Let the Dead Bury their Dead, Except...

The town of Famersville, Texas is in the news these days.  Farmersville is a town of about 4,000 located in Collin County, just north of Dallas.  To put things in perspective, the suburb of Plano is also in Collin County.  There are five Islamic Centers and 22,000 Muslims living in Collin County.   To this point they have had no place to bury their dead.  The Muslims have purchased property in Farmersville for that purpose.  The local residents, led by one local pastor, have objected.  There is a Buddhist Center in town and the Mormons recently built a church; no objections.  A Muslim Cemetery: “No way.”  “The concern for us is the radical element of Islam,” David J. Meeks, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, said of the Islamic Association’s planned cemetery west of the city.

There are Muslim Cemeteries in Dallas, Fort Worth and adjacent Denton County, but none for the Muslims in Collin Country.  I suspect that some of this might be associated with the “radical element” Pastor Meeks referred to, but my guess is some of it is driven descriptions of Muslin burial practices.  Islamic practices forbid the embalming of the dead.  The bodies are placed in coffins after being washed in warm water.  They then are buried six to seven feet underground.  Texas State law does not require that bodies be embalmed before burial, so the Muslims are not breaking any rules.  Islamic law does not even allow for prayers to be said over the body, so there will be no religious services held at the cemetery.  It will just be a burial ground. 

Why am I writing about this?  It serves as a perfect example of one reason unbelievers, especially millennials, have a negative opinion of the church.  Christian Churches are often known more for what they are against, than what they stand for.  The fact that this campaign is led by a local clergyman is especially troubling. 

The response from the Islamic Community has been enlightening.  “We’re talking about a community that wants to have a place to grieve closer to home,” spokesman, Abdur-Rashid stated. “This is an opportunity to have a good interfaith dialogue and inter-community dialogue.”  

What a unique opportunity.  Muslim seek a dialogue on a religious issue.  Seems to me that would provide Christians with an equal opportunity to not only talk about our burial rights, but the faith and hope element that accompany them.  Are we going to convert any Muslims… Probably not.  In this case that should happen through the way we live.  Personally I want to be known for what I believe and live for, not for what I stand against.