Altars to Molech and the Evils of Abortion

On Tuesday, July 16th, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, what was disguised as a wellness clinic for Women was metaphorically brought to rubble. Though the Virginia Women’s Wellness Clinic presented itself as a haven for women, it was nothing more than a modern day Altar to Molech. Praise be to God: this abortion clinic closed its doors once and for all.

Who was Molech?

 Molech was a false Canaanite and Ammonite deity referenced several times throughout scripture (Leviticus 18:21, Zephaniah 1:5, 1 Kings 11:7, Jeremiah 32:35). Ancient writings depict Molech as a human body with a bull’s head. His statue was usually made of bronze with arms outstretched. The lower part of the statue served as a furnace where the horror of child sacrifice took place. Fueled by the desire for financial prosperity, parents would allow their children to be burned alive on the outstretched hands of Molech which were heated by the furnace.

God forbids the Practice.

 Leviticus 18:21 reads, “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” Abhorring this great evil, God forbid the people of Israel from this practice, and He commanded that any Israelite or foreigner who would sacrifice their descendants to Molech be put to death (Leviticus 20:2-5). Sacrificing Children is antithetical to God’s character and will. Nonetheless, Israel disobeyed the commandment of God and adopted this practice. Jeremiah 32:35 states,

They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Israel’s Practice of Child Sacrifice

 The Israelites built centers for pagan idolatry and worship, called high places, not only to Molech, but to other false gods, and passed their children through the fire (2 Kings 17:17). Worst of all, at times they connected this abomination to the worship of God. We find one such instance in Ezekiel 23:38-39:

Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in the sacrifice to idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house.

In response to their abominations, God brought swift and terrible judgement on the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 19:3-6).

Abortion is Child Sacrifice.

 You may be wondering, what does the barbaric practice of child sacrifice have to do with our sophisticated society today?

Everything.

 The ancient Canaanite ritual is alive and well--it’s just packaged differently. High places and altars have been replaced by “wellness” clinics, namely abortion clinics, priests of Molech are our modern “doctors”, and child sacrifice is performed under the guise of healthcare. Just as the Israelites and Pagans of the Old Testament were offering their children to demons (Deut. 32:17), our culture today is doing so as well. Instead of children being placed in the fiery arms of Molech, they are dismembered by the bloody hands of “doctors”. Just as prosperity was the motivating factor for the Canaanites to sacrifice their children, it continues to motivate millions to kill their own children today.

Excuses such as “I have not started my career yet”, “I can’t finish school if I have this child”, “I can’t afford this child”, or “my body, my choice” are just some of the selfish reasons expectant mothers give to have their child’s head crushed with forceps, ripped apart inside the womb, or vacuumed out of the womb. Abortion is child sacrifice on the altar of the self, and our culture has the blood of millions of unborn children on its hands. The church of God whom He purchased with His blood cannot stand by idly while the blood of children is daily being spilt on the altar of convenience and prosperity.

So, what must be the response of the church?

 I have identified eight ways in which the church of Jesus Christ can stand against this evil.

First, the Church must tell the truth that abortion is murder. Scripture teaches that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16). Therefore, ending the life of an unborn human being is murder.

Second, the Church must tell the truth that those who commit abortion are murderers. This includes mothers (unless forced),doctors, and any accomplices.

Third, Christians must hold accountable professing believers who support abortion. This includes addressing the sin of voting for a party (the Democrat Party) that platforms and praises the murder of children in the womb.

Fourth, and most importantly, the Church is to confront this issue with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only power that can bring the spiritually dead to life. A woman who is changed by the gospel, would be repulsed by the thought of murdering her child.

Fifth, the Church should push for legislation that will protect babies in the womb from the moment of conception. God has appointed the government to punish evil doers and protect the innocent (Romans 13).

Sixth, the Church should help expectant mothers with the resources they need.

Seventh, the Church should aid in helping with the adoption of unwanted children.

Lastly, the Church must be educated on the issue of abortion, biblically, scientifically, and politically. The Church cannot fight against what it does not understand. As a whole, the church is doing too little. In Nazi Germany, churches were known to sing louder in order to drown out the cries of Jews being taken to their demise.

May we not be known as those who ignored the cries of helpless children in the womb, lest we not be like Israel who were complicit in the worship of Molech. And no, we don’t have to commit abortion to do that, we just have to be silent. But if we are not silent and obey the word of the Lord, more altars to Molech (abortion clinics), will be brought to rubble, children will be saved, and many will come to faith in Jesus Christ.