Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-01-26
A Christian
Burial
By REV. ". BEHNkEN
Pastor Of Trinity Lutheran Church
Houstsn. Texas


When ! see a funeral procession
composed OF heathens. headed by 4
heather priest, | conclude that the de
ceased MAS a heather. when I see
Jews, headed by a rabbi. in funeral
professions. ! rightly conclude that the
deceased was a Jew. When a com
pany Of men wearing aprons or badges
or other paraphernalia follow a COT
fin. 1 conclude that the deceased vas
a lodge member. When | see a cof
I'm decked with the country's flag nc
companied by military men. and when
| see military rites performed Al he
grave. ! al safely conclude that the
deceased was a soldier. And when
! see the Christian congregation. With
their pastor. at the grave and hear
them sing or pray or use the word Of
God. ! ought TO be able q conclude
that the deceased was a Christian and
died a Christian death.
Is that not right Ought We not tc
be able TO conclude that Yes. We
ought TO. and years ago We could. but
owadays you cannot Almost daily
you can see where so-called Christian
ministers oficiate az the graves Of open
unbelievers. suicides. criminals and
the Ike Is this not true. They are
not abashed 10 grant such who have
died in open unhelief a Christian bur
That Is shameful. unspeakably
horrible.
But, they say. you cannot Judge
others. o cannot see into their
heart whether they we're Christians CT
not. whether they have died In the
taith or not God SAYS. Judge not
that ye be not judged and that is
what o do when o deny them 0
Christian burial
Now. my dear friends. Il Is true that
~e cannot look into other mems hearts
to see whether they are uprigh, Chris
tians or not But We do know. and
that most %assuredly. what kind Of ueo
pie are not Christians. namely. those
despised the word Of God and
the sacraments and refused to make
use OF the means Of grace and tina,
such people are not Christians. we
know from the word OF God that can.
lie. Christ says in unmistakable
words: lie that is Of God heareth
Gods word"
And God also says: Because thou
hast rejected knowledge. l will also
thee" Think OF this a mo-
ment There is a man who knows our
church doors are open to him. he
knows that the ringing OF the bells in.
vite him. but he passes by.
ask everyone who still has a
spark OF conscience in him. ought such
A man to have a Christian burials
we to open the door to such n
who refused to enter them
alive? Shall We confess that We
look forward TO his resurrection into
everlasting life? Is that denying the
Iaith. denying Christ as the only hope
of salvation? Do We not know that
God says. blessed are the dead who
lied in the Lord Shall we alter or
this? Let US remember that
God said: Be not deceived. God Is
hot Knocked.
II is Just this gross denial OF faith
II the graves OF the unsodly tia,
,auses men TO become Indifferent II
matters. Christianity Ia
therefore, laid bare TO open rfdicuIe
Men will ask. Why should | run to
'hurch? When | die they can easily
a preacher who will bury ne 10,
dollars and viii preach as fine a
as for those who constantly &c
o church,
But some VIII say. He will not men
ion the deceased at all. We do no,
want TO have the impression that the
deceased IS blessed and eternauy
That makes matters worse
till Then they become h~ypocrttes
the fact that the deceased is no,
mentioned in the prayers they show
lie is not worthy Of II.
They stand there as Christian min.
stets and yet do not dare 10 mention
he deceased. because they and every.
oe present knows that he was not a
,hristian. and that a Christian min.
ster has 10 business there.
But they say. We are preaching 10
he living and o the dead" What.
re We burying the liying7 Is IL not
he dead 10 whom the honor Of a Chris.
burial Is given? And do they saw
hat they want 10 comfort the suryfv.
RS? How shall they comfort? II they
ay the deceased IS saved, they ara
OF a falsehood or If they speak
he truth and say the deceased did
lot die a Christian and cannot, he
aved. then they have aroused a storm
u hatred against themselves. Or
hall they preach repentance there-
That will fail also. Are they not on.
Eating at the burial Of an urbelieyer-
Vii not the people say. IF What Won
az be true, why are you here granting
! Christian burial to an unbeliever7"
oh, my friends. let US remenbe,
Blessed are the dead land only thew
Who die in the Lord" And to them
ought a Christian burial he
'ranted- II they have been h~ypocrttes
md deceived US. they will ind thei,
Judge whom they cannot deceive. Bp,
Is for US. may God grant US grace
hat We may not deny the faith m,
leny the Saviour by granting Christian
'urials to such as have not died In
he Lord.
What Religion Supplies.