Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 1/29/2012

Question
It is common among Christians to conduct Thanks-giving services for the loved ones departed with the sentiment that they are with God. In event it is a known fact the departed soul is not SAVED isn’t the rationale of this act is unfounded?

Answer
There is totally no scriptural basis for a thanksgiving service for a departed one, whether saved or unsaved. The New Testament is quite clear that when a Christian dies he goes to be with the Lord......

2 Cor 5:8-9
8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
NIV

Conversely, an unsaved person ends up in Hell when he dies (verse 23 below)...
Luke 16:22-24

22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
NIV

Our Lord Jesus related the story of the Rich man and Lazarus because He (Jesus) is God, is totally Omniscient and shares the true life story of two these two individuals for our spiritual learning and edification. Be warned that it is not a fictional episode...

Luke 16:27-31

27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

30 "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

The other lesson to learn is that the dead do not come back to warn the living. Any communication with the departed involves familiar (evil) spirits and we are forbidden to communicate with these evil entities...

Deut 18:11-14
11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things."
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
NIV