How about, “Get over it, they’re dead.”
Thanks for posting this. I have to admit, I hadn’t thought of that situation.
Don’t say “well, they’re in a better place now”. You don’t know that they are, and they might not be. Better to just be sorry for their loss.
"If you think she was suffering then, you ain't seen nothing yet." ?
Do these three things really help the person who is a non-believer?
I don’t think so.
How about “Now that he’s/she’s dead, at least G-d ain’t gonna get any madder at him/her than He already is”?
“Just as only Christians truly appreciate the sadness of death.”
Not sure I buy that. When I die, I know where I’m going. When an atheist dies, they are just dead - forever. Reminds me of the android’s poem at the end of Blade Runner:
“All these memories
will be lost
like tears in the rain”
Androids knew that once they died, that was it, and they fought like hell against that four year life span.
Christians can afford to be pretty sanguine at least, and pretty stoked at best, to find out that death is right around the corner.
I’ve asked questions like, “Do you think he’s really gone?” or “Where do you think he went?”
People grieving after someone they loved are pretty open to the idea that maybe they don’t really have to be gone, and that there might be a strong possibility you are going to see them again.
They make react strongly to the suggestion at the time (only one has), but most ask me what I meant by the question. Now you have an opportunity to explain it.
When someone is mourning a death you comfort them as best you can in love and kindness. Most people understand that death is part of life and we will all be there someday but even when you understand this it still hurts tremendously. Look for an opportunity to be the salt and light Jesus calls on us to be and look for an opportunity to witness. I have seen dozens of times when a self proclaimed atheist opened up to hearing the Gospel during a time of great trial. I truly believe that often God puts us in trials to open us up to him. Most people, even atheists, understand when someone is engaging them with a true loving spirit and appreciate it, even if they ultimately reject the specifics. Just knowing someone truly cares can be a tremendous comfort.
Having never wanted to lie, I do think *I’m sorry for your loss* for someone who died an atheist, would be a pretty accurate statement.
I AM sorry that someone died without knowing Christ.
(Disclaimer: Still trying to work up those thoughts for ISIS and other jihadist butchers)