THE LAST WORD ON BOASTING: FUNERALS
Funerals are a very big deal in religion. Funerals, along with obituaries and grave stone epitaphs, are the last chance for religious people, and their families, to make a statement about their religious beliefs.

Jews and Christians have traditions  that govern when, how and where funerals and burials are conducted. These all have the status of religious laws which religious people would not think about violating.

Funeral services are sometimes commonly called “celebrations of life“. Whatever they are called, or whatever format or theme they take, all funerals are designed to make some kind of statement, religious or otherwise, about the person who has died and about their survivors who plan their funerals.

For people who are not religious, making a statement is not in itself a wrong thing to do. For people who are religious, however, it is sin because these statements and ritualistic activities are all public displays of righteousness. They are, therefore, all examples of Old/First Covenant religion based on the traditions of men.

Funerals cloaked in religious language and rituals are also sin because they misrepresent God. Being based on literal interpretations of the Bible, they do not represent spiritual laws that are conveyed by God’s spirit to the hearts of New Covenant disciples.

STUDY TIP: See THE HEART IS THE PLACE and Third Commandment for more about representing God accurately.