The word abomination as used in the Bible, refers to something that is loathsome, polluting, detestable. It is most often associated with the pagan religious practices of the nations God drove out before Israel. In the New Testament, especially in the Revelation, abomination is connected with the woman who rides “a scarlet beast”. She is denominated as “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” Babylon being the embodiment of the world system in opposition to God’s righteous rule – and all that comes from that opposition and rebellion.

But seldom do we see present day, practical and tangible examples of such abominations. Enter, my tenure serving as a local funeral home for several years in my younger days.

One of my responsibilities when working “calling hours” was to help people of a certain religious persuasion, process “Mass Cards.” These instruments, in varying denominations were secured with a donation to the society or group desired in the name of the deceased. Once “enrolled” – certain rites or services were then to be carried out either for a certain amount of time, or perpetually on behalf of the deceased.

Because few people from my background believed me when I made certain claims about this practice – the blatant selling of blessings for dead people – I had to provide proof. I give you just one example below.

Now at first blush, one might label this as mere Roman Catholic bashing. Not true. Many in Evangelicalism today sell blessings too. Mostly to the living, but who knows? Whoever does it, the abomination is the same.

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Did you catch that underlined portion? If they don’t get the money, “the use of this folder is spiritually void and of no benefit to anyone.”

And they say the selling of indulgences and the like is dead. Not so. You can actually void the spiritual benefits you want for your deceased loved one, because you didn’t pay up.

That my friends, is what an abomination looks like. And I do not care under what banner such horrors are peddled.

Oh that we would look to Christ and Christ alone. And remember that salvation is all of grace. And that we can say on the authority of God’s Word alone, irrespective of any institution or personage: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Our spiritual blessings are in Christ – and are already ours in Him. No one needs to pay one red cent beyond the priceless blood of the Lamb of God.