Scattering Ashes of a loved one.

[John of Japan]

Ummm, let's do a little of the yuckier biology here, OK?

When a body and soul are separated in death, the body begins to decay. In the biblical days, it would be entombed or buried with just a cloth. No nice metal casket to keep the worms out. And so the organisms in the ground would gradually eat away at it, including the worms. The person's body would become worm poo in part, which is very good to help plants to grow. The person's elemental remains would be recycled into plants, dirt, even some in the air, washed out to sea in part....or into the ground water to be drunk later by others....

Dust was the smallest bit of matter known in the ancient days. Dust to dust simply means back to the elements -- the same stuff that makes up the dust. Ashes make up a good part of dust, especially after fires and volcanoes! Dust includes ashes in their tiniest pieces.

It does not matter HOW your body is returned to the elements. The simple fact is that, unless the Lord Himself intervenes, it will be. Rot, burning, whatever. It does not matter.

As for me, whatever the survivors wish to do with my body is fine with me. I won't be living in it anymore! They need to do what makes THEM feel more comfortable with the death process.

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

 

[John of Japan]

[FONT=&quot]Examples of cremation:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The example of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6)
The example of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1,2)
The example of the men who rebelled with Korah (Numbers 16:35)[/FONT]

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!!

 

[El_Guero]

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!

 

[Gershom]

God's people didn't do alot of things back then that God's people do today. Or maybe you can show me Biblical precedent for alot of the things we have or do in our churches. Just because cremation wasn't a traditional method of dealing with the deceased does not make it wrong.

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.

 

[Gershom]

God's people didn't do alot of things back then that God's people do today. Or maybe you can show me Biblical precedent for alot of the things we have or do in our churches. Just because cremation wasn't a traditional method of dealing with the deceased does not make it wrong.

Church government hardly compares to laying a body to rest.

 

[Ed Edwards]

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.

 

[John of Japan]

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!

 

[Gershom]

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.

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

 

[rsr]

Church government hardly compares to laying a body to rest.

True. Church government is far more important.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Doesn't make it right either, now does it?

My point exactly. Not right, nor wrong.

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.

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?

Now, if you or anyone else wants to point them in another direction, that's on you.

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

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Church government hardly compares to laying a body to rest.

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

 

[Gershom]

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?

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).

 

[Gershom]

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

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.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

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).

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.

 

[Gershom]

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.

 

[Ed Edwards]

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

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' "

 

[Gershom]

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.

 

[Diggin in da Word]

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:

 

[Marcia]

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

http://www.answers.com/topic/cremation
Disposing of a corpse by burning. In the ancient world cremation took place on an open pyre. It was practiced by the Greeks (who considered it suitable for heroes and war dead) and the Romans (among whom it became a status symbol). The pagan Scandinavians also cremated their dead. In India the custom is very ancient. In some Asian countries only certain people may be cremated (e.g., high lamas in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China). Christianity opposed cremation, and it became rare in Europe after AD 1000 except under extreme circumstances, such as that brought on by the Black Death. The practice reemerged in the late 19th century and was eventually accepted by both Protestants and Roman Catholics.

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

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 6.19,20

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.

 

[rbell]

Lots of sidetracking going on in some of the replies from pro-cremators in how God has the power to resurrect a pile of ashes; how a burial should be followed to the mark, etc. But the point is:

God's people did not practice cremation.

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.