Funerals and weddings are some of the best opportunities to reach people who would never come to hear preaching in a regular church service. We've had people join our church as a result of allowing funerals and weddings in our building. We also host early voting in our area and we have literally tens of thousands of people walk through our doors to vote. We have had people visit and join as a result. I see our building as a multiple-purpose, multiple-function facility that is for use to as many as we can offer it to. We don't charge for funerals but we do charge rental fees for nonmembers for weddings or other functions. We have said no to other functions that were a stretch, but those are few and far between. Anytime we can get people in the doors we feel like there's a chance we can make some kind of impact. They walk in and see our posters and flyers and ads for upcoming events etc. Sometimes they show up later. Missed opportunity to say no in my opinion.
I know talking about weddings is a hijacking but, in this "modern" world we live in, you better be careful letting non-members of your church have a wedding at your church.
Because when the first gay couple shows up and wants to use your location, and you say "we dont do that" then they will be looking for a lawyer and the last couple you married that werent members of your church.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I know talking about weddings is a hijacking but, in this "modern" world we live in, you better be careful letting non-members of your church have a wedding at your church.
Because when the first gay couple shows up and wants to use your location, and you say "we dont do that" then they will be looking for a lawyer and the last couple you married that werent members of your church.
I don't see a bible example or precedent of preachers or elders performing marriages to begin with, but if a church were to conduct a marriage, I would think it would ONLY be for those who are members of the church.
Speaking of Irish funerals... man goes down to Port Lairge and checks into a little bed and breakfast type of place. The woman shows him his room, and he sees there's no ceiling, you can see clear into the second floor. So he says to her 'Ma'am, there's no ceiling!' she says to him 'Don't worry, the couple upstairs will only be dropping in every now and then.'
So the next morning he calls on the woman of the house, and says 'I'll have you to know I found a dead flea in me bed last night.' She says to him 'oh, what's one little dead flea?' He says 'Twasn't the flea were a problem, it were the 40,000 others who showed up for the wake!'
What about the possibility of ministering to the family members and friends of a "non-member" in their time of loss? What a great excuse to gather a bunch of non-believers in one place and teach them about Jesus and his sacrifice. It can be done in a tasteful way, without completely co-opting the funeral service.
My current church is "Apostolic Pentecostal Oneness", and we have funerals for anyone loosely associated with the church who's family desires it. Our ministers see it as an opportunity to show love, compassion, and Jesus to the hurting of this world.
What's more important? Keeping your building full of "holy" people? Or making it a venue for the lost to find Jesus? Hmm....
For many people, the only time they hear preaching is at a funeral.
I would let them use the church....and i would be glad to officiate. However I would be very careful about who else officiated there.
A few years ago a man that had been a longtime Apostolic preacher passed...his wife came and wanted to have the service in our church (they had attended some years before).....however she wanted to have a Trinitarian preacher do the service. I was willing to let them use the church but not open up our pulpit to a trinny. I felt that she was doing dishonor to her late husband and our church.
Funny thing was the Trinitarian preacher did not show....and they ended up asking me to preach it (it had been changed to another church)....I preached on what the late preacher believed...truly enjoyed myself.
I am not hardhearted but there are certain things I don't allow....some of you are willing to let every theological Tom, Dick and Harry do their thing in your building? ....have at it.....but not me.
I actually agree more with Elder Epley....some flexibility in funerals.....very little on weddings.
I certainly agree with you to a point, but I had an experience in a church where i was shocked at what was allowed at a funeral.
A friend attends the Church of Christ or something like that. It was similar to a Lutheran church to me. When her father passed, her minister did the funeral, but my friend wanted another friend of her dad's to speak. Her dad's friend is Muslim. No problem.
Except he pretty much took over most of the service with his chantings, prayers, and rituals. I sat there. I told my husband to sit there. We did not bow during his prayer or his singing. We didn't close our eyes in reverence. I truly was sickened.
In addition, after he was finished, her pastor, who was a woman (not that I think there is anything wrong with that, but I think it plays into this situation), did her rituals as well but before dismissing us, she tells us something along the lines of 'pray to our brother, prophet, savior, Jesus, whatever you want to call him'...
WHAT???????????????
Are you serious?????
Whatever we want to call HIM???
At that point, I was beyond sickened. I was in shock that anyone who calls themselves a minister of God and Jesus would compromise themselves as to not offend.
I personally didn't care if my lack of reverence offended anyone. That Muslim man, knowing completely that he was in a supposed church of God who also believes Jesus is God (or maybe they don't anymore), didn't seem to care if he offended people either.
I refuse to embrace the beliefs of others for the sake of a funeral when they are so far apart from my own.
The only thing I really disagreed with was putting a 'trinnie' in your pulpit. To me, it depends on what you think his role in the funeral would be. If he's merely speaking of the dead, I don't think it matters. To preach, no, I wouldn't agree that you should allow such.
I certainly agree with you to a point, but I had an experience in a church where i was shocked at what was allowed at a funeral.
A friend attends the Church of Christ or something like that. It was similar to a Lutheran church to me. When her father passed, her minister did the funeral, but my friend wanted another friend of her dad's to speak. Her dad's friend is Muslim. No problem.
Except he pretty much took over most of the service with his chantings, prayers, and rituals. I sat there. I told my husband to sit there. We did not bow during his prayer or his singing. We didn't close our eyes in reverence. I truly was sickened.
In addition, after he was finished, her pastor, who was a woman (not that I think there is anything wrong with that, but I think it plays into this situation), did her rituals as well but before dismissing us, she tells us something along the lines of 'pray to our brother, prophet, savior, Jesus, whatever you want to call him'...
WHAT???????????????
Are you serious?????
Whatever we want to call HIM???
At that point, I was beyond sickened. I was in shock that anyone who calls themselves a minister of God and Jesus would compromise themselves as to not offend.
I personally didn't care if my lack of reverence offended anyone. That Muslim man, knowing completely that he was in a supposed church of God who also believes Jesus is God (or maybe they don't anymore), didn't seem to care if he offended people either.
I refuse to embrace the beliefs of others for the sake of a funeral when they are so far apart from my own.
The only thing I really disagreed with was putting a 'trinnie' in your pulpit. To me, it depends on what you think his role in the funeral would be. If he's merely speaking of the dead, I don't think it matters. To preach, no, I wouldn't agree that you should allow such.
I know those trinnie are of the debil.
__________________
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
I certainly agree with you to a point, but I had an experience in a church where i was shocked at what was allowed at a funeral.
A friend attends the Church of Christ or something like that. It was similar to a Lutheran church to me. When her father passed, her minister did the funeral, but my friend wanted another friend of her dad's to speak. Her dad's friend is Muslim. No problem.
Except he pretty much took over most of the service with his chantings, prayers, and rituals. I sat there. I told my husband to sit there. We did not bow during his prayer or his singing. We didn't close our eyes in reverence. I truly was sickened.
In addition, after he was finished, her pastor, who was a woman (not that I think there is anything wrong with that, but I think it plays into this situation), did her rituals as well but before dismissing us, she tells us something along the lines of 'pray to our brother, prophet, savior, Jesus, whatever you want to call him'...
WHAT???????????????
Are you serious?????
Whatever we want to call HIM???
At that point, I was beyond sickened. I was in shock that anyone who calls themselves a minister of God and Jesus would compromise themselves as to not offend.
I personally didn't care if my lack of reverence offended anyone. That Muslim man, knowing completely that he was in a supposed church of God who also believes Jesus is God (or maybe they don't anymore), didn't seem to care if he offended people either.
I refuse to embrace the beliefs of others for the sake of a funeral when they are so far apart from my own.
The only thing I really disagreed with was putting a 'trinnie' in your pulpit. To me, it depends on what you think his role in the funeral would be. If he's merely speaking of the dead, I don't think it matters. To preach, no, I wouldn't agree that you should allow such.
The plan was for him to preach....I would not allow that in our pulpit.
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