Jesus or Bel?
Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore
April 10, 2016
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 10:4-6
Just like these ancient Israel Baal worshippers, who lived in the kingdom of Judah, we are a society that is engaged in child sacrifice. We call it “abortion”, but the motives are still the same. If an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy comes along, we have a mechanism “for getting rid of it” just like they did.
Since Roe vs. Wade was decided in 1973, we have slaughtered more than 24 million of our own children. I would venture to say that the ancient Israelite Baal worshippers never got quite that much blood on their own hands. In plain English, I do not think that they murdered as many babies as we have!
But what’s going on in this world? The best-known account regarding Baal in Scripture is the showdown between his priests and the God-fearing prophet Elijah at Mount Carmel. It was in the kingdom of Israel, that Elijah challenged 450 of Baal’s priests—whichever god answered the call to send fire down from the sky would be declared the true God. When the LORD answered Elijah, sending enough fire to consume offering, altar, and the surrounding water, the people worshiped the LORD and put the prophets of Baal to death (1 Kings 18).