The Funeral Resolution in a Baptist Church
Generally, Baptists don’t have formal rites when it comes to their funeral resolution unlike those of the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox religions, and the Episcopalians. Each of the baptist church follows its own usual customs which can have flexibility and a wide variation depending on what is permitted. Baptists are fairly conservative members of their congregation and they consider the memorial service to be a religious service.
During the funeral resolution service, most Baptist churches like the independent baptist church; sing traditional hymns or songs. The church also allows contemporary music as long as it is classified as religious music like those that are considered rock or country songs. Short memorials and eulogies given by the family members and close friends are permitted as long as the context is religiously focused on the dead person’s life.
In addition, brief expositions of the decease’s art or work are also allowed as long as it is produced and displayed religiously. They remember the dead person’s likes and dislikes and these are also discussed as it is not considered to be redemptive or edifying, apart from the funeral service. There are conservative Baptists though, who don’t remember the person’s life on earth during the memorial service. They believe that life is a cycle and that it starts with God and which will also end with God and return to Him. They were led to the belief that the core of their lives are not in the physical body but on the life of the spirit.
Basically, the focus of the funeral resolution of the Baptist church like the independent Baptist; is looking forward to their future and redemption. They are not at all preoccupied with the physical condition of the body or being since their concern is more on the soul. They include in their reflection whether the soul is prepared to meet its Creator.
The Baptist funeral service consists of an invocation which is a prayer invoking God’s help as part of a religious service. After the prayer, there will be singing of hymns participated in by the whole congregation, readings from the Bible or the Scriptures, and the eulogy delivered by the pastor. Close friends and family are permitted to present a brief word in the memorial service tackling about the character and faith of the deceased. Although their services are strict, they can exercise variety with its format. Traditional hymns are chosen and played as these may evoke strong feelings from the audience, and may contain powerful words of hope and encouragement for all.