Preaching at funerals of unbelievers

[evangelist6589]

"Dearly Beloved, as we ponder John's eternity in Hell, let us thank God for giving him countless opportunities each day of John's life to repent and receive Christ."

Seriously, though, I think one can be honest while being tactful.

The funeral isn't really the time to judge the deceased. If it were me, I'd just give the Gospel and let God do with that what He will.

Excuse me???????? You are saying I am headed to Hell?

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Excuse me???????? You are saying I am headed to Hell?

I was referring to the scenario you posed in your OP, in which you asked how one would preach at the funeral of an unsaved person.

If you're asking because your name is "John", how would I even know that when you don't use your real name here? John is a very common name and is often used in hypotheticals for this reason (eg. "John Q. Public", "John Doe", etc).

 

[TCassidy]

Excuse me???????? You are saying I am headed to Hell?

This may come as a terrible shock to you, but everything posted on the BB is not about you!

 

[evangelist6589]

I was referring to the scenario you posed in your OP, in which you asked how one would preach at the funeral of an unsaved person.

If you're asking because your name is "John", how would I even know that when you don't use your real name here? John is a very common name and is often used in hypotheticals for this reason (eg. "John Q. Public", "John Doe", etc).

Apology accepted thanks.

 

[evangelist6589]

"Dearly Beloved, as we ponder John's eternity in Hell, let us thank God for giving him countless opportunities each day of John's life to repent and receive Christ."

Seriously, though, I think one can be honest while being tactful.

The funeral isn't really the time to judge the deceased. If it were me, I'd just give the Gospel and let God do with that what He will.

Christians these days are never sure about anything except to be tolerant of all paths to God. That's why they would say that you can't know for sure who is in heaven and who is in hell. Even those that die in another religion or a cult they would say that you can't know for sure if they are in hell.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Apology accepted thanks.

Don't recall apologizing or doing anything to apologize for, but whatever.

 

[annsni]

Christians these days are never sure about anything except to be tolerant of all paths to God. That's why they would say that you can't know for sure who is in heaven and who is in hell. Even those that die in another religion or a cult they would say that you can't know for sure if they are in hell.

Well, that is because we CAN'T know. The thief on the cross certainly didn't live a life worthy of heaven but in the end, his heart was turned. My husband went to the bedside of a friend of his who denied God all through his life. He was in a coma and hubby gave him the gospel and prayed with him. He doesn't know if he heard him or not but he did find that after he was done praying, the man had tears running down his face. We just don't know if God called him at that time and he was saved. It is not up to us to determine where someone is in the afterlife. We might have an idea that a person who lived for the Lord all their life is in heaven but what if it was an act? I've seen people live for YEARS as a Christian and at some point turn and completely deny Christ. Others have lived an ungodly life and in the end, they turn their hearts towards Him. A pastor's job at a funeral is not to determine where the person is but to let those in the room know how to be saved.