Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
LETTER SENT TO: CHURCH OF IRELAND GAZETTE
SUBJECT: PRAYING FOR THE DEAD
DATE SENT: 11-1-03
Dear Sir,
Mr McAllen's proposed litany of prayers for the dead (Gazette 10th
January 2003) leave some simple questions left unanswered. Especially
seeing he proposes them for the Burial Service. Is it not a bit late
three days (or more) after the soul has fled the body to be seeking to
have it admitted into Heaven? Surely if the soul has gone to Heaven,
then the prayer is needless i.e. "Lord...do thou what thou hast already
done" Again...if the soul of the departed has gone to Hell, then such
prayers are also useless. "Lord...do thou what thou hast said thou wilt
never do." Indeed, if those departed from us are in greater knowledge
and greater light, as argued by Mr McAllen... why do we need to pray
for them in the first place?
Surely Mr McAllen's passions could be directed towards something with a Scriptural basis?
Yours faithfully,
Colin Maxwell