Death

[Kathi]

I know many people who have a fear of death.It can come in many forms...hypocondria,feeling of dread,fear of dying people.Maybe some Christians have that fear by just having a fear of the unknown in general.It is usually the unbelievers.Do they have a feeling deep inside them that their in something horrible to come?

 

[Kathi]

Is that a true statement?

 

[Kathi]

You hear of people saying how peaceful grandma or grandpa were when they died.Has their ever been an experience that was the opposite?

 

[farouk]

Is that a true statement?

I think, rather, it's the conscience stirring about facing a holy God unprepared...

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

Have you ever held someone's hand as they are dieing and then when they are gone their hand instantly seems lighter?Why do you think that is?Does the soul actually have some weight?

 

[Kathi]

I think, rather, it's the conscience stirring about facing a holy God unprepared...

Blessings.

You could be very right farouk.Do you think that is why many of the unbelievers criticize us as believers?We remind them of their eternity?

 

[Kathi]

Do you think their is something about death that makes it uncomfortable for even believers to talk about?

 

[Claudya]

Is that a true statement?

It's a bit more complex. As christians, in death we believe we find the true reality, but since people don't really return to tell us what happened it is indeed an unknown that we fear.
However, there is much more to fear about death than what happens afterwards.
The process of dying is probably not the most pleasant experience, even though modern medicine can help with the physical suffering, it's often a longer process (illness or old age) of seeing one's body fail and I would bet that's not fun.
Also, when we know and accept that we die we also realise we leave behind all the things and people in this world, and in the end life itself, that we love. Not the unknown is the problem, but the known things that we have to let go of.
Imagine you are terminally ill, and it's spring outside, the birds are singing, all the plants are growing fresh green leaves, people are going outside and enjoying life it looks like the summer's gonna be awesome - but you will no longer be there to see it. The eternal circle of life goes on, just that you are no longer part of it.
Many people struggle with the things unfinished or unsaid, their failures that they can't undo any more, the people they disappointed, the unfulfilled dreams. People facing their own death in foreseeable future often feel great emotional pain about the end of their earthly existience. Or they wonder why, for example why did they get cancer despite a health conscious life, while their smoking and drinking cousin is doing fine? Facing one's death is a big emotional challenge in many regards.
The afterlife isn't really what I fear. Either we are right and there's an ultimately loving God waiting for us on the other side and all we do when we die is return home. Or we are wrong and there is no spiritual reality, in that case all we do when we die is fall asleep. I like falling asleep, so that's not something I'd fear.
What I fear is the finiteness of my existence, and that I will get to the point when I realise that my unfulfilled dreams will remain unfulfilled and I have to let go of all the things that I still wanted to do. Regrets and bitterness before my death, that's what I fear, and I guess that (plus physical pain and discomfort) is what many people actually fear about death.

 

[farouk]

Do you think their is something about death that makes it uncomfortable for even believers to talk about?

Well, I think (unless the Rapture happens first in our lives) believers do not look forward to dying; rather, they look forward to heaven, 'to be with Christ, which is far better'.

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

It's a bit more complex. As christians, in death we believe we find the true reality, but since people don't really return to tell us what happened it is indeed an unknown that we fear.
However, there is much more to fear about death than what happens afterwards.
The process of dying is probably not the most pleasant experience, even though modern medicine can help with the physical suffering, it's often a longer process (illness or old age) of seeing one's body fail and I would bet that's not fun.
Also, when we know and accept that we die we also realise we leave behind all the things and people in this world, and in the end life itself, that we love. Not the unknown is the problem, but the known things that we have to let go of.
Imagine you are terminally ill, and it's spring outside, the birds are singing, all the plants are growing fresh green leaves, people are going outside and enjoying life it looks like the summer's gonna be awesome - but you will no longer be there to see it. The eternal circle of life goes on, just that you are no longer part of it.
Many people struggle with the things unfinished or unsaid, their failures that they can't undo any more, the people they disappointed, the unfulfilled dreams. People facing their own death in foreseeable future often feel great emotional pain about the end of their earthly existience. Or they wonder why, for example why did they get cancer despite a health conscious life, while their smoking and drinking cousin is doing fine? Facing one's death is a big emotional challenge in many regards.
The afterlife isn't really what I fear. Either we are right and there's an ultimately loving God waiting for us on the other side and all we do when we die is return home. Or we are wrong and there is no spiritual reality, in that case all we do when we die is fall asleep. I like falling asleep, so that's not something I'd fear.
What I fear is the finiteness of my existence, and that I will get to the point when I realise that my unfulfilled dreams will remain unfulfilled and I have to let go of all the things that I still wanted to do. Regrets and bitterness before my death, that's what I fear, and I guess that (plus physical pain and discomfort) is what many people actually fear about death.

Yes,well said.There are those who suffer and those who die instantly.When we go to sleep we enter what seems like another world.It is not painful.Death may be somewhat like that.Or when we enter another room we are now in a different environment.But it is not painful.

 

[Kathi]

Well, I think (unless the Rapture happens first in our lives) believers do not look forward to dying; rather, they look forward to heaven, 'to be with Christ, which is far better'.

Blessings.

Many have said that those who believe in the Rapture such as I do want that to happen instead of dieing.Can we consider the Rapture a death?The disappearance instantly of the body?When about those who are Raptured that leave unbelieving families behind?Will they be able to claim life insurance on those people because there is no body?

 

[farouk]

Many have said that those who believe in the Rapture such as I do want that to happen instead of dieing.Can we consider the Rapture a death?The disappearance instantly of the body?When about those who are Raptured that leave unbelieving families behind?Will they be able to claim life insurance on those people because there is no body?

I can't get into the insurance industry and the Rapture.

Also as regards relatives who are not ready for the coming of the Lord, the emphasis would best be on encouraging them to be ready rather than on insurance policies.

(Two cents'.)

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

I can't get into the insurance industry and the Rapture.

Also as regards relatives who are not ready for the coming of the Lord, the emphasis would best be on encouraging them to be ready rather than on insurance policies.

(Two cents'.)

Blessings.

I think Salvation is an excellent insurance policy.It is nice to have it for the whole family but unfortunately it sometimes does not happen that way.On 9/11 they ended up letting families collect on life insurance even though their were alot of bodies that they never did find.But the Rapture may be different.Their is no sign of an explosion.But I am certain their will be destruction because of it.

 

[farouk]

I think Salvation is an excellent insurance policy.It is nice to have it for the whole family but unfortunately it sometimes does not happen that way.On 9/11 they ended up letting families collect on life insurance even though their were alot of bodies that they never did find.But the Rapture may be different.Their is no sign of an explosion.But I am certain their will be destruction because of it.

Sometimes Christians whose spouses have disappeared have had them declared dead officially after several years; this has sometimes led to re-marriage without divorce, etc.

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

Sometimes Christians whose spouses have disappeared have had them declared dead officially after several years; this has sometimes led to re-marriage without divorce, etc.

Blessings.

I am sure their are differing policies to that from state to state.I have always thought of this senario:
A man is in the twin towers right before the planes went into it.He was having legal and maritals problems.Things were just going terrible for him.The planes hit.He escapes.No one knows they just think he died with the rest of them.He gets new identity and is still living somewhere unknown to the world who he really is.

 

[farouk]

I am sure their are differing policies to that from state to state.I have always thought of this senario:
A man is in the twin towers right before the planes went into it.He was having legal and maritals problems.Things were just going terrible for him.The planes hit.He escapes.No one knows they just think he died with the rest of them.He gets new identity and is still living somewhere unknown to the world who he really is.

In the two world wars, similar stories and situations emerged.

In the days of sailing ships, some wives despaired of ever seeing their husbands again, remarried and then were surprised years later by the return of a wandering world-wide mariner...

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

In the two world wars, similar stories and situations emerged.

In the days of sailing ships, some wives despaired of ever seeing their husbands again, remarried and then were surprised years later by the return of a wandering world-wide mariner...

Blessings.

Interesting scenario.I am surprised their are not novels based on that.

 

[Kathi]

A good Christian book to read regarding death "One Minute After You Die" by Erwin L.Lutzer.The books really makes you think,

 

[farouk]

Interesting scenario.I am surprised their are not novels based on that.

I think there probably are. Today's reading public is probably more desenstized to the idea of remarriage, without the prior death of one of the parties, but years ago a presumed lost mariner who showed up after being absent for years could be the subject of a lot of melodrama, with strongly religious and legal aspects.

Blessings.

 

[Kathi]

I saw the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks years ago.He was stranded on this island for years after a plane crash.When he got back his fiancee had gotten married because she thought after all those years he was dead.I thought that part was really sad.I really liked that movie.