There is a big controversy in Dallas right now, over an Evangelical church's refusal to bury a gay man. Story HERE. As I understand it, it is really not a matter of refusing to bury him, but an issue with the powerpoint presentation (which has evidently become the new burial tradition) that would have shown him hugging and kissing his lover.
As I see it, the problem here is not his sinfulness.....and yes, I believe, as Christians always have, that homosexuality is sinful. The problem is that the funeral service has come to be seen as a "celebration of the person's life" instead of a prayer to God for mercy on a departed sinner.
This is the advantage of adhering to a liturgical tradition. We don't have to "create" a burial service. We are given one. And it has nothing to do with "celebrating the life" of the individual. What if Osama Bin Laden was your parishioner? How would you bury him? How do you bury an infant that died when there is not much material for a powerpoint production? What about the guy who cheated on his wife and beat his kids. HOW do you bury him?
2 comments:
Oops, somehow I got the idea at first that this was supposed to be an Orthodox funeral.
It sounds like the church did the best they could. No doubt the media will have its field day.
FDR,
I think you bring up another facet of what is going to be a hot topic. And yes, Gina, the Dallas media is having a field day.
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