Have I ever told you that you are confusing as hell?
Dannymac Send a noteboard - 10/11/2009 03:46:20 PM
For starters, it's not to me or for you to determine who is Christian and who is not. These people prayed as they stood before the casket of that tiny baby, wanted to be sure that the funeral held for their child was a Christian one, with words of Scripture and prayer.
Those desires alone indicate a dependence on God, and I'm not sure what more they could do to show that they are sheltering in his hand, Jeo.
When I do a funeral, it is a witness to the Resurrection, based on the overwhelming power and love of God. It is done in the knowledge that no one knows the heart of a person besides the Lord, and so there are no guarantees, no surefire ways of deciding who is elect and who is not.
Whatever I think of their faith, however, the role MY faith plays in situations like these is certain. I am called to comfort the grieving, to tend to the lost. There will never be a funeral that I approach in the way you describe, because I have been instructed by Paul to NOT be hopeless. If we, who have Christ on our side, are hopeless, what is the POINT of our ministry in the world?
"For I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of heaven nor Monarch of Earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tommorow, neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in all Creation has any power to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord."
Every funeral I have ever done, and every one I ever do, will be a message of hope and comfort for the grieving. Because that is what we are called to do for the grieving, Jeo.
Whether or not that means Jesus called us to lie, I leave to you.
Those desires alone indicate a dependence on God, and I'm not sure what more they could do to show that they are sheltering in his hand, Jeo.
When I do a funeral, it is a witness to the Resurrection, based on the overwhelming power and love of God. It is done in the knowledge that no one knows the heart of a person besides the Lord, and so there are no guarantees, no surefire ways of deciding who is elect and who is not.
Whatever I think of their faith, however, the role MY faith plays in situations like these is certain. I am called to comfort the grieving, to tend to the lost. There will never be a funeral that I approach in the way you describe, because I have been instructed by Paul to NOT be hopeless. If we, who have Christ on our side, are hopeless, what is the POINT of our ministry in the world?
"For I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of heaven nor Monarch of Earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tommorow, neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in all Creation has any power to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord."
Every funeral I have ever done, and every one I ever do, will be a message of hope and comfort for the grieving. Because that is what we are called to do for the grieving, Jeo.
Whether or not that means Jesus called us to lie, I leave to you.
Eschew Verbosity
One of the harder parts of my job...
08/11/2009 09:03:06 PM
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That is tough man. I am confident though you are the right person to help them through this. *NM*
08/11/2009 10:07:13 PM
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Re: One of the harder parts of my job...
08/11/2009 11:35:01 PM
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So I have some questions for you....
09/11/2009 10:05:19 PM
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Have I ever told you that you are confusing as hell?
10/11/2009 03:46:20 PM
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More interestingly....
10/11/2009 05:57:23 PM
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Do you think Christ would "present the salvation message" or do you think he would just live it?
10/11/2009 06:21:30 PM
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Funny....I remember Christ both living His message, as well as preaching
10/11/2009 07:16:12 PM
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It was entirely clear what you advocated Danny do at the funeral.
11/11/2009 03:02:56 AM
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Yes, I would.
10/11/2009 06:37:35 PM
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As I said to everynametaken
10/11/2009 07:32:21 PM
- 506 Views
Have fun with your strawman.
10/11/2009 07:42:37 PM
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*haha* (and yes, I am laughing at you)
10/11/2009 08:55:24 PM
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First of all - the spelling is Heresy.
10/11/2009 09:05:32 PM
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In regards to your questions, I had a hard time understanding exactly what you were getting at.
11/11/2009 06:09:23 PM
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