What My Neighbor Believes: Lutheranism (Part Two)

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The focus of most religious belief systems is upon what happens after our earthly life ends. Although advice is dispensed on the issue of how to live harmoniously in this life, there is also a significant amount of energy devoted to teaching followers how to attain immortality.

The Lutheran church is no exception. What does the Lutheran church say about death and life after earthly death? 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 is an excellent starting point from which to understand Lutheran teaching on the subject.

Nine Myths About the Lutheran View of Death and Life After Death

Life here on earth is better than death, thus, the physical body must be kept alive at all costs.

Lutherans believe in eternal life beyond the grave. Therefore, the church teaches that the quality of life must be considered in relationship to preserving it. Heroic measures to keep a physical body alive may not always be appropriate. However, if you are looking for bright-line rules on this topic, you won’t find them anywhere in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) official position statements.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the same as “last rites” so it must be given when a person is dying.

Holy Communion is celebrated on a regular basis as part of the worship service. The Lutheran church does not use the term “last rites.” There is, however, a special service called “The Commendation of the Dying” which can be used when a person is close to death and loved ones are gathered around the bedside. If a person who is close to death is physically able to receive Holy Communion, it can be provided either by an ordained minister or layperson. If not, it is common for Lutheran pastors to use oil to anoint the person who is dying, making the sign of the cross on that person’s forehead and reaffirming his or her baptism. Scripture is read, prayers recited, hymns sung, etc., depending upon the desires of the family and wishes, to the extent known, of the person who is gravely ill.

The body of the deceased must be present during the funeral.

There is no official stance about the disposition of the physical body, i.e., cremation vs. burial, beyond a belief that it must be carried out respectfully. There is nothing done to or for the body during the funeral service and the casket lid may be open or closed, depending upon the wishes of the deceased and his or her survivors. The funeral is supposed to be a celebration of the deceased’s life designed to provide comfort and encouragement to his or her loved ones.

The physical body should be preserved using methods such as embalming, watertight vaults, air sealed caskets, and other measures.

Based upon the writings of Paul, the Lutheran church teaches that believers will not spend eternity in their earthly physical bodies. Rather, believers will be given a glorified body. Therefore, it is acceptable to designate that the physical body be donated to a medical school or research facility, cremated, or embalmed, and there is no prohibition on organ donation.

There are things that can be done for the deceased. For instance, praying for dead people can influence where they spend eternal life.

Lutherans do not try to influence where dead people will spend eternity. The Lutheran church believes in free will. The choice to believe and be baptized is made during one’s earthly life. At the time of death, one’s fate is determined and one is either saved or not saved. The outcome cannot be changed after death by any good works or prayers — it is literally too late for the decedent’s survivors to do anything to assist that individual.

Therefore, there is no Baptism for the Dead or other similar ritual. Additionally, at a Lutheran funeral, no prayers are ever offered for the deceased. Prayers are recited in thanksgiving and appreciation for the decedent’s life, the impact he or she had on others during his or her life, and for comfort and solace for those who are left to mourn. But you will never hear a Lutheran pastor pray for a dead person.

Organizations other than churches may participate in the Order for the Burial of the Dead.

It is always preferable for the funeral or memorial service of a baptized member of the Lutheran church to be held in the church (sanctuary), rather than in a funeral home or other location, in keeping with the importance the church held in the deceased’s life. However, it is not a requirement.

While Lutherans do not object to Masonic orders and other lodges holding memorial services for deceased members, they must be separate and apart from Lutheran Order for the Burial of the Dead and may never be held in the sanctuary.

Eternal life is achieved by living a good life here on earth.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” The forgiveness of sins is a gift freely given through Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross. It is only because of that gift that baptized believers can have eternal life after this earthly life ends.

Human beings have an immortal soul which does not die, but goes off to heaven at the moment of death.

Lutherans believe that there is no separation of soul, mind, and body. When death comes, it is a complete death — there is nothing that remains and returns to God. Believers die as Jesus did and will have a new body and life given to them just as Jesus did when he emerged from the grave on Easter morning.

Dead people wait in the grave (or somewhere) until judgment day.

Eternity does not have the dimensions of time or space. Heaven and hell are not thought of as places, but, rather, as states of being. Those who have died may have already gained eternal life. There is no way for us to know.

Suggested further reading: Preparation for Discipleship: A Handbook for New Christians by Jerry Schmalenberger

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Next week: What My Neighbor Believes: Jehovah’s Witnesses

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