Faith in the Face of Death: A Casket, Lent, and Why Death Remains the Enemy
So, I’m going to get a casket soon.
The folks at Dunbar Funeral Home are friends and are loaning me one.
It’s not for me.
It’s for the Lenten Drama series we are doing titled “Fear Not”.
If you are someone in the area who reads this blog and can come to the services on Wednesday evenings in Lent, you really might consider it. They are well done, funny at times, and meaningful. If that sounds egotistical (since I am the author, but heck, I don’t want my master's in playwriting to be a total waste like my dad said it would be) do you think Shakespeare went around saying “Awww shucks. It’s just a little thing I worked on. I’m calling it Hamlet. No, you don’t need to come.”?
Okay, I’m not Shakespeare but you should get the point. I don’t want to sell the plays or the actors short. I don’t want to sell the message short. Fear not.
So, I have a casket. Why? Because we do fear death. We will use this in the play on March 26th at 6:30 p.m. to dig into this. (Dig into this. Get it?) It’s quite natural to fear death. We all want a long life and a peaceful end. Talk about eternal life doesn’t change this for most people. While I trust in the promises of peace beyond the grave, I still don’t want to rush it. There are children I want to see grow older, and would love grandchildren, or just time with family, friends, and more.
In fact, I remember a meaningful book I read years ago, by a good pastor and friend, that reminded its readers that death, while a welcome respite at times for some, is still “the enemy.” One of our communion liturgies says that He has come to “destroy death. To crush hell underfoot. To give life to the righteous.” If death was not the enemy, why would God have gone to all the trouble? I might argue that premature death, tragic death, death caused by sin or sickness, death caused by poverty, war, greed, and other such things, all these deaths are greater enemies to God, more so than a peaceful death after a long life.
For this reason, we are called to “fight against death.” No, this doesn’t mean we put everyone on a respirator. It means quite simply that as Christians we are called to try everything we can to fight against anything that brings early death to so many. For instance, it is estimated by USAID that the cutting of all funding for their programs will bring about approximately 250,000 deaths next year, mostly children. Could there be waste in the program that needs cutting? Certainly. But have we considered the cost? Have we considered death?
Maybe all politicians, people in power, decision makers of all types and all parties need to have a casket put in their offices? Would it make a difference? I fear not.
What do you think?
-Pastor John Trump
