Last Monday my mother passed on from a lengthy disease. She was a member, as are all of my siblings and father, of the Roman church. None are currently attending any services, nor do I believe that any are believers. We have all been asked to participate somehow in the service. They need ushers, singers and people to pick and or provide readings.

My question is, would it be appropriate for myself to participate or to provide a reading of scripture. I thought that if I was to read some scripture, that I would read 2 Cor 1:1-2, and then 2 Cor 4:1-18. I am not quite sure what is appropriate.

Thoughts anyone?

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Rogerant
Justified Sinner
Under Application to URCNA
Saskatchewan

My condolences on the passing of your mother. Even though she was a member of the Roman church, she was still your mom... so definitely go to the funeral.
I strongly encourage you to read Scripture... though to be honest, I don't see how the passages you mentioned relate to your mom passing. Did she have a favorite passage of Scripture? How about reading that?

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Ben
Chaplain, US Army
Ft. Riley, KS
TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA

Prayers are with you brother. Yes, it would be very appropriate.

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Michael Turner
Christ Reformed Church | Independent [WCF]
Georgia

My condolences for your grievous loss. I suggest that you refrain, particularly if there will be a performance of the idolatrous mass. A papist service will not properly address your grief nor that of your family.

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Bryan Peters
Providence Reformed Church (URCNA)
Des Moines, Iowa

Doctrinal truth should be preached always, openly, without compromise, and never dissembled or concealed. There is no offence in it; it is the staff of uprightness.
~Martin Luther~

By all means, attend the funeral and read Scripture in the service.

But I, too, am interested in why you would choose those passages.

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Daniel
PCA
Memphis, TN

I'm sorry for your loss, it's hard when your momma dies..

And by all means go to the funeral..and yes participate if asked..

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Bobbi Clark
Covenant Member
Pinewood Pres. (PCA) Middleburg

When I kept Silent, My bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3

And thus the Mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and passion of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.

Don't worry. I have had conflicting ththoughts about the Roman church where I grew up. As for participating, I have had much conflict in even singing quite of few of the "praise songs" from my previous "Reformed" church. If the service is an "official mass", I will not be actively participating. It is supposed to be a "celebration of life service" I will inquire as to if it involves an "official mass".

My wife picked 2 Cor 4: 1-18 to speak to those who had ears to hear, the following:

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and present us with you...18 While we look not at the thinks which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Adding verse 1 of chapter one to make clear that the "hope" in chapter four is for the "saints". Those who are believers in the service. As for the rest, they will not understand anyway, as identified in chapter 4 verses 3-4.

So sorry to hear your news. I too think you should go. I think you are free to grieve and to take part with a clear conscience.

In our culture, attending a funeral service (or even participating if you're a relative) does not imply agreement with the church's teachings or its usual worship practices. If mass is celebrated, I would avoid that part of the service. But it's unlikely a RC priest would urge you to take part in that anyway.

The funeral is first of all a time for you to grieve. But you are also afforded an opportunity to be a light in an otherwise dark place. Go as an heir of the King, reclaiming enemy-held territory by speaking his Word. He will go with you!

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Jack K.
PCA, worshiping with some fine Baptists in Colorado

I'm so sorry for your loss!

Most of my family is RC so I routinely go to RC funerals/weddings/baptisms. I don't participate in the communion (nor is any non RC or "non-practicer" supposed to anyway). I would double check (subtly, maybe through a sibling) if the priest is okay with a non RC person reading. You never know, I think its one of those things that depends on the diocese, or maybe the priest. I know priests who wouldn't have a problem with it, and others who would definitely make a fuss. Would you be more comfortable being an usher?

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Catherine
PCA
Waldorf, MD

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:20 ESV

Sorry for your loss.

I encourage you to participate. Perhaps 1 Cor 15 or John 11:24-26 would be appropriate.

Upon further study of the passages I had picked, I see that they are not appropriate as I read them out of context to start. I will have to find others.

Thank you for your help.

I would encourage you not to participate in the idolatrous mass also. Hopefully there will be a graveside service of some sort that you could be involved in with your family.

My sincerest condolences on the loss of your mother.

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Traci
Lynnwood OPC
"I have taken all my good deeds, and all my bad deeds, and cast them through each other in a heap before the Lord, and fled from both, and betaken myself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in him I have sweet peace."--David Dickson

Sorry for your loss, and by all means go to the service.

At the end of the day you won't be allowed to take part in the mass anyway so go and go for the reason your there, not to win a theological battle thats been raging for 400+ years, not to convert the audience, but just to celebrate your mum's life along with your family whilst overcoming her loss together.

Regards,

Lee.

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Lee Johnston
Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)
Paisley, Scotland
Ephesians 1:4-5
"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

I'm sorry for your loss. May God comfort you in this time of grief and give you wisdom.

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Jim
An Elder, Harvest Reformed Church (RCUS),Minot, ND
http://www.harvestreformedchurch.org/
http://tbftgoggi.wordpress.com/

Upon a life I did not live; upon a death I did not die, Another's death, Another's life, I'd rest my soul eternally
Omnia dicta fortiora,si dicta Latina
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Thank you all for your comfort. I have been informed that it will not be a mass. I am on my way meet with my father and the priest now and will clarify. I have printed off John 5:16-29, 11:24-26 as my reading. Your prayers for discernment are welcome.

My condolences on the loss of your Mom, Roger. Praying for you and your family.

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

Excellent texts to use!! Remember that God doesn't have to use only Romans 3 to convert those who trust in their own works to earn salvation. And yes, go and be there for your family, and I am praying!!

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MarieP
Reformed Baptist Church
Louisville, KY

"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant" (Gen. 32:10)

Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and will be thinking of and praying you in the days ahead.

I would be a bit surprised at an RC funeral without the accompanying mass. Even if there was a mass I would have no hesitation in attending although I would never partake of the mass.

Read the scriptures and trust the Lord to bles the reading of his word. The RC may interpret the verses differently but be sure of this: the entrance of your word brings light and God's word will not return unto him void (Ps 119.130 and Is 55.11)

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Stuart
Elder, Lambeg Baptist, Northern Ireland, UK

In Him the fulness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form and in Him you are complete (Col 2.9-10)

The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God. (RM M'Cheyne)

When is the service?

The meeting with my father, my sisters and the Roman priest did not go well yesterday afternoon. Out of respect for my deceased mother and my grieving father and siblings, I remained silent most of the meeting. It did not start well as the priest noticed that I had my Bible on hand and subsequently made some statement about how the Roman church really does not commend their congregants to read the Bible due to so many diverse interpretations. He then told a story about when he worked in a special care home that all of the "lunatics" kept quoting scriptures at them so that they had to take all of their bibles away. (AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!) "TAKE THEIR BIBLES AWAY!!!!" I almost jumped off of the balcony! The lunatics were probably finding verses in their Bibles that most likely conflicted with their caretakers religion. After I came to the impression that the priest had just linked my condition as those lunatics through mutaul association, the priest then pulled out a number of what looked like cheat notes that had poor translations of scripture passages and looked like they were typed by one of these:

Google Image Result for http://site.xavier.edu/POLT/TYPEWRITERS/underwood5small.jpg

He read off a few of the O.T. passages, the definative passage from Ecclesiastes 3 (A time for everything) and then two passages from Isaiah. I recommended either of the two Isaiah passages as both of them contained the Gospel and redemption. My father picked Ecc 3.

The priest then pulled out the N.T. passages. None of them contained the Gospel. So I suggested reading John 5:19-28a, 11:24-26. Unfortunatley however, the priest did not have a cue card with that on it.

I did, however did have it on paper, much to the priests chagrin. But, unfortunatley, it was in the NKJV. Can't have that. No one would understand it.

Then the priest pulled out another cheat note and read something like this:

Col 3:12 You are the people of God; he loved you for his own. You should clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You should forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.

(my version starts like this: Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved)

So this is the passage that my father and sister want me to read.

My problem is this. Paul's epistles are addressed to believers. To, brothers, bretheran, the saints, to the elect. Not to the world. I have no problem reading something about Jesus Christ from the gospels as they are addressed to "the world". But I do have a problem with reading a passage from Pauls' epistles without making it clear that the message is meant for believers only.

I believe that rather than make it clear that Paul is writing "To those whom God has predestined to be adopted as sons...in accordance to His sovereign pleasure and will...thru the propitiatory subistitutionary sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, for us who believe, for His Glory alone...

THEREFORE, as the elect of God,holy and beloved,....

That maybe I had better inform my family that I should abstain from reading anything and offer my services elsewhere. My soul is conflicted.

Roger