Good evening Sir, I have an important question that has been bordering (sic) me and the question is should Christians observe memorial service after the death of someone? Thanks and God bless you. ~ Andrew Alozie
The Bible does not require or provide instructions to regulate a funeral or a memorial service for a deceased person. However, there is nothing innately wrong or against Scripture in having a funeral or a memorial for the deceased. Lamenting and by implication a memorial service or funeral was prohibited, though, specifically for the priestly sons of Aaron, who were destroyed by God with fire for their disobedience (Leviticus 10:1-6). That prohibition was specifically directed toward those particular individuals, and it does not extend generally to all people.
There are several references in Scripture to mourning for the dead (1 Kings 14:13). Joseph, his brothers and other family members as well as the Egyptians mourned for Jacob for over 70 days when he died, and then Jacob was buried in Canaan (Genesis 50:1-13). In later years after the establishment of the Jewish kingdom, “Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son” (2 Samuel 1:17-18). David lamented for Abner also (2 Samuel 3:33-35).
Much later at the end of Jewish rule, God sent a message to King Zedekiah through the prophet Jeremiah that the king would die in peace and afterward have his funeral or memorial service. “You shall die in peace; as in the ceremonies of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they shall burn incense for you and lament for you, saying, ‘Alas, lord!’ For I have pronounced the word, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 34:5 NKJV). This amounts to God’s approval of the human custom and cultural practice of a funeral or a memorial service for the dead. In the New Testament after the establishment of the church, we find what amounts to a funeral or a memorial service for a deceased Christian. “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him” (Acts 8:2).
Whether one has or observes a funeral or a memorial service depends on the personal preferences or the cultural norms of the individuals involved. The Bible notes numerous instances of funerals or memorial services. In at least one instance regarding Zedekiah, the Lord foretold through the prophet Jeremiah of the funeral or memorial service that would follow his death. This amounts to the implicit approval by God of a funeral or a memorial service, and except for the rebellious priests, Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-6), the Bible notes the human custom of observing funerals or memorial services without any objection from God. So, yes, Christians can observe funerals or memorial services for the deceased.
I would offer the caution, however, that as Christians we do not compromise any biblical doctrine in the course of observing funerals or memorial services. For instance, many funerals or memorial services will be conducted by either denominational people or religionists of world religions (e.g., Hindu, Buddha, etc.) in which they may say and do things inconsistent with true Christianity. We may be able to be present for the occasion without participating in unchristian activities. If that is not possible, we would do better to mourn from a distance rather than to risk bringing a reproach upon Jesus Christ and His church.
