterward he changed his mind saying he never planned\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40318,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if\/","url_meta":{"origin":4717,"position":5},"title":"What If …?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 3, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ken Leach via\u00a0Biblical Insights, Vol. 9, No. 11, November 2009 I am familiar with a situation wherein a young female college student became pregnant out of wedlock. This young Christian and her parents experienced a range of emotions unlike any others in their lifetime. 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