Baptist Funeral

Ever been to a Baptist funeral? You’ll hear the gospel. That’s not always true at other funerals.

I remember one particular funeral that was a bit strange for me. It was held in a church. The songs played were her favorites. The only one I really remember is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” None of the other songs mentioned hearts, and none mentioned souls.

This particular church holds that God exists in all things. That Jesus was a mystic with access to God. That Genesis is an allegory. That both heaven and hell exit here on earth. They believe the concept of Satan came from Zoroastrian, Babylonian and Greek beliefs, created by mankind. The temptation of Jesus was symbolic, the voice of human desire, not an evil entity.

For them, there is no sin. Instead, there is a false sense of separation from God. False because God is always present in all things. According to them, there is life after death as reincarnation, citing John the Baptist’s being referred to as Elijah.

All of the above is subject to individual beliefs, “as there is no official” creed, all “are free to search for truth on many paths.”

You’ll hear none of the above at my funeral.

At my funeral you’ll hear of the introduction of sin as a reality in Genesis. You’ll hear of God’s plan of salvation, and its prophecy through ages. You’ll hear of the fulfillment of that prophecy in the birth of His son, Jesus, who is called the Christ – the promised Messiah. You’ll hear of His life, His miracles, His teachings that direct our paths today.

You’ll hear of His death. Most importantly, you will hear of His resurrection. Celebrated each and every first day of the week throughout the year, with a special emphasis on Easter Sunday, we look to this promise from God.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)

We are not told this lightly nor do we accept blindly. Instead, scripture speaks of itself, for itself, by inspiration of God.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

There are plenty of opportunities to toss scriptures aside and deny their validity. One does so at great risk, even as Christ said:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (Mark 12:24 KJV)

Knowing scriptures should mean to study them.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

And, my favorite example, the Bereans.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)