- Joined
- Jan 7, 2018
- Messages
- 122
- Reaction score
- 52
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Midwest - close to St Louis, MO
I have recently been to two funerals that have disturbed me greatly. The first, a "celebration of life" was held at the church of a large national denomination. It started with musicians playing rock songs from the 60s that I know this particular denomination condemned during that period of time, but the departed liked this music, so it was played. This was followed by testimonies of those who were close to the deceased, and in each case (pastors included) outerwear was discarded so that shirts representing the favorite baseball team of the deceased were revealed. I guess my main issue is that this was all held in the sanctuary of the church. I don't think I would have been as concerned if this had been held in the fellowship hall, or a secular venue. However, to have it where the gospel is supposedly preached was very offensive to me, but I appeared to be the only one. Most of those in attendance were also wearing baseball team apparel.
The second, a real funeral this time, was also held in the sanctuary of another large national denomination. Like the previous, the deceased was a big fan of a certain baseball team, and when the family followed the coffin down the aisle, they were all wearing this team's apparel; shirts, caps, etc. You would have thought they were heading to a game, rather than saying goodbye to their loved one. The funeral service was traditional, but the lack of respect and reverence for what they considered the house of God was unnerving to say the least.
Where has showing some respect for the dearly departed gone? It's bad enough when people attend a funeral in casual attire, but to wear sports apparel seems the utmost in disrespect for the deceased and their memory. I am certain that in their respective afterlives, the departed were not concerned with their teams standing in the leagues. And where has the reverence for a church sanctuary gone when even those who claim to preach the gospel profane the sanctity of the space.
I am not looking for any answers, just depressed that people/Christians see nothing wrong with this.
May God (the one true God) have mercy on us.
The second, a real funeral this time, was also held in the sanctuary of another large national denomination. Like the previous, the deceased was a big fan of a certain baseball team, and when the family followed the coffin down the aisle, they were all wearing this team's apparel; shirts, caps, etc. You would have thought they were heading to a game, rather than saying goodbye to their loved one. The funeral service was traditional, but the lack of respect and reverence for what they considered the house of God was unnerving to say the least.
Where has showing some respect for the dearly departed gone? It's bad enough when people attend a funeral in casual attire, but to wear sports apparel seems the utmost in disrespect for the deceased and their memory. I am certain that in their respective afterlives, the departed were not concerned with their teams standing in the leagues. And where has the reverence for a church sanctuary gone when even those who claim to preach the gospel profane the sanctity of the space.
I am not looking for any answers, just depressed that people/Christians see nothing wrong with this.
May God (the one true God) have mercy on us.
