8 Funeral Hymns That Would Be Infinitely Better Than Jimmy Carter’s ‘Imagine’

President Carter’s recent funeral featured a multitude of Christian elements, as one might expect from the service for a man who often spoke of his faith in Jesus. The service included Scripture readings, hymns, and prayers. And then, for some reason, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sang John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

To say this artistic choice stuck out like a sore thumb would be an insult to sore thumbs. It’s hard to think of any piece of secular music more at odds with the purpose of a Christian funeral. “Disco Duck” and “Baby Shark” would have been more appropriate. As grating to the ears as they may be, at least they’re doctrinally neutral. When selecting music for a service meant to proclaim the hope of eternal life, why include a song that denies the very concept of eternal life in its opening words?

As tempting as it might be to blame the Episcopal Church that hosted the funeral (as a general rule, every bad thing that ever happens anywhere is the fault of Episcopalians), the answer seems to be that Carter himself loved the song. While some might take this as evidence that Carter wasn’t truly a Christian, I think we can be a bit more charitable. As anyone who’s ever watched a blushing bride and her new husband slow dance to “Every Breath You Take” at their wedding reception knows, the human capacity to digest a few words of a song and dismiss the rest is astonishing. It’s entirely possible that Carter liked the song for the lines about everyone living in peace while ignoring the ones about abolishing private property and rejecting the existence of God. 

If indeed Carter was simply guilty of liking a schlock anthem while only halfway paying attention to the lyrics, I can’t criticize that too harshly. I do, however, have a big gripe with including it, and frankly any secular piece of music, in a service that should be rooted in the promise of eternal life won for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

As Christians, our funerals shouldn’t be celebrations of our accomplishments, hobbies, or interests because, as Christians, we aren’t primarily statesmen or sports fans or Parrotheads with a little bit of Jesus dust sprinkled on top. Rather, we are first and foremost children of the God who created us to live forever, children who fell into the depths of condemnation but have now been lifted up and given back eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are members of Christ’s church before we are members of any nation, tribe, or club.

Because of this, a church’s funeral service should primarily focus on the forgiveness of Jesus Christ that won eternal life for the deceased and that gives all who mourn him the right to see him again in glory. In other words, the point of your funeral is not so much for people to remember you and the things you liked but for them to remember the promises the God of love gave you and to honor you by hearing and singing those promises.

With regard to the “singing” part, the more Jesus a particular piece of music features, the better it is at accomplishing the goal of a funeral. If you really loved singing “You Are My Sunshine” with your mother growing up, that’s great, but “You Are My Sunshine” won’t save anybody, so save it for your family’s reception afterward. During the service, ensure that those who have gathered with tears in their eyes feel the tear-drying hands of Jesus through hymns that boldly proclaim the fullness of God’s love for you. Give them hymns radiating with the joy of Easter, the promises of the resurrection, and the glorious victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the power of the devil.

If you don’t already have a list of such compositions handy, here are eight glorious, Christ-centered hymns (all of which can be found here) to consider singing at your funeral:

1. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Martin Luther’s best-known hymn, this stirring meditation on Psalm 46 is a great way to rub Satan’s defeat in his face. When those who loved you desperately need to hear the promise that their sorrow will not last, consider giving them the words of this hymn’s final stanza:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

2. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

Despite being largely unknown outside Lutheran circles, I’m firmly convinced that Paul Gerhardt is the greatest hymnist of all time. One of his most beautiful compositions is “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness,” an Easter hymn erupting with the confidence that all who believe in the risen Christ will bask in the warmth of His kingdom forever.

Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate’er He passes through.
He rends death’s iron chain;
He breaks through sin and pain;
He shatters hell’s grim thrall;
I follow Him through all.

3. Jesus, Priceless Treasure

A contemporary of Gerhardt, Johann Franck wrote this bold composition, a great example of what it looks and sounds like to sing with joy on top of sorrow.

Jesus, priceless treasure,
Fount of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me,
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord, for Thee?
    Thou art mine,
    O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide Thee;
Naught I ask beside Thee.

4. God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

In Romans 6, St. Paul promises that those who receive the waters of baptism will be made dead to sin and alive in Christ. As your loved ones begin their wait for Christ to honor the second half of that promise by lifting your body from the grave, it’s good to sing words rejoicing in the promise.

Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes
Faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine
To make life immortal mine.

5. Behold, a Host Arrayed in White

Danish hymnist Hans Brorson’s beautiful take on the imagery of Revelation 7 is a great way to put Christ’s promise of eternal life into the ears of your loved ones. 

Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!
With palms they stand;
Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame,
Who from the great affliction came
And in the flood
Of Jesus’ blood
Are cleansed from guilt and shame.
They now serve God both day and night;
They sing their songs in endless light.
Their anthems ring
As they all sing
With angels shining bright.

6. Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart

The third verse of Martin Schalling’s 16th-century hymn may well be the greatest stand-alone hymn stanza ever written. Listen to it here.

Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing;
And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

7. Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won

Another great Easter hymn, Christian Gellert’s refrain, “This shall be my confidence,” would be a great gift to give those hungering for the confidence that they will see you again.

Jesus lives! The vict’ry’s won!
Death no longer can appall me;
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!
From the grave will Christ recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.

8. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

As far as I’m concerned, Philipp Nicolai’s take on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is the greatest hymn ever written. Composed after an outbreak of the plague forced Nicolai to bury almost 2,000 members of his congregation over six months, “Wake, Awake” is unrivaled in its radiance — a staggeringly beautiful exercise in clinging to the love of Christ amid unfathomable sorrow. 

“Wake, awake, for night is flying,”
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?
The Bridegroom comes, awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Alleluia!
With bridal care
Yourselves prepare
To meet the Bridegroom, who is near.”

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious;
Her star is ris’n, her light is come.
Now come, Thou Blessèd One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son,
Hail! Hosanna!
We enter all
The wedding hall
To eat the Supper at Thy call.

Now let all the heav’ns adore Thee,
Let saints and angels sing before Thee
With harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, joining with the choir immortal,
We gather round Thy radiant throne.
No eye has seen the light,
No ear has heard the might
Of Thy glory;
Therefore will we
Eternally
Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

Imagine if the Carter family gave the world these words instead of John Lennon’s ode to nothingness.

Hans Fiene is a contributor to The Federalist. He is a Lutheran pastor in Missouri and the creator of Lutheran Satire, a series of comical videos intended to teach the Lutheran faith. Follow him on Twitter, @HansFiene.