I'm just curious about something, pastors.....

It is especially hard as in this case where I have witnessed to the person over and over. The Pastor sounds like he did a great job. A funeral is for the living and to share God's Word about eternal life. But it would be hard to bring comfort to the family in this kind of circumstance where the man died lost and the family knew it.

 

I make it a point never to place anyone in heaven or hell in my funeral sermons, that's simply not my job as I see it. I talk about the life of the individual if it is appropriate, and then I focus my message on Jesus Christ and salvation.

 

When I feel confident of the salvation of the person--I share about the person's walk with God, the promise of heaven for believers, the fact that we weep for ourselves, but not for them, the and of God's comfort for us during our grief and loss....probably in pretty much that order.

When I'm unsure, or doubtful of the deceased's salvation--I start with comfort for us, and remind all that God offers us "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" when we put our hope and trust in Jesus. Much more in these cases is said to "us," and I am very careful to not refer to what "uncle Joe must be doing in heaven right now."

I guess, boiling it down, with a saved person, I share about comfort, joy, and assurance. With a lost or unknown...I share about comfort the most. With the saved, I can talk a great deal about our loss and their gain...and how God is at work through both processes. With the lost, it's more about how God helps us in our loss.

But in both...there will be a plan of salvation. I've never done a funeral where I didn't present it in some way.

We must be so very careful. Some of the worst imaginable theological errors I've heard have been at funerals...coming sometimes from ministers who, in trying to say something nice about the dead, basically walked down the path of, "He was a good ol' boy...I'm sure the Good Lord made room for him in heaven." Yikes.

 

We have an oft-repeated phrase at our church.

We will often say (with explanation): This is an easy funeral to do.

We immediately follow that up with what we mean by "easy"--not that there isn't grief, tears, or emotions--but because the person lived a life that testified to God's work in their hearts, the words of comfort and assurance come easily to those who officiate the funeral. And, speaking as a selfish and finite human, those who God blesses with a full, long life to boot...well, funerals aren't easy, but these are as easy as they come.

 

I agree with what the rest o these guys have said.

As for an "easy" funeral, I agree with rbell. I did one yesterday - a 93 year old godly lady. It was an easy funeral to preach - it was a homegoing!

But, I have heard far too many sermons at funerals that try to preach a lost man into heaven - that's a shame.

 

It truly does sound as if your pastor handled the situation about as well as it could be handled. I have had few situations that have saddened me more (or cost me more sleep) than preaching the funeral of someone who is lost. It is true that we greatly ere if we attempt to preach someone into heaven. Still, I understand the temptation that they fall into. There are few situations as difficult as ministering to a family in this situation.

 

rbell- I just wanted to amen your post. Thank you for the wisdom you posted here.