Why don't Christians celebrate when one of their community dies?

Question

I mean, aren't they GOING TO HEAVEN? Shouldn't you be happy for them?

Hey cool, I'm glad you guys have turned my viewpoint around :D

Answer 1

Many of us are.

The thing is, we have connection with those around us, and when someone dies, the loss is more obvious than our hopes for them.

Answer 2

Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Proverbs 25:20

Mourning over the loss of a loved one is NOT selfish at all, it shows how close you were to them, how much you love and miss them and LONG to be with them, to embrace them. Knowing that you will see them again is not enough, you long to be with them right now!

It is NOT wrong to feel that way nor is it selfish. As far as I know, Christians usually have funerals and don't "celebrate" the deceased. They try to comfort the bereaved and pray for the hurting ones who lost a loved one. It is important to be SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS of others. I think it would make the bereaved person angry that people were partying while they are hurting so badly and missing the one that they love and long for. Even in the Bible they mourned the loss of a loved one.

I have heard of some christians who have chosen to "celebrate" the death of a loved one because they knew that that person had gone to heaven.That choice is up to the closest relatives involved. There is no set rule.

It is especially not good if a christian dies before living out their days in full. THAT IS A CURSE to die early and it says so in the Bible, I believe.

So, in conclusion, I don't believe that it is wrong to celebrate or not to celebrate. It is up to the closest relatives, of course. Either way, whether chosen to celebrate or not, those who suffer the loss will have pain in their hearts because they will miss and long to be with that person again. Their pain is only for a short time as they will see and be with that person again.
As a christian you are happy for the person but sad not to be able to have them here.

Answer 3

YES, WE DO CELEBRATE. How many Christian funerals have you attended? We celebrate the person, his/her life and its effects on the world. We are very glad that person is at rest and is with Jesus.

But we also mourn. Funerals are also a time of saying good bye to ones we love. Haven't you ever cried a bit when you left someones house or when they said good bye at the airport? We cry because we miss them already, we are human that way. We don't cry about them leaving, we cry about us staying without them. The funeral is also so that people can rally around those who have just lost someone dear to them - a gesture of support!

Why do you feel such a need to criticize Christians?

Answer 4

But dear Virginia, not all Christians go to heaven. We are judged by our actions here on earth while still alive. Thus, it could happen that someone who looks holy had a hidden sin in him, or someone with the face of a thug may turn out to be a man of goodwill. The point is we don't really know who goes to heaven and who doesn't, so when our relatives die, we die. But there are certain people with the reputation of sanctity< and by being declared a saint< it means he is surely in heaven> that"s when we break out celebrating!

Answer 5

Most people morn because they had a close relationship with that person and a part of them is gone, not because they are disappointed about their loved one going to heaven. Plus, a lot of people do celebrate. In my family, after every funeral we have a cook-out at the park because we are happy that they are in a better place.

Answer 6

We do celebrate for the passing into a "better" life. What we also do is grieve the physical lose of that person. Hey, God has taken some pretty significant people from me lately. While I can't be made about God calling that person home, I'm kinda upset that I had to stay behind and deal with life without these folks in my daily, physical world. So, I grieve for my lose while I celebrate their victory.

Answer 7

A wake often is a celebration. The thing one must remember is that the funeral is not for the dead, but for the living. It is a way to deal with the sadness of loosing a friend or loved one. Yes, there is cause to celebrate and hope that he/she is in the pressence of God, but we are still sad to not be with them. Sad that we will only see them again upon our death. It is often difficult to be happy for someone else when that reason you are celebrating is bad for you personally.

Answer 8

I live near New Orleans, and there they sometimes throw mini-parades as a funeral procession with people dancing in the streets and a 2nd line band (a small band w/brass instruments like a tuba, trumpet, sax and tenor sax.. and maybe a drum).

I think the main reason is that we miss them. We don't mourn them, we mourn ourselves, because they get to go to heaven, and they didn't wait for us... Atleast, that's how I felt when my brother died.

Answer 9

You are right, we should be happy that a saved person gets to go on to be with Jesus, but we will miss them very much and so we do not celebrate their parting because in that moment, we tend to be a little selfish in that we will miss them very much. We do find comfort that we know they were saved and will see them again some day.

Answer 10

The lines in the standard funeral service do include celebrating the life of the person and the fact that they are going forward. Unless a person is totally unfeeling, it is still natural to mourn their loss in this life.

Answer 11

Well, isn't this a blanket statement? Why or Who or What makes you think "Christians" do not celebrate when there is a passing in their community? Do you really know what you are talking about?