Comments on: Should Pastors Preach the Gospel at Funerals? http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/ Working at the Crossroads of this World and the Next Sat, 25 May 2013 05:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: pb http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2146 pb Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:39:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2146 It's a celebration. Every funeral I celebrate as a pastor is a recognition of grief, a celebration and remembrance of a life well-lived, and a word of hope from the Promise Keeper (NOT to be confused with the unfortunate organization of men, but the ONLY Promise Keeper). It that the gospel? In part, I think, so I am guilty. It’s a celebration. Every funeral I celebrate as a pastor is a recognition of grief, a celebration and remembrance of a life well-lived, and a word of hope from the Promise Keeper (NOT to be confused with the unfortunate organization of men, but the ONLY Promise Keeper). It that the gospel? In part, I think, so I am guilty.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2096 Anonymous Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:43:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2096 " As I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, we’re more worried about getting the individual soul to heaven than about bringing the kingdom to the world.  We’re more worried about getting “decisions for Jesus” than we are about making Jesus disciples who will transform the world now. " Such a good difference to point out. ” As I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, we’re more worried about getting the individual soul to heaven than about bringing the kingdom to the world.  We’re more worried about getting “decisions for Jesus” than we are about making Jesus disciples who will transform the world now. ”

Such a good difference to point out.

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]]> By: Preaching at funerals; a bizarre tradition? « Tea and Chopsticks http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2092 Preaching at funerals; a bizarre tradition? « Tea and Chopsticks Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:22:53 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2092 [...] friend Caleb is a funeral director and a writer and he’s just  posted a hot topic of discussion  regarding whether or not pastors should preach a gospel message or salvation message at funerals; [...] [...] friend Caleb is a funeral director and a writer and he’s just  posted a hot topic of discussion  regarding whether or not pastors should preach a gospel message or salvation message at funerals; [...]

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]]> By: weston http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2088 weston Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:44:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2088 From the perspective of an evangelical who thinks that anyone who's not born-again is going to be tortured eternally, it makes perfect sense to take any and every opportunity to preach to people. And what better opportunity than when you have so many non-Christians cornered in a church at a wedding or funeral? After all, who would object to giving someone CPR if they went into cardiac arrest in the middle of a funeral? And if hell is real, then isn't proselytization infinitely more urgent and important than CPR? From the opposite perspective, though, this can come across as extraordinarily tacky. For those not already convinced of the whole salvation/damnation paradigm, it seems less like CPR and more like taking the stage during a funeral in order to tell everyone for the thousandth time why they really really should join Amway. From the perspective of an evangelical who thinks that anyone who’s not born-again is going to be tortured eternally, it makes perfect sense to take any and every opportunity to preach to people. And what better opportunity than when you have so many non-Christians cornered in a church at a wedding or funeral?

After all, who would object to giving someone CPR if they went into cardiac arrest in the middle of a funeral? And if hell is real, then isn’t proselytization infinitely more urgent and important than CPR?

From the opposite perspective, though, this can come across as extraordinarily tacky. For those not already convinced of the whole salvation/damnation paradigm, it seems less like CPR and more like taking the stage during a funeral in order to tell everyone for the thousandth time why they really really should join Amway.

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]]> By: Diana Trautwein http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2086 Diana Trautwein Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:13:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2086 There is so much more to the gospel than we usually preach. So.Much.More. The heart of the gospel is the entire life/death/resurrection/ascension of Jesus and what that means to US TODAY RIGHT WHERE WE LIVE. Yes, eternal life is promised. But Jesus pointedly reminds us that eternal life starts here, starts now. I have been deeply disturbed by too many "Christian" funerals/memorial services - and I am a Christian pastor (newly retired). One was a death by suicide - tragic in so many ways to so many people in our community. Over 700 people came...and heard a rousing, hearty, 'good news' word from the lead pastor. It felt distinctly wrong, allowing NO room for grief, shock, sadness, community. A woman who works at the hair salon I use, a young woman - not a church-goer - talked to me about that with deep sadness. She had dated this man's eldest son for several years and said to me that she felt cheated when she went to the funeral, cheated of the chance to mourn this awful decision, this life-altering event. Yes, a word of hope is helpful - but...there must be room for grief. There just must. The other one that stands out was my uncle's - and yes, he had asked the preacher to offer an altar call. Hmmm...not sure about that at all. Death-bed promises really should not be binding. My uncle had worked for many years with a large, loving Jewish family and as this way-too-long hell-and-brimstone 'sermon' was used as a weapon, in a truly assaultive way, I found myself praying for grace, for 'deafness' to fall on those who were there and did not share our faith as Jesus-followers. Because what I heard that day did not sound AT ALL like Jesus. It sounded like a threat and a deeply inappropriate way to honor the memory of a good man and a deeply inappropriate way to worship the God of love. Them's my two cents. Thanks for your fine thoughts and good words here, as always. SO glad I stumbled my way here this week. There is so much more to the gospel than we usually preach. So.Much.More. The heart of the gospel is the entire life/death/resurrection/ascension of Jesus and what that means to US TODAY RIGHT WHERE WE LIVE. Yes, eternal life is promised. But Jesus pointedly reminds us that eternal life starts here, starts now.

I have been deeply disturbed by too many “Christian” funerals/memorial services – and I am a Christian pastor (newly retired). One was a death by suicide – tragic in so many ways to so many people in our community. Over 700 people came…and heard a rousing, hearty, ‘good news’ word from the lead pastor. It felt distinctly wrong, allowing NO room for grief, shock, sadness, community. A woman who works at the hair salon I use, a young woman – not a church-goer – talked to me about that with deep sadness. She had dated this man’s eldest son for several years and said to me that she felt cheated when she went to the funeral, cheated of the chance to mourn this awful decision, this life-altering event. Yes, a word of hope is helpful – but…there must be room for grief. There just must.

The other one that stands out was my uncle’s – and yes, he had asked the preacher to offer an altar call. Hmmm…not sure about that at all. Death-bed promises really should not be binding. My uncle had worked for many years with a large, loving Jewish family and as this way-too-long hell-and-brimstone ‘sermon’ was used as a weapon, in a truly assaultive way, I found myself praying for grace, for ‘deafness’ to fall on those who were there and did not share our faith as Jesus-followers. Because what I heard that day did not sound AT ALL like Jesus. It sounded like a threat and a deeply inappropriate way to honor the memory of a good man and a deeply inappropriate way to worship the God of love.

Them’s my two cents. Thanks for your fine thoughts and good words here, as always. SO glad I stumbled my way here this week.

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]]> By: Ben Emerson http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2085 Ben Emerson Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:56:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2085 Ender's Game will seriously help. But you may rest assured, they are both excellent books. Ender's Game is my favorite fiction book ever. And Speaker is up there. Ender’s Game will seriously help. But you may rest assured, they are both excellent books. Ender’s Game is my favorite fiction book ever. And Speaker is up there.

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]]> By: Caleb Wilde http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2084 Caleb Wilde Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:52:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2084 Would I need to read "Ender's Game" before "Speaker"? Or can I just jump into "Speaker"? Would I need to read “Ender’s Game” before “Speaker”? Or can I just jump into “Speaker”?

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]]> By: Caleb Wilde http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2083 Caleb Wilde Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:08:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2083 Thanks, Ken! Always appreciate your perspective! Thanks, Ken! Always appreciate your perspective!

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]]> By: Ken K. http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2082 Ken K. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:56:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2082 Joel, I attended a funeral last year where Orson Scott Card sang Amazing Grace - solo. His voice is as beautiful as his writing. As to whether or not a pastor should preach, I would say yes, but only in the kindest, most gentle manner. Deaths, like births, open our hearts a bit more to the eternities and remind us all of just how short life is and how much in need of a Savior we all are. Properly done a good pastor can plant a seed in those open hearts, a seed that can grow and mature in the weeks and months after the funeral. My two cents. Joel, I attended a funeral last year where Orson Scott Card sang Amazing Grace – solo. His voice is as beautiful as his writing.

As to whether or not a pastor should preach, I would say yes, but only in the kindest, most gentle manner. Deaths, like births, open our hearts a bit more to the eternities and remind us all of just how short life is and how much in need of a Savior we all are. Properly done a good pastor can plant a seed in those open hearts, a seed that can grow and mature in the weeks and months after the funeral.

My two cents.

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]]> By: Ben Emerson http://www.calebwilde.com/2011/08/should-pastors-preach-the-gospel-at-funerals/#comment-2081 Ben Emerson Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:44:00 +0000 http://www.calebwilde.com/?p=2245#comment-2081 Have you ever read "Speaker for the Dead" by Orson Scott Card? If you haven't, I think you would like it a lot. Have you ever read “Speaker for the Dead” by Orson Scott Card? If you haven’t, I think you would like it a lot.

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