Why Would I Say "R.I.P" to an Unsaved Dead Person

I am not understanding the posts I see that honor unsaved movie stars who have died, with the saying "R.I.P." on the part of believers.

I can understand the unsaved who have many idols in their lives, but a born again believer doing this makes no sense at all.

I also understand believers watching shows for the story, but to elevate the actors in those shows as special merely because they were good at that profession, really defies reason for me.

If someone lived a Hollywood lifestyle, looking for fame and fortune through an acting career, chances are good they were not born again and ended up in hell. Why would we speak to them, the dead person and say "Rest in peace"?

There I go again, raining on someone's parade, they gloried in the enjoyment of the actors glow of a television show or movies they liked, because of their personal enjoyment of the movie or show, they judged this person as a good person worthy of praise even after death, knowing they were not born again, even acted in shows that devalued God.

Every movie star that I have researched, who acted in movies I have enjoyed, were proven to live selfish lives, many marriages, rebellious children and nothing of real value except amassing a fortune as their claim to fame.
Why on earth would I say R.I.P to an unsaved, wicked and immoral movie star that probably went to hell? Perhaps I am just slow, I just don't get it.

Are there so many who just don't think about what they are doing, but feel free to do things because they are tradition of the culture?

Meekness is not Cowarice

We are living in the end times, nothing will get better, things will get worse. However in Christ we don't have to fear all this mess, we can retain our joy, tell the truth, take our lumps while we wait for Christ to come and get us.

Are you like me? Do you seem to be the one to always be raining on other people's parades? Every time you turn around someone is doing or saying something mean or foolish to demean or silence us?

Welcome to the world of those who have trusted Christ. Nothing makes good sense in the world any more. In fact, when something does make good sense it is immediately rejected and dismissed by most people in our sphere of influence. 

 

Does it seem like everything we say and do is judged as foolish, mean or down right stupid, in the reactions of those around us? Or do you find yourself being ignored a lot by those who don't want to hear anything except bubbly happy things?

Welcome to my world, the world I have lived in most of my life. And, my guess is that it is your world too if you are born again and walking with Christ.

Even those who attend a church gathering are caught up in Pharisaical rules, hyper sensitivity to instruction or correction and resistant to any form of challenge to seek God on any level.

Arrogance rules the hearts of most people involved in churches today. One is accepted as wonderful and special as long as they continue their plastic smiles, heads that nod in placid approval no matter what is going on. Silence is the new righteousness, it dominates most gatherings, sadly mistaken for meekness.

Meekness is patient endurance, it is not sheepishness, silence or weakness. It is the quality of speaking at the right time, telling the truth no matter the expected reaction while remaining in control of our emotions.

Exercising God's strength under His control is the Biblical meaning of meekness! Not weakness, not sheepishness nor is it cowardice. As someone once said it is actually "power under control." 

 

When we allow others to manipulate us into silence merely to fit into their idea of righteousness, then they have become our god, an idol. We must be willing to be rejected and on the outs with those who do not want to hear truth, otherwise it is they who are in control of our lives rather than Christ. 

 

Remember idols are not merely statues we place in our homes to bow to, they can be anyone or anything we give preference to other than God. Bowing is in the mind, it doesn't have to happen on the outside to be the same expression of worship, if it is in the heart, that is where it begins.

Pride Destroys Humility Builds

God uses the nothing things, the nothing people and the nothing nations in this world to bring shame upon the famous, proud, accomplished and self exalted.

God will not use someone who is deeply committed to self exaltation or promotion. Those who preach the prosperity gospel or judge others because they don't measure up to their worldly idea of blessing, are walking in pride. They may have prosperity here, but at some point they will be judged for their lack of love and empathy, all that they held so dear will slip away from them and punishment will be close behind.

Philippians 2:1-11 "1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Until we empty ourselves of pride, we cannot be useful to Christ. Those who walk in arrogance, thinking they have everything to offer and others have nothing to offer them, are headed for a fall. A person who cannot humble themselves before men they can see, will never humble themselves before God they cannot see, no matter how good a show they display for others.

How we treat others is an indication of our view of God.

I John 3:13-15 "…13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.…"

Proverbs 16:17-19 "…17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life. 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud."

No Goodness of Our Own

We cannot gain wisdom as long as we walk in pride. We cannot gain humility until we have felt the brokenness over sin in our own heart.

Without humility, without wisdom and without a desire to know God intimately we cannot have His wisdom. 

 

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."

Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

Proverbs 24:3-7 "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth."

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 3:6-8 "…6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.…"

Many people walk about today having a form of religion but have never been born again by the Holy Spirit. They are proud of who they think they are and what they think they know, but they miss the mark, because their trust is in their own abilities, their own specialness based on one thing and that is to be elevated above others. 

 

Until the we can admit openly our own failings while seeking Christ for the answers, we cannot be pleasing to God.

Isaiah 6:5 "5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Our first response to God for our salvation must be the realization of our own sinfulness and lack of ability to fix ourselves. Only then can we trust Christ and what He did for us. To die on our behalf because we had no goodness in us to be able to save ourselves. When we do this, Christ comes to live in us, beginning the process of cleansing us from our sin, making us humble and useful for His kingdom.