This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders. – Amos 1:13

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 24, 2016): Amos 1

“Ripping the baby out of the womb” was one of the many low points of the last 2016 debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. For the first time in the 2016 election cycle, a moderator asked a question about abortion. Trump offered this description of abortion under a President Clinton. “If you go with what Hillary is saying, in the ninth month, you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby.” Clinton retorted that obviously, Donald Trump didn’t understand how abortion was done. Trump’s language was violent and disturbing – and purposefully so. He was fighting for the emotions of a nation, and the description of “ripping a baby out of the womb” fit well with the caricature of Hillary Clinton as an uncaring person that he was diligently trying to paint.

Abortion is primarily a sin against the future. It removes the possibility of an unborn child being shaped into a world changer – maybe the next great peace-activist, or the next great novelist (or even – and I am petrified to say this – the next great politician.) Advent is about ready to begin once again, and I am reminded of the words to the Advent Carol “When A Child is Born.”

And all of this happens because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child, Black, white, yellow, no one knows
But a child that would grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace
And everyone to everyone's neighbor
Misery and suffering would be forgotten forever

The song recognizes the incredible possibilities of every child.

While Trump was being overly-dramatic and violent with his words, it is likely that Amos wasn’t. The soldiers had come and defeated the armies of Gilead (an area under the control of Israel), destroying their ability to rule over the land in that current moment.  But in killing the pregnant women they were destroying the infinite possibilities that these children could bring to their nation in the future. Gilead had been decimated, not just for today – but for tomorrow as well. This is what makes abortion wrong – it is a sin against tomorrow.

But maybe this verse also highlights the motivations that make abortions wrong. According to Amos, the ripping open of pregnant women, as detestable as that is, was done for personal gain. Children were killed so that Ammon could extend her borders. Abortion is bad, but when we commit it for our own personal gain, we make ourselves the enemies of God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Amos 2