The dilemma, should I stay or should I go?

[ALAYMAN]

No, this isn't a thread about The Clash.

Had a breakroom conversation with a co-worker where he described an encounter his pastor had with a congregant.  The aging congregant (described by my co-worker as a "devout Christian") was seen by the pastor around town and in their pleasantries the pastor asked how the congregant was doing.  He replied "having the best day of my life".  The man passed on to eternity later that night with a massive heart attack.  The pastor used the situation in eulogy (or a sermon, not sure which) to say "well, guess he *did* have the best day of his life".  My coworker said that was a strange way of looking at the situation, and that he (my co-worker) didn't look forward to dying and he thought the pastor's perspective was out of touch or just plain weird.  He said he enjoyed life too much to go around wishing he would die.

How would you have responded to this coworker if you had the opportunity?

 

[Frag]

Ecclesiastes 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

 

[JrChurch]

If the dearly departed was a devout Christian, he would be eager to leave this temporal setting.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:16

 

[ALAYMAN]

Ecclesiastes 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

How would you make application for this man from the verse cited?

If the dearly departed was a devout Christian, he would be eager to leave this temporal setting.

Agreed, but the coworker (a professed Christian himself) refused to accept the perspective that a Christian would be "eager" to die.  Of course I reminded him that for the Christian there really is no such thing ultimately as death, and the Door we pass through is the portal to a life devoid of all sin and its consequences, doing so using Paul's words that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

[christundivided]

Ecclesiastes 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

How would you make application for this man from the verse cited?

If the dearly departed was a devout Christian, he would be eager to leave this temporal setting.

Agreed, but the coworker (a professed Christian himself) refused to accept the perspective that a Christian would be "eager" to die.  Of course I reminded him that for the Christian there really is no such thing ultimately as death, and the Door we pass through is the portal to a life devoid of all sin and its consequences, doing so using Paul's words that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

While to a Christian death ushers in great glory, I can say that I don't want to leave my family, loved ones or friends. I would face it with sadness. Often, those looking to death as a "release".... are being selfish. They don't consider how their death will affect those around them. I want to die at the right time. I know some of you are going to say we all die at the right time, but that is a gross misunderstanding of the Scriptures. If the man can be said to have lived a full... happy life, then I see nothing wrong with the statement. The statement would have been insensitive had the death been seen as being "untimely".

Paul said as much in

Php 1:23  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Php 1:24  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Php 1:25  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

 

[ALAYMAN]

While to a Christian death ushers in great glory, I can say that I don't want to leave my family, loved ones or friends.

Agreed, and when I gave my perspective to the coworker regarding his pastor's probable meaning, I said that from one perspective those very sentiments which you expressed above.  But as a Christian who trusts God's decisions explicitly, just as Paul said in the very passage you cited from Philippians, to live (and serve) in this world is a life lived in Christ for His glory and purpose, but if He sees fit to call me home then I know that all things work to the good of those that love the Lord.  In other words, He knows what He is doing, and whatever His decision is regarding my Homecoming, well, I know that is what is best.

 

[Just John]

Like the last two replies, I think it's good to be "real" and acknowledge that as humans we think of our earthly homes with loved ones and should never feel guilty for it. We do not have to play "Super Christian".

 

[ALAYMAN]

Like the last two replies, I think it's good to be "real" and acknowledge that as humans we think of our earthly homes with loved ones and should never feel guilty for it. We do not have to play "Super Christian".

Paul said that if he could he would give his life/soul so that his countrymen could be saved.  By most accounts such rhetoric would appear to be "Super Christian".  To aspire to such lofty Christianity is not presumptuous, or unattainable necessarily, but rather honoring to the call on our life to not put too much stock in this world.  Like you said, that doesn't mean we don't long for the earthy relationships that are so meaningful to us, but at the end of the day His kingdom must be put first.  We fail in reaching that lofty goal regularly, but I don't think that it should involve our feeling guilty, but rather that we are mere mortals who have a way to go in our sanctification and identification.  Christ said that in comparison to Him, our love to our family should appear as hate.  That's a sobering thought.

 

[JrChurch]

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Something to consider.

 

[Just John]

Like the last two replies, I think it's good to be "real" and acknowledge that as humans we think of our earthly homes with loved ones and should never feel guilty for it. We do not have to play "Super Christian".

Paul said that if he could he would give his life/soul so that his countrymen could be saved.  By most accounts such rhetoric would appear to be "Super Christian".  To aspire to such lofty Christianity is not presumptuous, or unattainable necessarily, but rather honoring to the call on our life to not put too much stock in this world.  Like you said, that doesn't mean we don't long for the earthy relationships that are so meaningful to us, but at the end of the day His kingdom must be put first.  We fail in reaching that lofty goal regularly, but I don't think that it should involve our feeling guilty, but rather that we are mere mortals who have a way to go in our sanctification and identification.  Christ said that in comparison to Him, our love to our family should appear as hate.  That's a sobering thought.

I don't disagree. But so often people speak in "Christianese" that doesn't always come from the heart but rather is rote. It can be very guilt-inducing without even intending to be.