Evaluation of Burial Rites among Seventh-Day Adventist Church Members in Ngwa Land and Its Implications For Mission

Abstract

Burial rites remain a notable aspect of African culture and continue to influence the beliefs and practices of many Christians, including members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ngwa land, Abia State, Nigeria. This study evaluates selected burial rites practised among Seventh-day Adventists in Ngwa land and examines their implications for Biblical faith and Christian mission. Employing qualitative, historical and theological methods, data were gathered through literature review, oral interviews with 19 respondents comprising traditional rulers, a traditionalist, non-Seventh-day Adventist Christians, and Seventh-day Adventists, as well as participatory observation of burial ceremonies. The study focuses on practices such as talking to the dead, positioning the corpse's head and legs in the grave, widowhood rites, placing gifts in the coffin, and observing a minute of silence. Findings reveal that although the Seventh-day Adventist Church officially upholds the Biblical doctrine that the dead are unconscious until resurrection, many members continue to participate in cultural practices rooted in beliefs about the continued consciousness and influence of the dead. The study identifies fear, cultural pressure, ancestral traditions, and inadequate doctrinal understanding as major factors sustaining these practices. It concludes that the persistence of such rites weakens the church’s witness and hinders effective mission by creating a gap between professed belief and actual practice. The study recommends intentional Biblical discipleship, contextualised teaching on the state of the dead, consistent pastoral care for bereaved families, and mission strategies that address cultural practices through Scripture while preserving appropriate cultural expressions that do not conflict with Biblical truth.