As one might assume from the funeral of President Carter, who frequently expressed his faith in Jesus, there were a lot of Christian parts at his current death. The company included Scripture observations, songs, and blessings. And finally, for some reason, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sang John Lennon’s” Think”.
It would be an insult to say that this musical choice stuck out like a sore finger. Any part of liberal music that seems more out of line with the meaning of a Christian cremation is hard to imagine. ” Disco Duck” and” Baby Shark” would have been more appropriate. As grating to the ear as they may become, at least they’re theologically negative. Why should a music be included in the opening words of a company that is intended to promote the idea of eternal life?
The answer seems to be that Carter himself loved the song, despite the tempting temptation to blame the Episcopal Church for organizing the funeral ( as a general rule, every bad thing that ever happens anywhere is the fault of Episcopalians ). While some might consider this as proof that Carter wasn’t really a Christian, I think we can be a little more generous. Anyone who has ever watched a blushing wife and her husband delayed party to” Every Breath You Take” at their wedding reception will know how astoundingly capable people are of absorbing the rest of a song. It’s possible that Carter liked the track because of the lines about somebody living peacefully, but he also feigned those about abolition of private property and rejecting the existence of God.  ,
I didn’t criticize that very harshly if Carter was really guilty of liking a schlock anthem while just partially paying attention to the lyrics. But, I do have a major gripe about including it, and essentially any secular piece of music, in a company that should be grounded in the promises of eternal life that was won for us through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.  ,
As Christians, our burial don’t get events of our accomplishments, interests, or interests that, as Christians, we aren’t generally statesmen or sports fans or Parrotheads with a little bit of Jesus dust sprinkled on top. Instead, we are first and foremost children of the God who gave us the right to live forever, children who were condemned but who have since been raised and given back eternal life through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. We are members of Christ’s church before we are members of any nation, tribe, or club.
Because of this, a church’s funeral service should primarily emphasize the pardon of Jesus Christ, who gave the deceased the right to see him resurrected in glory and gave the deceased eternal life. In other words, the purpose of your funeral is not so much to make people remember you and the things you liked as it is to make them remember the promises that the God of love made of you and honor you by singing and hearing those promises.
With regard to the” singing” part, the more Jesus a particular piece of music features, the better it is at accomplishing the goal of a funeral. If you really loved singing” You Are My Sunshine” with your mother growing up, that’s great, but” You Are My Sunshine” won’t save anybody, so save it for your family’s reception afterward. Make sure that those who have gathered during the service who are weeping experience Jesus ‘ shedding of the cross through powerful hymns that boldly proclaim God’s love for you. Give them hymns radiating with the joy of Easter, the promises of the resurrection, and the glorious victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the power of the devil.
If you don’t already have a list of such compositions handy, here are eight glorious, Christ-centered hymns ( all of which can be found here ) to consider singing at your funeral:
1. Our God Is A Mighty Fortress, According to Wikipedia.
Martin Luther’s best-known hymn, this stirring meditation on Psalm 46 is a great way to rub Satan’s defeat in his face. Consider giving the words from this hymn’s final stanza to those who loved you when they are desperately in need of the assurance that their sorrow will not last.
Our God is a strong fortress, not a fortress.
A trusty shield and weapon,
He helps us free fromev’ry need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe,
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight,
On earth is not his equal.
2. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
I’m firmly convinced that Paul Gerhardt is the greatest hymnist who has ever lived, despite being largely unknown outside of Lutheran circles. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness, an Easter hymn that elicits the assurance that all who believe in the risen Christ will forever be a part of the warmth of His kingdom, is one of his most beautiful compositions.
Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true,
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate’er He passes through.
He rends death’s iron chain,
He transcends suffering and sin.
He shatters hell’s grim thrall,
I abide by Him forever.
3. Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Johann Franck, a contemporary of Gerhardt, wrote this provocative composition, a shining illustration of what it sounds and looks like to sing with joy on top of sorrow.
Jesus, priceless treasure,
Fount of purest pleasure,
Truly a friend to me,
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord, for Thee?
 ,  , Thou art mine,
 ,  , O Lamb divine!
I have nothing to hide from Thee,
Naught I ask beside Thee.
4. God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
St. Paul makes a promise in Romans 6 that those who receive the waters of baptism will be made both sinful and living. It’s fitting to sing praises to God as your loved ones begin to wait for Him to fulfill the second half of the promise by removing your body from the grave.
Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise!
Despite the fact that I snooze in dust and ashes
Faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine
To make life immortal mine.
5. Behold, a Host Arrayed in White
Hans Brorson, a Danish hymnist, has a beautiful interpretation of the imagery from Revelation 7 that is a great way to convey Christ’s promise of eternal life to your loved ones.  ,
Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!
With palms they stand,
Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
These are the saints of eminent fame,
Who arrived from the great affliction?
And in the flood
Of Jesus ‘ blood
are free of guilt and shame.
They now serve God both during the day and at night.
They sing in the never-ending darkness of their songs.
Their anthems ring
As they all sing
With angels shining bright.
6. Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart
The third verse of Martin Schalling’s 16th-century hymn may well be the greatest stand-alone hymn stanza ever written. Listen to it here.
Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing,
And in its tiny chamber, sleep.
My body at rest and at peace.
Until Thy reappearing.
And then do I wake up from death,
That these joyous mine eyes may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will unwaveringly praise Thee.
7. Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won
Another great Easter hymn, Christian Gellert’s refrain,” This shall be my confidence”, would be a great gift to give those hungering for the confidence that they will see you again.
Jesus lives! The vict’ry’s won!
I can’t stop dying from enthralling me.
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!
Will Christ recall me from the grave.
Brighter scenes will then commence,
This shall be my confidence.
8. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
As far as I’m concerned, Philipp Nicolai’s take on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is the greatest hymn ever written. ” Wake, Awake,” a staggeringly beautiful exercise in clinging to the love of Christ amid unbearable sorrow, was created after a plague outbreak forced Nicolai to bury almost 2, 000 members of his congregation over the course of six months.  ,
” Wake, awake, for night is flying”,
The watchmen are crying in the heights.
” Awake, Jerusalem, arise”!
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
” Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?
The Bridegroom comes, awake!
Your gladness take your lamps!
Alleluia!
With bridal care
Yourselves prepare
To meet the Bridegroom, who is near”.Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing,
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious,
Her star isris’n, her light is come.
Now come, Thou Blessèd One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son,
Hail! Hosanna!
We enter all
The wedding hall
to prepare dinner at your request.Now let all theheav’ns adore Thee,
Let angels and saints perform songs before Thee.
With harp and cymbals ‘ clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, joining with the choir immortal,
We gather round Thy radiant throne.
No eye has seen the light,
No ear has heard the might
Of Thy glory,
Will we therefore?
Eternally
Sing to Thee,” Hymns of praise and joy”!
Instead of John Lennon’s ode to nothingness, imagine if the Carter family had written them.
