Why everyone should have a funeral

by Mark Congrove

The culture has dismissed "the funeral" as unnecessary and unproductive to their healing. The funeral deserves another look.

Four reasons why the culture and the church should not abandon the funeral. This is not exhaustive, but certainly a start. 

  1. In a funeral, we recognize the accomplishment of a life well-lived. And that suggests that every life, has value and meaning before the Lord.
  2. In a funeral we recognize the reality of death as the great equalizer and its sting the great adversary. We communicate with a finite people, the limitations associated with a finite life. Death and afterlife exist. 
  3. In a funeral we recognize that the Lord God is sovereign over life and death; His joy of his creation, of childlike innocence, of maturity, and even in the death of his saints, which he considers as precious.
  4. Lastly, and maybe most important, in a funeral we recognize our need of rescue through the Gospel. We find ourselves in a sinful condition that is inescapable apart from the Savior who lived and died; was resurrected for us. To ignore this, dispense with this because our loss is so painful is to dishonor the person who has died and to dishonor the God who made us and whose son redeemed us

MJC