Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. (Acts 8:2)
Picture the scene at the gravesite. Hundreds of Christians had gathered to mourn the loss of a great leader named Stephen. Stephen had courageously held his ground against the religious leaders. But the mock trial ended in his conviction. They stoned Stephen to death. The death of the first Christian martyr was a huge blow to followers of The Way. Stephen had been a powerful preacher, gifted teacher, and loyal friend. It was not only proper to hold a funeral in Stephen’s honor, but it was also a very necessary for those remaining behind. The sudden loss of this Spirit-filled man had stunned and saddened them. They needed to take time to honor their fallen comrade and to grieve his passing.
Warriors die – in combat, and even during peacetime. Either way, fellow warriors need to honor their fallen and grieve their loss. Funeral services and memorial services are the formal methods, but there are other ways as well. The important point to remember is that every person needs time to grieve during times of loss. It’s not weakness to grieve when you lose fellow warriors. It’s right, and it’s necessary
