Preaching at funerals

[nobspeople]

I've lost many family members over the past few years. Sunday, my aunt drowned in a pond after falling through the ice, they think, to save her dog, this past Sunday.
So I've been to many services and will be going to one more this week once arrangements are finalized.

In the past services, the preacher 'doing' the service always fell into the 'are you saved?/do you know jesus as your savior' mumbo jumbo.
All people considered themselves 'christian', though none were actively practicing.
I found it offensive, as a memorial/funeral service (at the funeral home not the grave site) is highly out of place and distasteful as, from what I know, non of the dead family members asked for this to happen.

For discussion:
Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?
If you've experienced this before, was it offensive and or out of place, or were you fine with it?

[1213]

...
Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?
If you've experienced this before, was it offensive and or out of place, or were you fine with it?

In Biblical point of view, all times are appropriate for preaching:

preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
2 Tim. 4:2

I don’t see why it would be offensive. But, maybe it depends also on how it is done.

[Difflugia]

Sunday, my aunt drowned in a pond after falling through the ice, they think, to save her dog, this past Sunday.

I'm sorry for your loss. I just lost a second uncle to COVID. It's a rough time.

Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?

Appropriate? No.

Expected? Yes.

If you've experienced this before, was it offensive and or out of place, or were you fine with it?

Oh, it's offensive and out of place. We're there to mourn our loved ones. If the pastor's being paid, they've been hired to blow ecumenical smoke up our butts about how we'll all be together again in the promised land or whatever. If they want to pretend that their particular, peculiar theology is real and worth sharing, they can do it on their own time and pass the KFC bucket. Maybe if there's an option to do the service "free with ads" then it's acceptable, but I've never had any pastor offer me that.

[nobspeople]

Sunday, my aunt drowned in a pond after falling through the ice, they think, to save her dog, this past Sunday.

I'm sorry for your loss. I just lost a second uncle to COVID. It's a rough time.

Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?

Appropriate? No.

Expected? Yes.

If you've experienced this before, was it offensive and or out of place, or were you fine with it?

Oh, it's offensive and out of place. We're there to mourn our loved ones. If the pastor's being paid, they've been hired to blow ecumenical smoke up our butts about how we'll all be together again in the promised land or whatever. If they want to pretend that their particular, peculiar theology is real and worth sharing, they can do it on their own time and pass the KFC bucket. Maybe if there's an option to do the service "free with ads" then it's acceptable, but I've never had any pastor offer me that.

Thank you for the kind words.
I've never experienced much loss until around 2013/2014. Then, from there, wow!
Anyway, I always found this 'preaching' odd and seriously off putting (my cousin voiced the same opinion much to the chagrin of many family members) and it made me wonder if this is 'normal'.
Perhaps I need to amend my 'end of days' stuff so this doesn't happen to me?

[JehovahsWitness]

Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?

Yes, if that is accord with the last will and wishes of the deceased. Their funeral is the last thing a family can do for their loved one, it is an opportunity for them to express their love and respect for their dead. They are not to pander to the sensibilities of observers. A person's funeral should be conducted as the deceased and/or his immediate family wish whether others find it offensive* or not.


* If someone is offended by a ceremony (whether religious or not), they have but to get up and walk out.


RELATED POSTS

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viewtopic.php?p=1066544#p1066544

Lazarus' Story: What's it like being dead?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 12#p918712

Why is death likened to "sleep"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 13#p832213

What is the condition of the dead (+ Video)?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 15#p918715

To learn more please go to other posts related to

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NOTE All posts I write represent my personal faith based beliefs as one of Jehovah's Witnesses

[Difflugia]

Perhaps I need to amend my 'end of days' stuff so this doesn't happen to me?

My suggestion is a Unitarian pastor. In general, even what passes for preaching on a Sunday is more about togetherness and spirituality than any concept of salvation. They're generally Christian enough that only fundies would consider anything wrong and the ones that I've been acquainted with personally know how to read a room.

For my own funeral, if my family wants Pentecostal fire and brimstone at my funeral, they're welcome to it. The funeral's for them, after all. I have mentioned to those likely to be involved in any arrangements that a Unitarian would be a solid choice, though, and I'd recommend one to anybody else that finds themselves in a similar position.

[nobspeople]

Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?

Yes if that is accord with the last will and wishes of the deceased. Their funeral is the last thing a family can do for their loved one, it is an opportunity for them to express their love and respect for their dead. They are not to pander to the sensibilities of observers. A person's funeral should be conducted as the deceased and/or his family wish whether outsiders find it offensive* or not.


* If someone is offended by a ceremony (whether religious or not), they have but to get up and walk out.

I would agree, if it's something the dead person wanted. In my cases, this wasn't the case (but surely, there are those that do want it). In the cases where one wanted preaching, those people are 'at the mercy' (for lack of a better term) to the wishes of the dead.

Now let's talk about those that DIDN'T want this at their service and those that made no preference. How would you respond to these two instances if preaching happened?

[JehovahsWitness]

Now let's talk about those that DIDN'T want this at their service and those that made no preference. How would you respond to these two instances if preaching happened?

I personally do not attend religious services that are not my own, but if circumstances meant I found myself at one I would either sit respectfully or if possible, discretely leave. The deceased should have had the forthought to make arrangements that ensure his wishes be recorded and respected, but few of us do . In any case, the person is dead and if the family get some comfort from imposing their own wishes, the person doesnt get any deader because of it. There's little point in allowing what cannot be changed to add to one's grief.

[Difflugia]

To learn more please go to other posts related to

LIFE, DEATH and ...THE HUMAN SOUL

Speaking of the ability (or lack thereof) to read a room...

[Tcg]

Do you think it appropriate for a preacher to 'preach' salvation at one's funeral service?

I don't, but a preacher is going to preach whenever they get a chance and of course when people are thinking about death, they're going to take advantage of that. In some cases when people are thinking about death, they're hoping to find a way to avoid it. They're looking for a loophole out of the inevitable that death is final. I suspect that in many cases the preachers themselves make the perfectly unsupportable claim of an afterlife to assuage they're own fear of death.

It seems that death is only a problem for the living. We will all experience dying at some point, but there is no reason to assume that we will experience death. In all likelihood, once we're dead our experiencing is over. One of religions greatest functions is to provide a means to deny that death is final. Preachers have been cashing in on that service for years of course without ever providing any evidence that their offer is bonified.

It's like Popeye's pal Wimpy offering to pay Tuesday for a hamburger today. Of course, Tuesday never comes.


Tcg