Burial

Personally what they do with my body when I'm through with it is up to those who are left behind. The ONLY thing I want to happen is someone to preach the gospel message so anyone there who hasn't heard it will.

 

I don't much care. When I go Home, my friends and family better be having a party so that people will say "Why are you celebrating?"
I used to hate the thought of being an organ doner (mainly because it grossed me out) But now, I can't use them. Why not let somebody else?

 

A funeral service is just that a funeral service! But when a believer dies, it is no longer a funeral service, but it is a victory service! It is victory over death. For we believe in life eternal, and why not celebrate the home going of a departed soul?

In our life we have three birthdays:
1. Our entrance to this world.
2. Our spiritual or second birth (being born again).
3. Our entrance to the spiritual realm (our birth to heaven).

So, why shouldn't people celebrate and make a feast on the home going of a loved one who professed Christ as his/her Savior? Yes, celebrations are not only required for Christians, it is commanded!

But I tend to agree with you on the expensiveness of a burial. Not only do you have to purchase a burial plot, you also have to pay exorbitant prices for caskets (that includes the use of the funeral home, limousines, burial, etc.). Funeral Parlors made a business out of people's grief, that is the problem - pure and simple.

[ January 16, 2002: Message edited by: Barnabas ]

 

Let me throw a little controversy into an otherwise peaceful thread. I am fully in favor or cremation, which is SO MUCH cheaper than the traditional costly burial. There are those out there who believe that somehow cremation dis-honors God. The line of reasoning I have heard is that cremation is an attempt to thwart God's work at the resurrection. Actually, at the resurrection we receive a NEW body, and even if God raised up our old bodies to give them a tune-up for eternal usage, it is no more difficult for Him to re-assemble ashes than to put flesh on bones.

Is there anyone out there who wishes to defend the position that cremation is wrong for the believer?

Think of all the money that could be saved and used for God's kingdom if we were not spending so much on a dead body.

Any thoughts?

Chick

 

Baranabus

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>A funeral service is just that a funeral service! But when a believer dies, it is no longer a funeral service, but it is a victory service! It is victory over death. For we believe in life eternal, and why not celebrate the home going of a departed soul? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just went to a funeral today for the mans from our Sunday school class who was murdered. And I agree with your statement. The whole choir was there(he was a long time choir member), and sang some great praise songs( I know not all here agree with praise and worship songs,, but so..) A couple of his favorites, and a song he had always said he wanted sung at hid funeral("I bow in my knees"), the preacher did a grreat sermon, about Jesus, and why Arlene had hope, and why we know where he is, and challenaged other s to make sure where they were going, because just with Arlene we never know when we are going.(he was 41 and murder last Saturday).

 

When I leave this world and they have my funeral, I want to leave behind a testimony of my faith in Jesus. I don't care how many flowers are there or how fancy my casket is. The most important thing is that someone will hear the gospel message and get right with the Lord.
Susan

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Barnabas:
..........
But I tend to agree with you on the expensiveness of a burial. Not only do you have to purchase a burial plot, you also have to pay exorbitant prices for caskets (that includes the use of the funeral home, limousines, burial, etc.). Funeral Parlors made a business out of people's grief, that is the problem - pure and simple.

[ January 16, 2002: Message edited by: Barnabas ]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I somewhat disagree. Funeral homes, etc., have made a business out of responding to people's desires. They provide a variety of very useful services. There are a WIDE variety of methods and prices to have a low-cost funeral. It comes down to choice, really. If a person wants a traditional funeral and is willing to pay for it, it is no more or less wasteful or immoral to spend money on it than on MANY other things.

Also, quite frankly, there are a number of laws relating to public health that necessitate some things, not the greed of funeral homes, per se.
For example, if a person dies a long way from home, it is generally illegal for just anybody to drive the body across state lines.
Some burial customs are the result of public health laws, which have developed because conditions have changed in this country since pioneer days, including a much larger population.

It is good stewardship to investigate, plan ahead, and make your plans and wishes known to your family. I spent enough time in a cemetery job to see the radical difference between peoples' ideas in advance and what they do when they have to actually make a decision. Peoples' decisions regarding family members are OFTEN different than they say would be acceptable for themselves.

Karen

 

I'll chime in.

I think burial looks forward to a resurrection, waiting to rise again. Also, I believe our bodies are not our's to burn.

And I think donating our bodies to science, or selling our organs for church money borders on good works. I'm not trying to be hateful, just my opinion. I don't think it should be a divisive issue, & I certainly won't call anybody a sinner or doubt their salvation because they want to be cremated, or stuffed & mounted for that matter.

I can't back it up with scripture, but I read an article by David Cloud on this subject.
www.wayoflife.org

[ January 17, 2002: Message edited by: Mr. Curtis ]

 

Mr. Curtis,

Thanks for your comments and input. I agree that our bodies are not our own. But why add the words "to burn"? When someone dies, their corrupt body needs to be disposed of. The real person moves on to the next life. Many folks have perished at sea with their bodies eaten, some believers have perished in tragic house fires. A dead body is not a person, and it has no emotion, intent, soul, etc., and there is nothing wrong with using a tool like fire to dispose of the body. The ancient Jews would not enbalm, but simply put the body in a tomb to rot for a year, then open it up, break apart the bones, and throw them in a pit with all the other bones hence, they were "gathered unto their fathers." That approach doesn't seem to point toward resurrection any more than cremation.

Best wishes,

Chick

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chick Daniels:
Mr. Curtis,

Thanks for your comments and input. I agree that our bodies are not our own. But why add the words "to burn"? When someone dies, their corrupt body needs to be disposed of. The real person moves on to the next life. Many folks have perished at sea with their bodies eaten, some believers have perished in tragic house fires. A dead body is not a person, and it has no emotion, intent, soul, etc., and there is nothing wrong with using a tool like fire to dispose of the body. The ancient Jews would not enbalm, but simply put the body in a tomb to rot for a year, then open it up, break apart the bones, and throw them in a pit with all the other bones hence, they were "gathered unto their fathers." That approach doesn't seem to point toward resurrection any more than cremation.

Best wishes,

Chick<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanx, Chick.

Respectfully, there is a difference between death by burning, accident, being murdered, & the willful destruction of one's body. What I will do is look up the old reference I once saw concerning this, & either post it, or a link to it.

Best wishes right back at ya.

Curtis