Funerals~ church masses

by Pbanna 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Pbanna

  got a question concerning Funerals and church funeral mass. I havent asked anyone this yet so I know you can help.

  Do JWs believe in going to Funerals or religious services other than JW.
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  kls

  No they don't . JWS are not allowed in a church or any other religious gathering, for funerals or any other reason.
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  Pbanna

  Ok thought so wasnt sure! IM asking cause one of my older neighboors died and they are devout catholics . Im not a JW but I follow the beliefs to a point, but they dont know this so Im gonna have to explain it to them due to religious beleifs I dont do funerals.
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  blondie

  It depends on who you ask and who is going. Elders, MS, pioneers are held to higher standards and might lose "privileges" and "position." These are old citations but I have a 2001 CD here. You could probably get away with going for a funeral but in the end it is the body of elders that decide what is the "conscience" of the congregation. Is there anything more recent in writing? Current practice is to remove elders, MS, pioneers for going to weddings of non-JWs.

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  w70 3/15 pp. 191-192 Questions from Readers ***

  May

  dedicated Christians attend church funerals of other religious organizations?—C. S., U.S.A.

  Some Christians may feel obligated to attend a church funeral because of a debt of gratitude, because a close relative is involved or due to pressures from an unbelieving mate. But before doing so each one should consider the various factors involved and the possible alternatives. While doing so is not forbidden by the Christian congregation, such a course is certainly fraught with dangers and problems.

  First of all, it is well to remember that a church funeral is not held primarily to afford friends an opportunity to console the bereaved family. Usually that is done in the funeral parlor beforehand or by visiting the family in their home. The church funeral is really a religious service. It therefore is likely to involve a sermon advocating such unscriptural ideas as the immortality of the soul and that all good people go to heaven. It may also involve unscriptural practices such as making the sign of the cross and most likely the joining in united prayer with a priest or minister of another religion. Of course, a Christian could not take part in such, in view of the command at Revelation 18:4.

  In this regard Japanese funerals represent a real test for dedicated Christian wives with unbelieving husbands. If they attend the funeral, their name is called out and they are expected to go up and offer incense and a prayer to the dead. So, many of such Japanese Christians have decided that it is better not to attend these funerals.

  Some dedicated Christians have attended church funerals because they wanted to stay close to the immediate family and support them. So they went to the funeral parlor, to the church funeral and then even to the grave. They might have been able to do all that without personally committing any false religious act. There are, of course, spiritual hazards in going to any place of false worship.

  True, a Christian wife whose husband is an unbeliever and who wants her to attend a church funeral might look to the example of Naaman. He was the Syrian general who was cured of leprosy by bathing himself seven times in the Jordan River at the command of the prophet Elisha. Because of this miraculous cure Naaman was determined never to worship any other god than Jehovah. But that would be a hard thing for him to do because he was still in the service of his king. He helped the king get around and so would have to go with him into the house of the pagan god Rimmon. He might even have to help the king bow down. So he asked that Jehovah God forgive him and not hold this against him. Naaman, who had become a true worshiper of Jehovah, was not himself worshiping this false god; he was only there under orders.—2 Ki. 5:1-19.

  And so with the Christian wife who has an unbelieving husband. If her husband insisted that on a certain occasion she go with him to a church funeral of a relative or family friend she might feel that she could act in a way similar to that in which Naaman did—be present on that occasion but not share in any acts of false religion. But whether she went would be up to her to decide. She would have to resolve the conflict between respect for her husband’s wishes and obedience to Jehovah and the dictates of her conscience, trained by God’s Word.—1 Pet. 3:16.

  Yes, her conscience would be involved. Why? Because others might see her, one of Jehovah’s witnesses, entering the church, and they might be stumbled. She would therefore have to consider that possibility. As the apostle Paul wrote: "Make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ."—Phil. 1:10.

  Better it would be if such a wife tried to explain her position to her husband. She would do well to pick a time when he was relaxed and in a good frame of mind, taking a lesson from Queen Esther, and then tactfully try to explain why she felt she could not attend such a church funeral. Among other things, she could point out that if she attended and did not take part in the ritual it might be very embarrassing to others, and especially to her husband. So an unbelieving husband might agree, out of love for his wife, respect for her religious scruples and a desire to avoid embarrassment.—Esther 5:1-8.

  But might one offend the bereaved family by not attending? Only if one ignored the death entirely. One would not need to do that. A person could do things to show that he was sympathetic and interested in helping. He could go to the funeral parlor beforehand, express condolences to the family and offer practical help. A person could bring over food if need be, or cook a meal there for the family, or watch the children, relieving the adults of that responsibility temporarily. Then the family would not think that the person was unloving just because he did not attend the church funeral.

  Thus there is no need for a Christian to feel obligated to go to a church funeral of another religious organization, where there may be the temptation to give in to pressure and follow the crowd when everyone else is performing some false religious act. Thus also the danger of performing an act of apostasy and displeasing Jehovah God can be avoided. But each one must decide for oneself on the basis of circumstances and one’s own conscience.

  ***

  w74 12/15 pp. 766-768 Questions from Readers

  • What is the view of Jehovah’s witnesses toward attending the wedding of a worldly acquaintance or relative?

  In the case of minors who contemplate attending, the final decision rests with the parents. Otherwise it is a matter for personal decision, with each Christian being willing to bear his own responsibility. However, there are Scriptural principles and a wide variety of circumstances that should be considered.

  The wedding ceremony may be conducted in a religious building and by a clergyman. This would make it quite different from a purely civil ceremony. A true Christian could not conscientiously join or participate in any prayers or religious exercises that he knew to be contrary to Bible teaching. Nor is he interested to see how close he can come to apostate acts without overstepping the line. He is under obligation to heed the Scriptural command: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? . . . Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? . . . ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’"—2 Cor. 6:14-17.

  Understandably, one invited to attend a wedding of worldly relatives and acquaintances may at times be faced with quite a problem. For example, the invitation may have been extended to a Christian wife and her unbelieving husband. He may think that both of them should be present for the wedding. Yet she may be troubled about it. She may reason that, if she were to attend a church wedding, the emotional pressure of the circumstances could cause her to do something wrong. On the other hand, she might conclude that, out of regard for her husband’s wishes, she could go with him merely as a respectful observer, but being determined not to share in any religious acts.

  Regardless of how a wife might view the matter, it would be to her advantage to explain her position to her husband. If, on the basis of her explanation, he comes to the conclusion that his wife’s presence may possibly give rise to a situation unpleasant to him, he may prefer to go alone. Or, he may still want her to go with him, but as a quiet observer, in which case she will have to decide whether to go.

  Something that deserves consideration is the effect that attending a wedding in a religious building might have on fellow believers. Could it injure the conscience of some? Might their resistance to engaging in actual idolatrous acts be weakened by this action of yours? A Bible principle that comes into the picture is: "Make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ."—Phil. 1:10; see also 1 Corinthians 8:9-13.

  At times an invitation to a wedding may include being actively involved as a member of the bridal party. What if this required participation in certain religious acts? Manifestly one desiring to be pleasing to God could not share in acts of false religion; the person must act in harmony with his Word. But a Christian could explain just how he feels and point out that in no way does he want to mar the joy of the wedding day by being responsible for what might prove to be an embarrassing situation.

  In matters of this nature, Christians must carefully weigh all the factors involved. Under certain circumstances they may conclude that no difficulties would arise if they were to attend as quiet observers. On the other hand, the circumstances may be such that a Christian may reason that likely injury to his conscience or that of others by attending such worldly wedding outweighs the possible benefits of attending. Whatever the situation, the Christian should make sure that his decision will not interfere with his preserving a good conscience before God and men.
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  GentlyFeral

  Pbanna, before you asked us for the Watchtower ruling on this subject, you had no settled opinion. This is sad. One of the main reasons I left the Witnesses was the constant pressure to hand over my conscience to them in everything. Please don't let this happen to you.

  What could possibly be unclean about a funeral? Why should you hesitate to do what your own heart tells you? You said you follow the beliefs "to a point." Why don't you let your own conscience tell you what point that is?

  "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them." –Romans 2:14, 15

  Besides, wouldn't attending the funeral give them a better view of God's love than staying away?

  gently feral
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  AuntieJane

  If you don't truly know the JW teachings on funerals, why would you explain you wouldn't go due to religious beliefs? I say, go, show your love and support for the deceased and their family.

  This is what I know, from personal experience, about the JW teaching on funerals outside of the Kingdom Hall....it stinks. At my own brother's funeral, in a Christian church....his son and daughter, who choose to be JW's, stood right by the backdoor; they would not sit with the rest of their brothers and sisters at THEIR OWN FATHER'S funeral! How loving is that, I ask?? Is this what Jesus came to show us and teach us...to separate ourselves? I think not. All Christians, all non-Christians should have the freedom in their hearts to come together and pray TOGETHER.

  My thoughts,

  AuntieJane
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  jgnat

  The JW woman who studied with me said attending funerals and weddings is a conscience matter. There's lots of ritual, incense-waving, kneeling, and chanting at a Catholic funeral. But I'm sure you wouldn't bother your conscience or stand out if you sat at the back and abstained from participating.

  Go to show respect for your neighbours.