HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-12-30, Page 15From the Minister's Study
THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1986. PAGE 15.
Should non-Christians have a Christian burial?
BY JAMES H. CARNE, PASTOR
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH, AUBURN, ONTARIO.
It all started with weddings. Like
many other ministers I have long
questioned the appropriateness of
a “Christian” wedding for couples
who want God to be a part of their
marriage for the half hour, only,
that the wedding ceremony lasts;
except for emergencies, of course.
And that got me thinking about
funerals (and infant dedications
and baptisms too, where the
parents are not decidedly Chris
tian! -But, that’sforanother time.)
What really sharpened my focus
on this subject was my return, after
an absence of many years, to pastor
the church in my home community
where I first heard the gospel
message and received Jesus Christ
as my Saviour. As I visited up and
down the familiar streets I was
interested to discover those of my
former neighbours who lived there
still. Sure enough, the boyhood
home of a pal of mine was still
recognizable and his mother re
sponded to my knock.
Now, Jim and I had been close.
We started to attend the church
together and had become Chris
tians about the same time. But, he
did so at some risk. His father had
forbidden him to go to church, and
every time his disobedience was
discovered, he suffered for it.
Now, 30 years later, I am the
pastor in the community, and a
friend of the family. Jim’s father is
still a professed atheist and is
Brussels Bible Study
holds last session
The last Bible Study on Thessa
lonians was held at the home of
Marie McIntosh.
In the morning the lesson was
given under the capable leadership
of Elizabeth Jamieson. At noon, a
pot luck luncheon was partaken by
all the members. A new study on
Brussels man dies at 76
CLIFFORD HUNTER RILEY
Clifford Hunter Riley of Brussels
passed away at Victoria Hospital,
London on Dec. 21,1986 in his 77th
year.
He was the son of the late John
Riley and Elizabeth Wright. He is
survived by three sisters: Evelyn,
Mrs. Jack Hoph, Calgary; Irene,
Mrs. Gordon Hoph, Stratford; and
Marjorie, Mrs. Aaron Rease,
Stratford. Also surviving are four
nearing 80 years of age. The
chilling possibility assaulted my
senses: what is this man should die
and the family should ask me to
conduct the funeral service for a
man who wouldn’t be caught dead
in church while he was alive? What
Peter will be presented in January
and this is a wonderful way to learn
the scriptures.
Rev. Victor and Mrs. Jamieson
are going to Chattanooga early in
the New Year to take the Kay
Arthur’s Precept Course for furth
er studies.
brothers, Gilbert of Orangeville;
Oliver, Wroxeter; Ferguson,
Wingham and Donald of Garnish,
Newfoundland. He was predeceas
ed by three sisters: Winnifred,
Mrs. Sam Boulette; Jean, Mrs.
Chester Alderson and Irma, Mrs.
Lou Peachman.
The funeral service was held at
the M. L. Watts Funeral Home,
Brussels on Dec. 23, 1986. Inter
ment was in Maitland Bank
Cemetery, Seaforth.
prayer does one offer and what
scripture does one read under
those circumstances? There is no
appropriate funeral ritual for the
confessed atheist, or for others
whowouldn’tprofesstobe such
but who simply live as if God did not
exist.
I realize, of course, that the
funeral service is for the benefit,
largely, of the family, but how does
one minister comfortably even to
them, under such circumstances?
There are two things that can be
done. The first is that the honest
and deliberate non-Christian can
arrange to forego the usual
“Christian” funeral, complete
a Bly th Christian
Reformed Church
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
Rev. Roger Gelwicks
Worship Services 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
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The Church of the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20”
Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX, Sunday
Faith 20 5:00a.m. weekdays, Global T.V.
ALL VISITORS WELCOME
with pastor and prayers, and opt
for a mere gathering of the clan for
thepurposeof camaraderie and
comtniseration. The other option
was expressed sheepishly by
another former neighbour, a close
friend of my father’s.
Visitinginhishomeoneday, I
ran these musings past him, partly
pointed in his direction, I confess,
for his previous involvement in
things spiritual had been notice
ably lacking. When I finished my
speculating, hesaid, with awry
smile, “Iguesslhadbetter be soon
getting down to that church.”
If the shoe fits, go thou and do
likewise!
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