Praying for the dead: Biblical or not?
Why don’t Church of Christ members pray for their dead?
Members of the Church Of Christ do not pray or their dead because it is not prescribed by the Bible. Not only is this practice unbiblical, but it is also pointless. This is so because the Bible says:
“For the living know hat they will die; But the dead know nothing. And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished: Nevermore will the have a share in anything done under the sun.” (Eccl. 9:5-6, New King James Version, emphasis ours)
Those who die return to dust (Gen. 3:19), lying in their graves until the heavens are no more, or on Judgment Day, the time when they will rise again to face judgment (Job14:112; II Pet 3:10; John 5:23-29; Matt. 25:31-34, 41, NKJV).
Indeed, praying for the welfare of the dead is in vain. Clearly, there is nothing the living can do that will benefit the dead. For these reasons members of the Church Of Christ do not pray for their dearly departed.
Source: God's Message Magazine