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  #1  
Old 03-24-2020, 9:00 AM
CVShooter CVShooter is offline
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Default We're Spiritually Bankrupt

In this COVID pandemic we're dealing with right now, I feel like there's an elephant in the room that nobody is talking about. Death. It's inevitable for all of us. Life requires it. What is its role? How do we want to die? Dying with dignity. How have cultures across time handled pandemics without any sense of control of the outcomes? How can we live a good life, one of virtue and peace, in the face of our certain and eventual death?

I'm not going to offer any kind of advice because this is something unique to your faith tradition. But I'm expressing frustration that in my own small circle of church-goers of many faith traditions, atheists, left-wing, right-wing, pastors and laity, I haven't heard one person talk about death. And any faith or spiritual practice that doesn't teach us how to deal with death, something every person will face at some point, it is spiritually empty -- bankrupt, if you will. Stripped of its ability to help us deal with the fundamental aspects of life on earth, it is worthless.

I hear discussions about fear, loss of control, comfort, isolation, etc. but not death. I hear a lot of talk about saving lives but, sadly, medicine cannot and never has been able to save lives -- it can only postpone death. For some people, medicine hasn't even extended their lives so much as extended their dying. Every life must end. And death is necessary for life to continue. Faith traditions frame this fundamental law of nature in different ways (Christ's sacrifice, as an example). Ancient philosophers, such as the Stoics also dealt with it (Momento Mori). I could go on and on with examples from older cultures & various faith traditions but I'm sure you get the point. So why is it that I can't hear this anywhere today?

It isn't something unique to our current situation but, arguably, to our culture at large. I had read somewhere that about 1/4 of all Medicare spending is on the final year of life (I'm skeptical of stats and all the more when it's outside of my field so take that figure as rumor, not fact). People talk about how every life is precious or sacred (and I would agree) but to exclude death from our conversation is beyond naive -- it's outright denial.

I'm not saying we should abandon our elderly (far from it) or act in ways that dismiss the gravity of death or we should be careless toward the frail. I'm not even saying we shouldn't practice social distancing right now (which I am doing). I am just saying that I don't hear anything other than crickets about the inevitability of death from any faith leaders right now. And that saddens me.

So if your church or faith tradition has ways of handling death, please share. Share it here but especially among your friends and faith community. I appreciate the earlier post from Mr. Baker -- leaving your worries in the hands of the divine is a healthy attitude. Glad to see it. Any others?

Last edited by CVShooter; 03-24-2020 at 10:26 AM..
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  #2  
Old 03-24-2020, 9:22 AM
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Death is the absolute and unequivocal end of life. As death occurs, you get Heaven or Hell. Its a choice you make during life, which is on this side of death, that determines if you get Heaven or Hell. I don't see the point in discussing death. I see the importance of discussing what it takes to insure you receive Heaven, which is accepting the Lord Jesus as our Savior.
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Old 03-24-2020, 9:44 AM
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Well, physical death is inevitable.
Believers and non-believers (in God) realize this.

In my view, believers prepare for the afterlife (ultimately Heaven) by living by God's Laws.
While there is not much discussion of death itself, discussions of right living is certainly discussed. Those discussions have overtones of what can happen if we do not live "good" lives when we die.

I am comfortable with my life and beliefs and do not fear death at all.
Sometimes in my earthy frustrations I would much rather be in the afterlife than continuing here in this "physical" hell of physical life.

I have read here someone's statement of something to the effect "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly".

Were you thinking in other terms, such as dealing with a death in the family or comforting people who are just about ready to take flight?

I find myself torn at funerals.
I am tearing up due to the loss of a friend or family but on the flip side I am happy that their pain or discomfort is gone and they are hopefully in a better place.

I think about how I might die.
I've told my wife that I hope she goes first so that she would not have to deal with all of the emotion and feeling of loss that she would have to deal with afterwards.
It sucks.

I think all of us just want to fade away in our sleep without any pain or suffering. Hopefully that is the case.

Last edited by Rizzo; 03-25-2020 at 7:47 AM..
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Old 03-24-2020, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Rizzo View Post
I think all of us just want to fade away in our sleep without any pain or suffering. Hopefully that is the case.
Part of me does -- the chicken part. The other part of me wants to be wide awake when death comes knocking. You only get to die once. The idea of dying in my sleep makes me feel that I might be missing out on one of life's unique experiences.

But then there's the chicken part of me... Not to mention the absurdity of thinking I have any say in the matter anyway.
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Old 03-24-2020, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Rizzo View Post
Were you thinking in other terms, such as dealing with a death in the family or comforting people who are just about ready to take flight?
All of it at once, I suppose.
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Old 03-24-2020, 1:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CVShooter View Post
In this COVID pandemic we're dealing with right now, I feel like there's an elephant in the room that nobody is talking about. Death. It's inevitable for all of us.

I've already written my own obituary. It starts: "The War Wagon died on ____ day, _____, 20__, and regardless of whatever medical gobbledygook the coroner put on his death certificate, he DIED after a lifelong battle with Original Sin."

As my Pastor recently said in a sermon, "NOW that we've got that fear of death behind us, what do we plan on DOING, with the REST... of our life?"

This Chinese germ will certainly separate some wheat, from some chaff...
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Old 03-24-2020, 1:48 PM
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Spiritual bankruptcy like salvation is a personal choice.

We all have free will to make a path to destiny.
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Old 03-24-2020, 4:11 PM
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My time was written in eternity. I am to be with the Lord for eternity. so what difference does it make when? Pick your death. You got it coming. For the followers of Christ, when they take their last breath in this life they become more alive than they've ever been.
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Old 03-25-2020, 12:48 AM
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Straight on target RandyD and Ramclap.

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Old 03-25-2020, 12:56 AM
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My Mother, died yesterday.
Actually, maybe 7 years ago, when the dementia kicked in.
Its a part of life..doesn't make it any easier to acknowledge shes in a better place.
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Old 03-25-2020, 1:20 AM
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Death = promotion for those in Christ.

Primary job until then is to get as many as possible to the narrow path.
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Old 03-25-2020, 1:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freonr22 View Post
My Mother, died yesterday.
Actually, maybe 7 years ago, when the dementia kicked in.
Its a part of life..doesn't make it any easier to acknowledge shes in a better place.
Sorry to hear.
Best wishes to you and the Family.
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Old 03-25-2020, 7:54 AM
CVShooter CVShooter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freonr22 View Post
My Mother, died yesterday.
Actually, maybe 7 years ago, when the dementia kicked in.
Its a part of life..doesn't make it any easier to acknowledge shes in a better place.
Sad to hear that. And sadder still that she and you have had to deal with dementia as well. That's a hard one.

Death, dying and ageing is hard. If death ever gets easy, we'd be morally bankrupt as well.
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Old 04-02-2020, 7:59 AM
S&S tac block1 S&S tac block1 is offline
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What gives me hope and security is to be obedient and be led by the
Spirit.make no place for the devil and his schemes.
Death is total in every generation and before I was saved I thought
That the more possessions and money I had the longer and better protected
I was and that somehow I would live longer.Now less is more and can be
better equipped to serve him
Now I have a PROMISE of eternal life.
We have rewards based on how we use our gifts.we can use the time
That were in and we should “hunger and thirst” for righteousness which is
Our horizontal relationship with others.
I long to look into Christ’s eyes and feel his strong embrace and hear the words
“Well done “
I’m unworthy for sure and find myself in the classroom of his grace so many times but through having a bent knee,wet eyes, broken and contrite heart
He is faithfully and just to forgive.
THANK YOU JESUS our ultimate warrior.
AMEN.

Last edited by S&S tac block1; 04-02-2020 at 8:01 AM.. Reason: Typo
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  #15  
Old 04-11-2020, 9:38 PM
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I'm not afraid of death, because I'm sure of my salvation. But I'm afraid of how my wife and kids will cope without me.

My pastor hasn't mentioned death during this lock down. I agree with you that they should.
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Old 04-14-2020, 8:57 PM
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I too hate the thought of leaving them

I get strengthened by the Lords Words,
Fear not little flock it is the Lords good pleasure to give you the Kingdom


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