Is "RIP" Christian?

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A

Amazing-Grace

Guest
#1
#1
I'm sorry for duplicating, I saw a thread by a similar name I can no longer find or maybe it was just a reply to a thread on death - either way I can't find it...but I wanted opinions on this. Is it the Christian thing to say "Rest In Peace"? I know the secular world uses this when someone dies but if someone dies and is not in Christ we know that they can't possibly be resting in peace, even if we can't know for sure their salvation status. So if we can't say "RIP" or "Rest In Peace" what do we say to bring comfort to the bereaved when the family do not appear to have a faith?
 
Socreta93

Socreta93

Senior Member
#2
Jul 28, 2015
2,278
344
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#2
It's in my opinion just a sign of respect, if someone was not in Christ, you won't say "person in burning in hell" that is just wrong. You can either say nothing but I personally find nothing wrong with it. People also don't take it so literal, they just see it as what you say after someone dies no matter who they are (unless they were obviously evil where both non Christians and Christians would agree)
 
G00WZ

G00WZ

Senior Member
#3
May 16, 2014
1,313
449
83
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#3
Amazing-Grace said:
I'm sorry for duplicating, I saw a thread by a similar name I can no longer find or maybe it was just a reply to a thread on death - either way I can't find it...but I wanted opinions on this. Is it the Christian thing to say "Rest In Peace"? I know the secular world uses this when someone dies but if someone dies and is not in Christ we know that they can't possibly be resting in peace, even if we can't know for sure their salvation status. So if we can't say "RIP" or "Rest In Peace" what do we say to bring comfort to the bereaved when the family do not appear to have a faith?
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"I am sorry for your loss"
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#4
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
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#4
I think it's okay. I think it's one of those things people say because they aren't sure what else to say. Like when people say, I'm sorry for your loss or in some cases, sheesh it's about time. Just kidding.
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#6
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
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#6
I know someone's family that will get mad at another family member like an Aunt or Cousin and cut them out. They won't talk for years and if the name is brought up it's like a curse, however if that person dies all of a sudden they ar elevated to the title of saint.

They had had an Aunt that died, none of them could stand her, woman dies and all of a sudden she's an angel who'll they'll miss forever. We haven't talked to Aunt Flo in 20 years because we hated her, but she's dead so she's back to being okay again.

It's weird.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#9
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#9
Fenner said:
I know someone's family that will get mad at another family member like an Aunt or Cousin and cut them out. They won't talk for years and if the name is brought up it's like a curse, however if that person dies all of a sudden they ar elevated to the title of saint.

They had had an Aunt that died, none of them could stand her, woman dies and all of a sudden she's an angel who'll they'll miss forever. We haven't talked to Aunt Flo in 20 years because we hated her, but she's dead so she's back to being okay again.

It's weird.
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I had an aunt who was an unforgiving trouble maker. When she died the pastor said, "Helen was the epitome of love and forgiveness." I sat up in my chair and looked into the open coffin to make sure I was at the right funeral parlor.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#10
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#10
Amazing-Grace said:
I'm sorry for duplicating, I saw a thread by a similar name I can no longer find or maybe it was just a reply to a thread on death - either way I can't find it...but I wanted opinions on this. Is it the Christian thing to say "Rest In Peace"? I know the secular world uses this when someone dies but if someone dies and is not in Christ we know that they can't possibly be resting in peace, even if we can't know for sure their salvation status. So if we can't say "RIP" or "Rest In Peace" what do we say to bring comfort to the bereaved when the family do not appear to have a faith?
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I officiated a funeral service for a wicked man who was seethingly hated by his entire family. I didn't sugarcoat anything in the eulogy, stating, we all know what kind of man Joe was, and all we can ask is that God is merciful and grants him the inner peace that eluded him in this life.

I felt it necessary to do that because it would have been wrong to say Joe was a nice guy that was misunderstood then go on to share the truth about Jesus. Unbelievers or those weak in faith would have thought that since I was lying about Joe then I must be lying about Jesus, but since I was speaking plainly and truthfully about Joe, I must be doing the same about Jesus.
 
A

Amazing-Grace

Guest
#11
#11
Utah said:
I officiated a funeral service for a wicked man who was seethingly hated by his entire family. I didn't sugarcoat anything in the eulogy, stating, we all know what kind of man Joe was, and all we can ask is that God is merciful and grants him the inner peace that eluded him in this life.

I felt it necessary to do that because it would have been wrong to say Joe was a nice guy that was misunderstood then go on to share the truth about Jesus. Unbelievers or those weak in faith would have thought that since I was lying about Joe then I must be lying about Jesus, but since I was speaking plainly and truthfully about Joe, I must be doing the same about Jesus.
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You did the right thing.

Are you a pastor Utah?
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#12
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
0
#12
Utah said:
I had an aunt who was an unforgiving trouble maker. When she died the pastor said, "Helen was the epitome of love and forgiveness." I sat up in my chair and looked into the open coffin to make sure I was at the right funeral parlor.
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It's amazing how people do that when someone dies.

Some family made national news by writing an obituary about there family members true nature which was rotten. At least they were honest.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#13
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#13
Fenner said:
I know someone's family that will get mad at another family member like an Aunt or Cousin and cut them out. They won't talk for years and if the name is brought up it's like a curse, however if that person dies all of a sudden they ar elevated to the title of saint.

They had had an Aunt that died, none of them could stand her, woman dies and all of a sudden she's an angel who'll they'll miss forever. We haven't talked to Aunt Flo in 20 years because we hated her, but she's dead so she's back to being okay again.

It's weird.
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There is an awfully lot of baloney and hypocrisy in our Christianity.
 
Fenner

Fenner

Senior Member
#16
Jan 26, 2013
7,507
111
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#16
Willie-T said:
There is an awfully lot of baloney and hypocrisy in our Christianity.
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I'm not sure if I'd have the guts to really spill my feelings at someone's funeral but if someone is really awful I wouldn't blame them for saying what they feel.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#17
#17
RIP seems brusque to me, whether the person was a believer or not. It just seems almost flippant or something. Maybe it is just me. I tend to say "I am sorry for your loss and am praying for your family." Regardless of whether the person had a testimony for Christ or not.
 
L

LaurenTM

Guest
#18
#18
interesting question and one I sure never thought of...so I looked it up and this is what I found...the phrase actually has early Christian 'roots' according to one source, as follows:

Description[edit]

The phrase dormit in pace (English: "he sleeps in peace") was found in the catacombs of the early Christians and indicated that "they died in the peace of the Church, that is, united in Christ."[SUP][1][/SUP][SUP][2][/SUP][SUP][3][/SUP] The acronym R.I.P., meaning "rest in peace", continues to be engraved on the gravestones of Christians from several denominations,[SUP][4][/SUP] especially the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the Anglican Church.[SUP][5]

[/SUP]
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source: WIKI

so the phrase seems to have taken on a life of its own and become a little shop worn after the original intent of the early Christians

who knew....
 
T

Tinuviel

Guest
#19
#19
I know a pastor who was asked to preach at a funeral of a (apparently) non-believer. He preached on the text: "It is given to every man once to live and after that the judgement." He didn't say anything about the person who had passed away and he didn't make any judgement calls as to if he was saved or not. He merely turned it into a sermon of comfort and warning for the listeners.

I don't know how you could do this talking on a personal level, but it's worth a try.
 
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