Well Neil I guess the corpse doesn't ask for anything! But seriously......yes I know that it must seem hypocritical but I think it okay to do so. In my country it is law that everyone must have a funeral. Not sure why but that is what it is! I am aware that lots of churches do not like to have people making a convenience of them just to get married but on the other hand I really do not think that we should ignore the opportunity that this affords to witness to the unsaved. I think that many people would have a Christian wedding even though they might not be Christian. It at least establishes a connection. Well that is my opinion on this FWIW God bless, Jeff >-----Original Message----- >From: Neil Whitcombe [mailto:Neil.Whitcombe@...] >Sent: Wednesday, 23 June 2004 6:18 AM >To: soundofgrace@... >Subject: RE: [soundofgrace] Officiating Pastors > >Jeff > >Do you think it right that unbelievers should ask for a Christian burial? >In >third world countries and places where there is not a strong "Christian >culture", unbelievers would not ask for Christian burial. > >Neil > >-----Original Message----- >From: Jeff Scanlan [mailto:jscanlan@...] >Sent: 20 June 2004 11:26 >To: soundofgrace@... >Subject: [soundofgrace] Officiating Pastors > > > >>-----Original Message----- >Moe has raised the issue of officiating pastors who take funerals, >weddings, etc. > >Now it might seem strange for one like me who believes strongly in >congregational church government that I like to see the pastor taking a >lead role around the church. The notion that he is just one of the boys >has never sat right with me. Just as your President represents the >nation to the people so do I think that in a real sense the pastor >represents the church to the people in the pews. > >I know that it is popular to argue that the church should not be as it >was in the past where the pastor did everything. However I doubt that >such a time ever really existed. I cannot imagine that any pastor faced >with church member saying that he and his wife were spending time >helping a certain widow to cope being told, 'How dare you! That is my >job!' > >So I don't think we need to react against that and nor do I think that >the work in a church should not be shared around where possible. But I >do think that it is good for a pastor to take a lead and that might mean >that he be there at those special times of life such as weddings and >funerals where it needs to be demonstrated that the church stands behind >its members whatever they are going through. > >FWIW >God bless, >Jeff > > > > > > >>From: Moe Bergeron [mailto:moe.bergeron@...] >>Sent: Thursday, 17 June 2004 11:27 AM >>To: soundofgrace@... >>Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Re: Baptism - Moe to Jack & all >> >>JACKJEFF@... wrote: >> >>I have been quite busy lately, so have not responded yet to Steve, but >am >>preparing one. More to follow! >>Been there, done that! >> >>--- Moe Replies -- >>Jack, Ok then you are "ouch!" free. I'll be looking forward to reading >your >>response that I'm sure will be filled with scripture. >> >>You know, I've always been curious how simple straight-forward >believer's >>immersion was transformed into what is now commonly understood to be a >>church sacrament that is administered by the authorized clergy person. >> >>As an aside, after fourteen years of pastoring I'm still wondering why >it >>was my duty to officiate at weddings and funerals. I was never >comfortable >>doing either. Not that I didn't take advantage of the opportunities to >>present the Good News. >> >>Speaking of such I'd really appreciate the prayers of the list for this >>Thursday evening. A dear friend in Christ has suffered the loss of a >>brother-in-law and on behalf of the widowed sister has asked that I >lead >>the service. Apart from my friend all of the family could possibly be >>strangers to our Lord. Pray our Lord give me the appropriate texts from >His >>word to bring comfort, conviction and a sure hope for their own souls. >> >> Moe >> >>-- >>Read the Sound of Grace pages at >>http://www.soundofgrace.com >> >>To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: >soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... >> >>To view our online archive go to our web page at >>http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace >> > >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace >