Church and Burials

I am in a forum where a question was raised and I took some time to respond to it. The question was, "what is the essence of belonging to a Church?" This question was asked in the context of a burial event where "the church" could not agree with the family on fees attached to laying the remains of the beloved to rest and friends had to step in and do it however they thought best.

Here is my response;

Because this question was asked in the context of a burial, I will respond in three parts:

1. Who I am and why I speak.

2. What the church is.

3. Why the church becomes involved in burial matters.

1. Who I Am and Why I Speak.

My name is Japheth M. Ndonye (Map). I am a born-again Christian and a member of the body of Christ. I came to faith in 1997, grew deeply in my walk from 2004, and was called into pastoral ministry in 2012.

I have served in missions and discipleship for many years — in high schools, colleges, and local churches. I have also served as a youth and teens pastor and currently serve as a Bible Study Coordinator under KSCF Ithanga–Kakuzi Sub-County. I say this not to elevate self, but to clarify that my response flows from Scripture, pastoral experience, and study.

2. What Is the Church?

The Church is the community of believers on earth and out of the earth. Jesus Himself is the first to use the word “church” in the Bible and this helps to see two key aspects of The Church.

In Matthew 16, He says, “I will build My church” and in Matthew 18, He speaks of taking a matter “to the church” when handling a wayward believer. From these passages and the rest of the New Testament, we see two dimensions of the church:

A. The Global Church (The Body of Christ).

This is the universal body of all who truly believe in Christ — across nations, tribes, and generations.

• Christ is the Head.
• Believers are the members.

One belongs to this global church through believing and repentance — believing that God is, and turning away from sin to follow Him.

The essence of belonging to this global church is eternal. God is building a people for Himself. One day Christ will return and those who belong to Him will share in His kingdom. As seen in the parables that Jesus shared, faithfulness now leads to responsibilities then.

Belonging to the global church means belonging to the present and coming kingdom of God.

B. The Local Church (The Fellowship of Believers).

This is the visible, earthly expression of the global church. You can clearly see this in how Paul addresses his letters. Paul writes to:

- The church in Ephesus

- The church in Thessalonica

- The church in Galatia

These were local gatherings — communities of believers walking together. The purpose of belonging to a local church is discipleship and equipping.

• You are not saved to sit.
• You are saved to serve.

The local church: Teaches, corrects, trains, equips and encourages it's members. It prepares believers to live out and spread the gospel. So the essence of belonging locally is growth, accountability and preparation for ministry.

3. What About Burial? Why Does the Church Get Involved?

Now we come to the sensitive matter.

When we study Scripture carefully, burial ceremonies are not heavily structured by the church in the New Testament. We actually only see our members participating in the same on the sidelines. Jesus is actually recorded speaking bashfully about the dead. He once said, "let the dead bury the dead." That doesn't sound kind. The rest of the time, he's disrupting burial plans by raising the young girl, stopping a burial procession by raising the young boy and reversing burial procedures by raising Lazarus.

In the Old Testament, burial laws were largely connected to cleanliness and community health. When a body died, it had to be handled properly for hygiene and order. Respect was accorded to the departed based on their level in society when they were alive, and this could be seen based on how they were buried. Kings were buried differently from subjects.

In modern society, the responsibility of burial procedures — depth of grave, public health standards, permits — belongs to government authorities. Fail to follow the procedures and you'll know why the chief is mandated to attend all burials in their division. They're basically policing and ensuring that procedures were fully followed. The six-foot rule is not a church command. It is a public health rule.

In Acts 5, when Ananias and Sapphira died, young men carried and buried them without ceremony. There was no elaborate religious ritual recorded. This tells us something important: Burial logistics are community and civil responsibilities not Church.

So Why Does the Church Participate?

The church becomes involved for three main reasons:

1. Community Presence.

Church members are part of the community. When someone dies, we stand with the grieving as brothers and sisters.

2. Ministry Opportunity.

Funerals gather people who may never step into a church building. It becomes an opportunity to speak about life, death, hope, and eternity.

3. Brotherly Care.

If the departed was a believer, or related to believers, the church walks with the family in comfort and hope.

But strictly speaking, burial is not what defines belonging to a church. Belonging to a church is not primarily about:

•  Who buries you
•  Who officiates your funeral
•  Whether a pastor stands at your grave

Belonging to the church is about:

•  Faith in Christ
•  Participation in His body
•  Growth in discipleship
•  Preparation for His coming kingdom

The church is not a burial society. It is a spiritual family being prepared for eternity. Whether we bury your body or not, you won't be present to witness who did it.

What are your thoughts?

Feel free to engage through mapstage@gmail.com or 0711378765