The Christian Attitude to Death

by Rev David Clifton

It seems that these days nothing is considered ‘taboo’ as a subject of conversation, yet people are still very reticent about speaking candidly of death, at least of their own death, or the death of those close to them. They very often refer to death indirectly, speaking of having ‘lost’ someone, or of a loved one having ‘passed away’, and referring to their own death by saying ‘if the worst happens’, and in the case of a young person’s death,

they will remark, ‘what a waste’. But is death really the ‘worst’ thing that can happen to us, and is a young person’s death a ‘waste’?

The Church is realistic about death. It is an evil, the rending apart of the human person; soul torn from body. And it can certainly be very distressing for those left behind. In addition to the heartbreak of loss and the emotional toll of the grieving process, there can be practical difficulties, particularly if the one who dies is the main ‘breadwinner’, or one whose chief role has been as a carer. The loss of such a person, especially if unexpected, can radically change the dynamic of family relationships, both emotionally and practically. But the Church encourages us not to be consumed by the burden of bereavement. In an

introduction to prayer in the office of vespers on one of the Saturdays of the four-week cycle, these words are found, ‘God our Father leads us forward with great love towards the joyful day when we enter his rest.’ St Paul reminds us that we can look forward to the resurrection of the dead; ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.’ [Thes 4: 13]. And in the Church’s funeral liturgies there is the same element of joy. This insistence on joyfulness may appear strange from a human standpoint, but from the earliest days of the Church, the inspiration of all Christian funeral rites has been a firm hope in the resurrection of the dead. St Paul confidently asserts, ‘But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.’ [Rom 6: 8] And again, ‘For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.’ [1Cor 15:22]

The word that is used most frequently of this joyful hope and readiness for the resurrection is “peace” (Latin – ‘requies’) - a word which survives into our present liturgy, and which signifies the serene and lasting possession of the

life that God has prepared for those who love him. So, death is not an ending, but for those who die at peace with God, it is a transformation, and a transformation to something much better. But if the Church is realistic about death, it is also realistic about humanity. It recognises that everyone has sinned and needs the mercy of God. But to come into God’s presence after death we need to be absolutely

pure and holy, so some kind of purification is needed. Death is part of that process of purification which enables us to experience the vision of God. In her funeral rites, therefore, the Church offers prayers for those who have died. For Christians, our sorrow and loneliness at the loss of a loved one carries, in the midst of our tears, our sure and certain belief in the resurrection and eternal life. In the prayers of the Mass we pray for those who have died with the words: “Remember your servant whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he (she) who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his Resurrection, when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died, and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body. To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who were pleasing to you at

their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For seeing you, our God, as you are, we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end”. Death, then, is not the ‘worst’ thing that can happen. It is the gateway to the ‘best’ thing. This is what we were created for; to enjoy that close intimacy with God which is the source of all happiness. In death we will have reached our perfect fulfilment. Death, even of the very young, is never a ‘waste’, but a completion. Despite our sorrow, there is something to rejoice about.