Skip to main content

Funerals for the Unsaved or Unbelievers

I am not a leader of a church, but I oftentimes wonder how does one lead a funeral service for someone who dies without knowing Jesus Christ as Lord? Admittedly I have not been to many funerals in my lifetime, though they are appearing to come more frequently lately, but the fact is that funerals are held daily throughout the world and as such this is a pertinent question to someone just about every day. 

 I’ve been to the funeral where the person lived a fairly routine life, taking care of their families and other responsibilities as best they could, paying taxes and doing the average things that we as human beings do on a consistent basis. They however had no visible relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ. When this person dies, the surviving family members are oftentimes left scrambling trying to find a person and a place to officiate the funeral services – generally because the deceased did not have a regular church that they attended. Funeral homes sometimes serve this function, but then the services are led by someone who knows very little about the deceased. It is common that biblical scripture is read and perhaps a worship song or two is sung. But it does raise the question (an admittedly awkward one): what is the connection between the scripture and the life just lived or more importantly is there any significance on the lives continuing? 

The biblical Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 7: 1-2 says the following: A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. (NIV) The fact of the matter is that death is appointed to everyone (Hebrews 9:27), and funerals unlike most other functions in life, is a place where people are forced to examine their own mortality. If the suggestion is going to be made that the departed is living “in a better place”, then the reason why ought to be given. Is it because they were a good person? They gave consistently of themselves to charity? They were devoted to some religious belief? Whatever the case is, I can guarantee you that the audience in the funeral service wants to know. If during the service biblical verses are read, hymnals are sung and so on, then it is extremely deceptive to suggest that the departed is “in a better place” if their life showed no evidence of living for God through Jesus Christ. If there is no one who can confirm that the departed accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord at some point during their life, then the effect of such a service is to continue deceiving most of those in attendance that they themselves can continue on unchanged in their life until their inevitable death and go to that “better place” also. You will not find any evidence of this possibility in the Bible. As such, it should not be used unless it is being used in its true Spirit and intent – to spur people to salvation through Christ alone.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Ignore God and Decrease Your Birth Rates

I read a very interesting article yesterday in the New York Times on the topic of the shrinking birth rate in Europe over the past few decades. The article outlines the demographic danger facing Europe with the high likelihood that several countries (Italy, Spain and Germany among others) will see their native populations decrease by up to 40% by 2050. According to the article, the replacement birth rate necessary to maintain an equal population size from generation to generation is 2.1 children born to each woman. In Europe according to the article the rate is well below 2.0, with some countries closer to 1.5 and dropping. It is a lengthy and very interesting read that sheds some light on a phenomenon that in all likelihood will reshape the face of Western Europe within 100 years. The interesting thing about the article is that it was published after extensive research and interviews with many experts and it offers various possible explanations for why this situation has developed....
Read more

Richard Dawkins’ Wisdom of the Wise

The subject of Atheism has been quite popular in the literary mainstream over the past few years, as “Atheists as Celebrity” Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and others have enriched themselves with self important intellectual books, talk shows and other benefits of our enlightened society. That there are people who willfully claim a disbelief in God is nothing new. That it has become so militant, with legion of sycophants worshipping at their feet may very well be. Or it could simply be another case of the Internet making something seem far more widespread because we now know more about it. Whatever the case, I always find it interesting to read the comments of people on the subject of whether or not there is a God. This interest brought me to an article on Richard Dawkins on the London Times website over the weekend. The article is ostensibly a primer on Dawkins, and some TV show that he is apparently going to host in England on the subject of Charles Darwin and his theory of e...
Read more

Our Disunity Hurts Christ

I was listening the other day to a Christian commentator whom I have listened to infrequently for the last year or two. This gentleman who shall remain nameless in this post, generally provides sound biblical principles, delivers his remarks with apparent humility and comes across as an earnest representative for the furthering of Jesus Christ. I preface my remarks in this way, because I do think such a description is a necessary part of presenting God’s Word in a matter that is consistent with biblical direction: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16-18 NIV) I must say then that it was with dismay when I heard this same commentator “attack” fellow Christians who happen to differ philo...
Read more