Kevin Wilson 360

Greetings in the name of Jesus, the risen Lord and King! As we celebrate Easter, I have a question for you: Which worship services each year attract the most non-Christians? 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are great guesses. Families tend to attend these services together, whether or not all the family members have faith in Jesus. Members will bring unchurched friends and family, some of whom likely are not Christians. When I served as a missionary in Phoenix, it was clear some guests told us they attended Christmas Eve for the pageantry and music. They claimed no faith in Christ, but they loved the midnight service with the darkened sanctuary and moving hymns and brilliant lights. 

However, I don’t think the Christmas services draw the greatest number or percentage of non-Christians. No, the services that see the most unbelievers in the pews are funerals. Friends and neighbors, co-workers and community leaders, attend funerals. They come to pay their respects to a friend or colleague. They come to grieve. They come to support family and friends of the deceased. But a good number in attendance are not there to honor God. They don’t believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

For this reason, the Easter message should be proclaimed loud and clear at funerals. Yes, we do so as encouragement for the family and friends of loved one who fell asleep in the Lord. But we also do so on behalf of those who are lost in unbelief. They, too, need to hear that death is the result of sin. If they are going to die, then they have sinned. But do not lose hope! Jesus paid the price for all sin. Jesus’ resurrection was for each and every person at that funeral service. 

At funerals I usually share 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14: 

[13] But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Too often non-Christians think that the Apostle Paul used the phrase “fallen asleep” as a euphemism for death. It’s as if the Apostle Paul is concerned his hearers would be uncomfortable with death, so he uses a polite phrase that won’t trigger those reading his letter. 

In truth, it’s the opposite. Because of Easter, we are literally falling asleep in the Lord. When Christ returns, those who have died in the faith will be the join Christ. Then, we’ll all join Jesus. It is important that non-Christians understand this is a description of what will  happen upon Jesus’ return. 

And it’s because “Jesus died and rose again.” 

It is this promise and guarantee from God that we celebrate at Easter. This is why we proclaim “He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!