Why do Christians mourn family death?

Question

I've been a Christian since birth (20 now) and have lost both grandparents (never really had any), mother at 14, and two friends in the past 2 years.

Yet, since I never have really been heartbroken from it (or for long period of time) I must ask this question:

Why do so many "TRUE" Christians suffer so much from a loved one's death? Isn't their belief that their loved one is Heaven great enough or are Chrsitians that selfish for their own selfs?

And no don't give any recommendations of suicide or I will just roll my eyes at you and think of you as a selfish pig :)

Answer 1

Speaking for myself, I don't mourn a person's death. I mourn the fact that I will miss them being around. I know they are in a better place and that I'll see them again, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch a loved one disappear from my life. Mourning is really done for the ones left behind and not the one who has died.

Answer 2

Have you seen the damage that occurs with people who either arnt faithful or know whats after this life? They sometimes flip. It usually seems like faithful christians are more optimistic about a loved one passing in my observation especially if that person led a quality life. I think I'm going to talk with my family that I dont want to see a lot of mourning and assure them that life continues after the grave and that we can all be united together if we stay true in the faith, what a wonderful blessing and promise from the Lord

Answer 3

I have been a Christian since birth (55 now) and have for nearly as long believed in what the Bible says happens at death. Jesus said death is like a sleep and at death the dead go into the grave and "sleep" there until the resurrection at the end of the world. This means all those that have died on earth to date still rest asleep in the grave. None of them are in heaven now. Christians who believe anything else are sadly mistaken. If they claim to believe that their loved one died and went to heaven, is in heaven now, then for consistency it would seem logical they would rejoice when a loved one dies and would in fact encourage suicide. I agree with your rationale that they seem inconsistent in their belief.

The belief that when one dies one either goes to heaven, hell, or purgatory is illogical, non-biblical and actually pagan in origin. It is a downright lie.

Answer 4

Well, they loved them, and will be without them, until their own "rebirth" into heaven. It is sort of like why you may have missed your best friend or dad when they were going away for a week. Except it may take longer to see the loved one that passed on. Its because of love.

Though you must also remember that the more deaths you have dealt with, the easier it is to deal with death.

Answer 5

Even as a "TRUE" christian you are still human and whether you call it selfishness or not you can still mourn the reality that you will not wake up and see them the next day or whatever the case may be.

Answer 6

Death

A friend asked: "How should one look forward to death?"  96 

'Abdu'l-Bahá answered: "How does one look forward to the goal of any journey? With hope and with expectation. It is even so with the end of this earthly journey. In the next world, man will find himself freed from many of the disabilities under which he now suffers. Those who have passed on through death, have a sphere of their own. It is not removed from ours; their work, the work of the Kingdom, is ours; but it is sanctified from what we call 'time and place.' Time with us is measured by the sun. When there is no more sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time does not exist for man. Those who have ascended have different attributes from those who are still on earth, yet there is no real separation.

"In prayer there is a mingling of station, a mingling of condition. Pray for them as they pray for you! When you do not know it, and are in a receptive attitude, they are able to make suggestions to you, if you are in difficulty. This sometimes happens in sleep. but there is no phenomenal intercourse! That which seems like phenomenal intercourse has another explanation." The questioner exclaimed; "But I have heard a voice!" 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "Yes, that is possible; we hear voices clearly in dreams. It is not with the physical ear that you heard; the spirit of those that have passed on are freed from sense-life, and do not use physical means. It is not possible to put these great matters into human words; the language of man is the language of children, and man's explanation often leads astray."  97 

Someone present asked how it was that in prayer and meditation the heart often turns with instinctive appeal to some friend who has passed into the next life.

'Abdu'l-Bahá answered: "It is a law of God's creation that the weak should lean upon the strong. Those to whom you turn may be the mediators of God's power to you, even as when on earth. But it is the One Holy Spirit that strengthens all men." Hereupon another friend referred to the communing of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah; and 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "The faithful are ever sustained by the presence of the Supreme Concourse. In the Supreme Concourse are Jesus, and Moses, and Elijah, and Bahá'u'lláh, and other supreme Souls: there, also, are the martyrs."

When asked about the individual persistence of the animal's personality after death, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "Even the most developed dog has not the immortal soul of the man; yet the dog is perfect in its own place. You do not quarrel with a rose-tree because it cannot sing!"

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 95)

Answer 7

Seems you may be denying your feelings. For me it is impossible to not morn the loss of a person I love. Even if I think the person was a true christian and if I live as such, someday I will see them again.
I was upset when I divorced because I would not be seeing my husband again. I was upset when my son in-law went to Iraq, I cried for days. Not that I thought he would die. I just didn't want him to go and I knew that his child needed him so badly to be here with him and to be a father to him. It is human nature.

Answer 8

98% of Xtians are that selfish, and further more most know that they are not going to heaven because if they read the scriptures they know that all they did was sin and then hope the law didnt apply to them because some pastor told them just believe and your forgiven which is bull $hit

Answer 9

Although we all are of the flesh and continue to react in the fleshy thoughts we are also people with complex emotions. Yes, I would know they are in heaven (provided they are saved) but I would grieve the loss of their companionship and my bond to them while on earth. That doesn't make me selfish, but, human

Answer 10

Well gee did not Jesus cry also?? But yes Christians have a hope, some anyway to live in heaven, but most should look forward for life on earth, God made it for us you know.