Scattering Ashes of a loved one.

Well said, Helen. And thanks for taking on the yucky part! :thumbsup: :tongue3:

 

These are NOT examples of cremation, they are examples of burning someone alive. Apples and oranges. The Japanese Christians would be horrified to hear their custom being compared to Sodom and Gomorrah. But they are not reading this, so I will be horrified for them. Totally ridiculous!!

 

Maybe he just wants a little personal judgment!

 

Doesn't make it right either, now does it? If someone were to ask for guidance in how to lay a body to rest, whether cremation or burial, I'd point them to scripture (which is our ultimate source for all things pertaining to life and death) where the evidence is overwhelming that burial is the way to go - the proper method, practiced by GOD Himself. Now, if you or anyone else wants to point them in another direction, that's on you.

 

Church government hardly compares to laying a body to rest.

 

Gershom: //If someone were to ask for guidance in how to lay a body to rest, whether cremation or burial, I'd point them to scripture (which is our ultimate source for all things pertaining to life and death) where the evidence is overwhelming that burial is the way to go - the proper method, practiced by GOD Himself.//

Sometimes God picks up used bodies by fire

2 Kings 2:11 (KJV1611 Edition):
And it came to passe as they still went on
and talked, that beholde, there appeared a charet of fire,
and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder,
and Elijah went vp by a whirlewind into heauen.

Not to mention a Tornado.

 

Great point Ed!! :thumbsup:

I'd love to go up in a Mustang, myself!

 

Not sure what this has to do with burial vs cremation, or how it would play in favor of cremation. ???

 

My point exactly. Not right, nor wrong.

I'll agree Scripture is the source for those things. But you don't make stuff up when Scripture is silent on the issue, Gershom. We have instances of burial in the Scripture, that is correct. But I don't remember one of the commandments being "Thou shalt bury the dead." Why limit those options, when Scripture is silent?

Great. It's on me, whatever that means. :thumbs:

 

And I wasn't referring to "church government" per se. Tradition does not equal Scripture. End of story.

 

LOL! But scripture isn't silent on the issue! You admit that yourself. In fact, it is overwhelmingly in favor of burial. You agree that the Bible is the source for these things, but advise otherwise in saying it doesn't matter.

And who is making stuff up???? I am advising people to look to the Bible where the scale tips over in favor of burial.

It just befuddles me how Christians want a "thou shalt not" in order to justify their behavior and choices in life (and death).

 

Again, when you think biblically you will find God's way and walk therein. There may be a tradition of cremation, but you'll not find it in scripture. End of story.

 

I didn't say you made anything up. Reread Gershom, and calm down. And I didn't ask for a "Thou shalt not" either... it was a "Thou shalt". :thumbs:

This isn't worth arguing over, to me at least. The OP cremated her husband, per his wishes. I don't believe there was anything wrong with it, because God can raise him up again regardless of how his physical body was destroyed (whether immediately, or over years). I'm not justifying anything, it's just that my faith in God moves beyond the box of burial/cremation.

The tradition of burial is not the issue. The issue is whether or not cremation is a sinful option. It is not. I will be buried, as is the custom of my family, and it is why I buried my stillborn daughter. But I will not persecute, preach to, vilify or bully someone who has chosen this method of funeral.

Take care, Gershom. This is my last post on the subject.

 

I am not persecuting or bullying anyone either. I'm simply pointing to the Word. I believe that is the best advice anyone could give. The Bible clearly points to burial as being the way to lay a body to rest. And, like you, I will be buried just as my 20 year old son was buried three years ago.

 

It shows that your statement about the Bible being only
pro-burial is incorrect. My Scriptural argument blew your
'claims to be scriptural' argument right out of the water.

Gershom: //If someone were to ask for guidance in how to lay a body to rest, whether cremation or burial, I'd point them to scripture (which is our ultimate source for all things pertaining to life and death) where the evidence is overwhelming that burial is the way to go - the proper method, practiced by GOD Himself.//

Your bet has been cast. I match your bet. I CALL.

John of Japan: // I'd love to go up in a Mustang, myself!//

Reminds me of a joke. The first person comments to a second
person at the funeral of a rich Texas Oilman. The Oilman is
being buried with His Stetson Hat on, his chaps, his spurs,
he is sitting at the seat of a Lincon convertable. Sez the
person #1: "NOW THAT'S LIVIN' "

 

Please. Your reference to Elijah's being called up blows my argument for burial out of the water? LOL. C'mon, Ed. Surely you jest. That's funny.

 

Why... don't you see it, Gershom? According to Ed's statement the Christian is not supposed to be buried or cremated...

... His loved ones are to strap him to a light vehicle and leave it in the path of a tornado. :laugh:

 

I don't think the issue now is, "Is cremation a sin?" But just because it's not a sin does not mean it's the best thing to do.

And just because the body naturally goes back to the earth, does not mean cremation is the best thing to do rather than burial. Setting aside the OP question (which I already addressed by saying she was only following her husband's wishes and so that's that), we still have the issue of cremation being the deliberate destruction of the body.

Our bodies do matter. God created the human body; he made it the way he did for a reason. It sets us apart very much from the animal world. No matter how old or sick the person may have been in life, cremation is the deliberate destruction of the body. So I think when we have the choice, is it the wiser choice?

Cremation was associated with pagan rites

Even though we have liberty to cremate, does that mean it's the best example to the world?

I realize the passage above is speaking of when one is alive, but does the body cease to belong to God at death? Being buried is a witness to the hope of the resurrection of the body promised by the Lord and given as an example of by Jesus Christ.

 

God's people practiced polygamy and slavery, but we don't imitate that.

Difference between historical account and biblical command.

The NT reminds us that we're in a "jar of clay." We should treat the body with respect because it is God's creation...but nowhere in scripture is cremation described as disrespectful to God's creation.

I do want to commend folks who disagree with me such as Gershom and DITW...I appreciate you guys handling your views in a sensitive matter in relating your viewpoints to the OP. You were gentle and sensitive with your wording and statements. I appreciate the care you took.

I'll probably bow out here, as we've all fired every round we have, and our spiritual gift of stubbornness is shining strong. :laugh: Peace to ya'll.