Life And Death: Presbyterian

FRI., MAY 5, 1995, 2:30 PM
OFFICE, PULLIAM HALL

I shall speak to you this afternoon as one well acquainted with the Presbyterian denomination of My Body, the Church. In one sense I am a Presbyterian… as the Holy Spirit… for I am part of everything spiritual in this earth scene. In another, however, I am an “outsider,” one who sees spirituality, religion, and church practices from such a wide viewpoint that it is not easy to accurately focus on one church. Further, yours is a denomination that values and includes much diversity in belief, in perceptions, in values, and in actual practices.

Yours also is what can be called a “mainline” church, which means, among many interpretations, that you are considerably influenced by your humanistic, materialistic culture, in relation to both life and death. That is, what many Presbyterians think about death is more influenced, often subconsciously, by the medical and funeral industries than by church teachings.

As to life, Presbyterians believe that I have something to do with the beginning of each life. There is not agreement that I am responsible for every conception and birth, but neither is there consensus that this is just a strictly chance biological happening. There is general conviction that an infant or young child should be baptized, making this young one a member of the Church, and giving all other church members responsibility for that one’s Christian growth. Children should learn the Christian story, from parents and from a well-organized, well-taught church school. Then in the early teens it is expected that those who were baptized as children will confirm that promise made for and to them and join the Church, officially, by personally confessing Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior.

Many young people, having been raised in this way, do not join the Church, as your sons didn’t, or join just because you want them to, as in son Bob’s case. Later, as adults, they may join and become active, or they may not find this an inviting fellowship.

Life is to be lived fully, responsibly, and, yet also carefully. Religion is to be an important personal aspect of life, but often unacknowledged in secular, professional, and business life. You like and are proud of your denomination, but you are evangelistic rather infrequently. For most of you, your religion is more rational than emotional. You want educated rather than dynamic, bombastic clergy persons.

Then along comes the threat of death. You do a moderate amount of praying to Me to heal, to prolong life, to postpone death. You are more likely to seek medical judgments… preferably “high quality”… and expensive, high-tech medical treatments. You mostly consider that this is what I want, for while you generally affirm that there is some heavenly experience after death for those who have believed and have been conscientious church members, you’re not sure what this may be and you’d rather hang on to life here. It may not be of much quality, but it’s more familiar.

When death does finally come it is considered proper to have a visitation and a funeral. The funeral should be quite like a worship service, with many affirmations (like those you have saved and quoted), from Scripture and in prayers about the reality of continuing, eternal life, with Me. Most also have an unfortunate “thing” about respect for the dead body, which means an expensive casket and vault for burial, showing an unwillingness to become part of the living earth. The funeral industry is pleased with most of you Presbyterians.