Found yet another problem with today's church in Pauls first letter to the Thessalonians. 4:13-18: v.13 Paul speaks of handling the loss of loved ones. He admonishes them that they not sorrow after their deceased as they which have not received the Gospel. For the unregenerate, deaths wail, whether it flow through the lips or curdle in the heart, is always existant, at least to those who care. For the redeemed of the Lord death is merely the doorway to Glory; in that we can rejoice. Why can we rejoice? "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Now, here is the problem with the church: V.18: "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Whether the believer be rejoicing or mourning, we are exhorted by the Word of God to channel this Truth to other believers. Who does that? On top of that, who is comforted by those words? Who cares what trial someone is going through: exhort one another with these words. I have been counceled in the past to not use this form of exhortation with the sorrowful because "that's not what they need." Bogus. Any true Christian who is truly God-fearing will rejoice at these words amidst whatever trial. One who doesn't has already taken his eyes off of the prize and has focused on a distraction, however good a reason. I may sound insensitive, but according to how I know God and what I know in His scriptures, this is truth. I could be wrong, but I don't think so, obviously, seeing that I have posted it. To sum everything up, there is way too little comforting with "these words" in the church, the body of Christ, and way too much earthly mindedness.