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Why secular people still want Christian funerals
Church Times of London ^ | August 5, 2005 | Alan Billings

Posted on 08/13/2005 4:23:35 PM PDT by hiho hiho

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To: hiho hiho

We want Christians funerals because we want to pray for the soul of the dead.


21 posted on 08/13/2005 8:25:27 PM PDT by annalex
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To: cripplecreek

True true, people can be saved on their deathbed.

The Bible says when the books are opened, those whose names are not found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal punishment. Makes me think it's worth my time to seek Him and make sure I know Him and am known by Him, now, during the course of my lifetime, rather than putting it off till the end of my life.



+* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +*
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
+* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +* +*



But, whew, waiting till my deathbed to call on Jesus is not a gamble I would want to take, as some are killed unexpectedly and instantly, so might not have time to say, "Save me, Jesus".


22 posted on 08/13/2005 8:29:09 PM PDT by JockoManning (http://www.biblegateway.com)
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To: suzyjaruki
The positive thing is that when the chips are down, Christianity has something to offer that secularism does not.

Also, some tend to presume that those who are not members of an organized Christian religion are not Christians. Anymore the way some denominations are going the opposite might be true.
23 posted on 08/13/2005 8:33:40 PM PDT by hiho hiho
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To: JockoManning

**And in the USA, I hear more and more of those who have NO funeral. None whatsoever. I guess the fam just tends to the remains in the manner of their choice. Tells the undertaker what cemetery the plot's in for burial. OR,
Runs by the funeral home and picks up the ashes, takes them home, sets them on a shelf somewhere.**

The most loving man in history said, "Let the dead bury their dead".

Yes, Jesus Christ said those words. That's some tough love.


24 posted on 08/13/2005 8:47:02 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....nearly 2,000 years and still working today!)
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To: hiho hiho

"Why Secular people still want Christian Funerals"

Sorry, but it's too late.


25 posted on 08/13/2005 11:19:35 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: suzyjaruki
Who am I? Why am I here? Does it matter that I'm here? What is my purpose?... You won't find answers to those questions or even a direction towards understanding in a secular world.

I am curious about the christian's response to those questions.

I. THE DESIRE FOR GOD

The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.1

Catechism Catholic Church

26 posted on 08/14/2005 1:04:15 AM PDT by NYer ("Each person is meant to exist. Each person is God's own idea." - Pope Benedict XVI)
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To: hiho hiho; suzyjaruki

But the crux is that most of these secular people are not Christians in the sense that they had not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour when they died. One you die there is no second chance. Why should we give them Christian funerals when they did not believe when they were in this world?


27 posted on 08/14/2005 2:17:36 AM PDT by NZerFromHK ("US libs...hypocritical, naive, pompous...if US falls it will be because of these" - Tao Kit (HK))
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To: Zuriel

. . .


28 posted on 08/14/2005 2:23:34 AM PDT by JockoManning (http://www.biblegateway.com)
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To: hiho hiho
All would find the contemporary religious culture of the United Sates inexplicable

God is alive and well :)

29 posted on 08/14/2005 5:26:36 AM PDT by gamarob1 (.)
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To: cripplecreek
On the other hand I think men like Bin Laden and Hitler are destined for hell upon conception.

Althought I think the Bible clear on God's sovereignty over the salvation of all men, I think we have to be careful of being overpresumptuous. There is no doubt in my mind that Hitler is in hell (Neale Donald Walsh notwithstanding) and that Bin Laden is well on his way if he's not there already. But I wonder sometimes how few Christians pray for men such as these, that God might make of them a display of His incomparable grace and mercy. Given what Saul of Tarsus did in relentless persecution of saints, and the mighty way that God used Him after, I always hold out hope that such examples of God's abundant grace will continue to shine forth on a grand scale in this day and age.

30 posted on 08/14/2005 12:39:47 PM PDT by solafiducia (Take my heart and conform it to Thine, O Lord.)
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To: hiho hiho

this is the weirdest thing I have ever heard of. Why on earth would a person want a Christian funeral when they spurned the entire idea while they were healthy and could do anything for God and the furtherance of His kingdone.This is the untimate in selfishness.


31 posted on 08/14/2005 4:58:15 PM PDT by catholic
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To: hiho hiho

this is the weirdest thing I have ever heard of. Why on earth would a person want a Christian funeral when they spurned the entire idea while they were healthy and could do anything for God and the furtherance of His kingdone.This is the untimate in selfishness.


32 posted on 08/14/2005 4:58:20 PM PDT by catholic
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To: catholic

I am actually not really surprised at this. It certainly reveals even more about mankind and how much sin has affected him. It is not as if they do not know God at all, but instead "they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Just like so many in our culture today.....they want the benefits without the responsibilities.


33 posted on 08/15/2005 8:12:24 AM PDT by solafiducia (Take my heart and conform it to Thine, O Lord.)
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