Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A LEADING Kirk minister has said conducting funerals for non-believers is a time-wasting burden on the church and that non-religious services should be provided by the state.
Rev Johnston McKay, BBC Scotland's former editor of religious broadcasting, said ministers were conducting more than 70 funerals a year and at many of them there was "no interest whatsoever" in the Christian faith.
With all due respect to my ordained colleague; he's an idiot. Does he think for a moment that Jesus would have declined a service for a departed non-believer? Do he think that funerals are solely ABOUT the departed? A funeral is a mechanism by which all those who loved the departed (and even non-christians have those! Shocking ain't it?) can have closure, a time to remember and say goodbye. This brother of mine needs to learn compassion.
A LEADING Kirk minister has said conducting funerals for non-believers is a time-wasting burden on the church and that non-religious services should be provided by the state.
Rev Johnston McKay, BBC Scotland's former editor of religious broadcasting, said ministers were conducting more than 70 funerals a year and at many of them there was "no interest whatsoever" in the Christian faith.
Isn't being proselytized to, the first thing on everyone's list of what is important, when they are grieving the loss of a loved one at a funeral?
It might be the right place for it, but the wrong time. I cannot stand those holy roller funerals where the preacher spends more time talking about god and je-sus, then about the dearly departed.
A LEADING Kirk minister has said conducting funerals for non-believers is a time-wasting burden on the church and that non-religious services should be provided by the state.
Rev Johnston McKay, BBC Scotland's former editor of religious broadcasting, said ministers were conducting more than 70 funerals a year and at many of them there was "no interest whatsoever" in the Christian faith.
Should I be able to expect a "mormon funeral" if I'm not a mormon? Or a "muslim funeral" if I'm not a muslim? Why would you expect a Christian funeral if you aren't a Christian?
Having said that, I did a funeral last month for a man that was not a Christian. I didn't say he was...nor did I say that he was in Heaven. I explained what Christ did on the cross for us--and that I hoped he understood that...but I did not suggest the man was in Heaven. But to suggest the church should not be there for unbelievers in their time of grief is extremely short-sighted.
Should I be able to expect a "mormon funeral" if I'm not a mormon? Or a "muslim funeral" if I'm not a muslim? Why would you expect a Christian funeral if you aren't a Christian?
Having said that, I did a funeral last month for a man that was not a Christian. I didn't say he was...nor did I say that he was in Heaven. I explained what Christ did on the cross for us--and that I hoped he understood that...but I did not suggest the man was in Heaven. But to suggest the church should not be there for unbelievers in their time of grief is extremely short-sighted.
I agree! Folks seem to take the position that it is unkind or unloving to NOT stand over a deceased person who rejected God and cursed Christ all their lives .... and talk about how they are now 'resting in heaven in the arms of God.' IMO, it's dishonest and also misleading to try to 'pray someone into heaven at their funeral.' It also sends a message that could further lead the family and friends of the deceased to believe that 'everyone automatically goes to heaven when they die, with or without Christ.'
I've conducted funerals for non-believers and can tell you that it's very difficult to preach a message of hope ... when there is no Biblical reason to believe that is the case. Instead, I will sometimes take the path of saying, "If John could be here today, here is what he would tell you: don't delay another minute in getting right with God!" ... etc.
I remember a story about a preacher who preached the funeral of the husband of a member of the church. The man had repeatedly promised to come to church 'when he got a few things straightened out,' but, passed-on before fulfilling his promise. At the funeral, the preacher said, "I can't tell you very much about old John, ... except that he was a man of his word. He said he would come to church when he got straightened-out and look (pointing at the coffin), here he is!"
A LEADING Kirk minister has said conducting funerals for non-believers is a time-wasting burden on the church and that non-religious services should be provided by the state.
Rev Johnston McKay, BBC Scotland's former editor of religious broadcasting, said ministers were conducting more than 70 funerals a year and at many of them there was "no interest whatsoever" in the Christian faith.
I am an Atheist and I wish all religious people felt the same way.
Of course, since I do not believe in any kind of afterlife, I should not care if a religious leader mumbles a few words over my carcass, but I would feel better if the religious people would just leave me alone after I die.
I am an Atheist and I wish all religious people felt the same way.
Of course, since I do not believe in any kind of afterlife, I should not care if a religious leader mumbles a few words over my carcass, but I would feel better if the religious people would just leave me alone after I die.
Your family and friends will likely want to have someone say a few nice words about you.
I am an Atheist and I wish all religious people felt the same way.
Of course, since I do not believe in any kind of afterlife, I should not care if a religious leader mumbles a few words over my carcass, but I would feel better if the religious people would just leave me alone after I die.
Based on your personal belief system, I think you can be fairly assured that you won't be feeling anything and that you will be quite alone so you have nothing to worry about.
But as to the original post, I think the fellow is being honest. I've seen preachers struggle with words to say over someone who were not Christian believers and without being harsh or sacrificing their own theology for the sake of a dead person or their survivors. It is a wasted effort. I can understand his frustration.
Reminds me of a joke. Brother of a deceased comes to a priest and tells him I'll make a huge donation to your church IF at my brother's funeral you call him a saint. The priest is burdened of course. The dead brother was a notorious person in the community and not a believer except in women and booze. The surviving brother, though, was known to be much, much worse. So, in the funeral, the priest went on about the dead brother's shortcomings, not lying to people who knew better but at the very last he said, "but compared to his (living) brother, the man was a saint.
Oh, and I concur in a less blunt sense that funerals which become evangelistic campaigns are annoying at best (to me) and in my experience have not helped much. I think it is more of a gimmick but also one you don't find in scripture unless I am mistaken. I might be.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
