Christian Funerals: Going to Be With God
Joan Huyser-Honig, Calvin College Alumna
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship online

This is a Vital Worship feature story from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. A new story in this series is posted regularly at www.calvin.edu/worship.

Christian funeral practices vary so widely in part because the Bible doesn’t say much about how to do them. The Bible does, however, say a lot about dying and rising with Christ.

"At the heart of the Christian religion is the history of a Jewish prophet from Nazareth who died and then, by the power of God's Spirit, conquered death," John Witvliet writes. "Everything in the Christian Scriptures either leads up to the account of this death and resurrection or reflects back on it."

From a theological perspective, Thomas G. Long suggests we reclaim classic Christian funeral tradition: accompanying baptized saints as they go to be with God. From a pastoral perspective, pastors say that funerals should minister to those left behind.

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