Simon's Funeral

This week I went to a funeral for a man I had the honour of knowing a little. He had suffered greatly in recent years and I am so glad that we have a merciful God who did not let him suffer more than he was able, but took him home. I never expected such mercy and kindness. In the world's eyes Simon was an just ordinary man, a single guy who didn't have a job. But I've little doubt that in God's eyes he was one of the great men of our faith, and for that, his reward in heaven will be great. If I can ever learn to love God as well as Simon, to follow Christ as resolutely and to treat others as kindly and generously as he did, I will be glad.

Simon was a Christian and a Catholic. His funeral service was beautiful and many truths were spoken and praise given to God. There were a few points, however, where I felt uncomfortable because Jesus was subtlely dishonoured and his once for all sacrifice diminished. I was expecting this though, so it wasn't a big suprise. What did surprise me was the emotional effect it seemed to have on the congregation - it seemed like their lack of certainty about Simon's fate caused them to suffer some anxiety and gloom, where there might have been praising.

Thank God for taking Simon home! Thank God that Simon is with him, the Saviour he dearly loved! Rejoice at the awesomeness and wonder and joy of it all! Thank God that, though our pain will be great and we will dearly miss him, there is nothing to be sad about for Simon. He has been released from all pain into rest and joy and praising. Rejoice for he will be enjoying a great reward for his faithful, persevering, loving, humble service! Praise God for the comfort these truths, being truths, bring!

Plagiarism: The Existential Kicks

Epiphanies are coming thin and slow, so I've resorted to stealing other peoples' material. This is an excerpt from a sermon on Jesus' family tomb by my friend and pastor Mikey Lynch. He's talking about what it would mean were clear evidence found to show that Jesus is dead, never risen and ruling.

You get the existential kicks, sure. You have community, which is nice. You have spirituality, which is lovely. You have a hope for the future, which is not real but it sort of helps you now. You have some morals to guide you. You have a sense of meaning.

Sure you have the existential kicks, but ultimately forgiveness of all the things you’ve done wrong, your guilty conscience, trust in the forgiveness given by the death of Christ – you don’t have that. You’re still carrying with you your guilt. All of the failures and the hurts you’ve caused, none of that’s washed away because Jesus didn’t die for it. It’s still with you. You are still in your sins. You still have no right to ignore the guilt that is legitimate in your life.

And hope after death – well not in Jesus it’s not available. If he’s dead, well then his offer for life after death is annulled. So death is still, at least a nothing, if not facing God’s judgement without a Saviour.