The View from a Hearse

by Joseph Bayly, Joe Bayly, Brandon Chasteen (Editor)

Three of Joseph Bayly's seven children died at young ages. He was intimately acquainted with the pain of death and was all too familiar with what he once called this enemy's "grim violence." But he was even more intimately acquainted with the One who conquered that enemy forever.

The View from a Hearse is Joe's simple, helpful meditation on death and grieving. He wrote it for those facing the death of a loved one, those still in the throes of grief, and for those preparing to die. Joe knew that peace with death doesn't come from understanding everything that happens to us, but in knowing the God who is in control of everything.

He wrote this little book to show that God has not promised His children an easy death or deathbed visions of glory. What He has promised is an open door beyond.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Death

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Michael K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a reflection of what man has been told from the beginning after he had fell from the good graces of God. We are not promised an easy life, though it would seem as though some do experience such a thing. We are not promised ease in our daily lives as we make our way through each and every day. We are only promised ease from our suffering when we go to be with our Creator upon our demise. Life is hard, there is no other way to see it; however, it is much easier to grasp and understand when we lean on the one and only God who Created each and every one of us. This is a short read and very well worth it for those who hurt due to death of their loved ones around them.

On a more personal note, my wife has cancer and has been battling it since 2017. She was recently re-diagnosed a fourth time with the same cancerous return. Those who do not know, she, her brother, and our nephew were all diagnosed within three months of one another of differnt forms of cancer. Her brother died 3-5 weeks after his diagnosis of a secondary cancer of Liver (Jun., 2017.) Our nephew fought for almost 5 years with Pancreatic cancer (Dec., 2021.) And my wife keeps fighting onward. My father died of an aggressive form of Lung cancer in 1989. My mother died of Colon cancer in 2012, at the ripe age of 81. My brother died of Esaphageal cancer in December of 2021. With death all around us it is very hard to not feel or sense our mortalities racing against us as we grow older.

[Robert McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book (under 100 pages) is a treasure trove of insight from one man’s faith in God as he encountered unusual amounts death in his life. I’m struck by how different this reads than modern authors: it’s much leaner, more direct, and more effecting than most of what I encounter. It deserves a place, in my opinion, alongside Lewis, Nouwen, Bonhoeffer, etc.

[Randy Corn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the many recommendations made by Warren Wiersbe from his book, Walking With The Giants. It is from his chapter on the Minister as Comforter. I can see why he recommended this book. Essentially this is a book about the many questions which arise around the subject of death. I suppose I was motivated to read this book over concerns I have over my own mortality. I did find some good counsel on this point, but I also found much more.

There is solid counsel in this book from a man who has had quite a bit of experience with death. Three of his own children died untimely deaths. I can hardly imagine dealing with loosing just one child, but three? I think the chapter dealing with prayer for healing was most interesting to me. He doesn’t really give a statistical reason for his conclusions, but I have to say that I thought his reasoning was solid. While he believes that God can heal, it is wrong to make it contingent on the faith of the person seeking healing. If healing does not come it add a degree of personal guilt which can only make things worse.

I particularly liked the observation that it is possible for Christians to see death as defeat rather than a doorway to heaven. I think there needs to be some serious thinking on this subject. I have already recommended this book to a few friends, I’m sure I will do it more in the future.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most moving book I have read dealing with death and dying. Joe and his wife buried three of their sons and out of these heart breaks Bayly has some helpful advice for those of us who want to minister to the grieving. He points out that grief is what we pay for love. I do not know where to start in telling all of the great thoughts in this book. He talks about the ways we treat the dying and death today as compared to two generations ago. In the past people died in their home surrounded by family. Today death take place most often in a sterile hospital room surrounded by nurses who are strangers. He talks about facing death and how to comfort those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

[Ginger Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death is nothing at a!l

At some point, we will all walk through the valley of the shadow of death and straight into the arms of the creator. We will at last be home and filled with all we have searched for our entire lives. So much love, peace and beauty awaits us there. Fear not.

[Kate Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothings I didn’t;t already know but loved the way this author writes and the reminder I need in this season of my life.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a review of the 1973 paperback edition, fifth printing. I found it in my mother's personal library. It had an address label from the 1970s.

Mom has some crap taste in books.

The cover of this edition hints that this is a secular work, but it's just Christian preaching crap. The author was a Born Again Protestant who had three kids die on him, aged 18 days, five, and 18.

And he went out of his damn mind. In his grief, which he never really expressed, he inflicted this monstrosity on the world. He apparently was incensed by two things:

* A conversation with the mother of a terminally ill small child at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
* The success of The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford.

There is a mountain of manure here. I'll just list some of the worst of the worst:

* Animals have no souls, so they'll never go to heaven. There is no proof that ANYTHING has a soul, but many Christians abuse animals and promote activities to wipe out endangered species precisely because of this belief.
* He berates the aforementioned woman to her face at CHoP.
* He describes some of the cruel things Christians have said to him and his family and does not see the hypocrisy.
* He says you shouldn't give false hope to the dying that they will be cured ... and then proceeds to give false hope about a place that doesn't exist.
* He writes, Reason, we believe, is the deceptively weak crutch for faith. (page 105) And yet, Brainiac here is trying to use reason to convert people to his brand of Christianity with a 122 page book. You can't have it both ways.
* Suffering before dying is the preferred way all good Christians should die, because a good death is "atheistic".
* A Christian medical student moans that an elderly woman about to die will only read love and celebrity magazines instead of the Bible.
* The author states that terminally ill children should be treated no differently than before, including being punished and not given any special presents or trips to Disneyland.
* He cautions anyone in grief to avoid going too deep into fantasy, including reading the Bible all day. Oh, he's so close to realizing that religion is nothing BUT fantasy.

There's plenty more, but I'll throw up if I go into all of the stupid here.

I was this brand of Christian for about 15 years. It was the worst years of my life. I'm 54 and I'm STILL trying to recover from it. I was constantly told that Heaven was better than anything, yet suicide was a sin that sends you to hell. Jesus' death forgave all sins, yet you still couldn't commit suicide.

This is the kind of idiocy that has promoted suffering and hate throughout the world for all species, not just people.

If you want to know the Born Again Christian perspective on death, here you go. If you want to know why Born Again Christians ignore science and reason, again, here you go. Otherwise, stick this book where it belongs -- in the recycling bin.

[Kylea Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my biggest take away from this book is the acceptance that death will come for all of us one day, and in that acceptance, we can live. Other than that, I was a little disappointed and was hoping the author would speak more on his personal experience with death of his loved ones (some being three of his seven children).

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical, sober, hopeful, and comforting. Lots of stories coming from one who lost sons at 5 months, five years and 18 years. Clear faith with good illustrations: An unborn fetus can’t imagine the world he will enter after emerging from the dark tunnel. Even in grave yards, the Lord has care of those bodies He will raise to glory.

[Travis Cassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope in the midst of suffering

The author does an excellent job of communicating his hope in Jesus and the afterlife. He writes through the lens of his own pain and loss. Anyone who has experienced suffering through the loss of loved ones would do well to read and study this book. There’s hope and healing in its pages.

[Brian Proffit · Rating 5 out of 5]

While death is not something discussed much, it is something we all face- in ourselves and others. How should we talk about it? How should we think about it? This is the best book on the subject I've ever read.

[Christian Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about grief and the power that death holds over us, not as a finality but as a gateway to the Lord. I am thrilled to know that Joseph now walks with the Lord after his years of faithful ministry.

[Lynn Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Denise Studer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Book, everyone should read this book to learn what is ahead for all of us.

[En Yi WEI · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review in Amazon

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

All about death and dying with a spiritual perspective. The author covers several things related to death and dying.

Good read about death.

[Tammy Gruebbel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book how to understand and accept death.