To Burn or Not to Burn: That is the Question?

[righteousdude2]

Like a great many of us "baby-boomers" we are at the age where a visit to the hospital, or going to sleep at night, may be the last thing we remember doing in this life. :smilewinkgrin:

And while we know to where our ticket is punched, there is the lingering question as to what to do with our now departed, empty carbon-based shell of a body?

With that said, I'd love to hear your responses in the attached poll, as well in written comment form regarding being buried versus cremation. And if you are buried, do you want to be embalmed or go naturally, untouched?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Like a great many of us "baby-boomers" we are at the age where a visit to the hospital, or going to sleep at night, may be the last thing we remember doing in this life. :smilewinkgrin:

And while we know to where our ticket is punched, there is the lingering question as to what to do with our now departed, empty carbon-based shell of a body?

With that said, I'd love to hear your responses in the attached poll, as well in written comment form regarding being buried versus cremation. And if you are buried, do you want to be embalmed or go naturally, untouched?

I would like a Viking funeral @ Seaside Heights NJ....sell tickets & rebuild the board walk that Sandy destroyed. :thumbs:

 

[sag38]

I am still unsure but am leaning toward cremation due to the rising and extravagant cost of even a basic funeral.

 

[preachinjesus]

If I end up being cremated...something we are considering...I'll have my ashes interred at the base of the bronze statue that will be standing in the quad of some institution that I will ultimately serve before I die. That'll do it!

 

[Oldtimer]

Yep, some of us have reached the age when we pray: Lord thank you for another day.

Wrap me in a quilt.
Put me in a plain wooden box.
Put me in a hole and cover it up.

1 rose on my casket at a simple graveside service.

That's it. I'm gone. He has called me home.

No vaults. No fancy caskets. No wreaths of real or fake flowers.
No long funeral service or formal "visitation".

Just friends and extended family to help the loved ones I leave behind. Only to the extent they need and want it. Not a housefull of "company" and a steady stream of visitors for 3 days. Don't put the burdon of being host and hostess upon them.

To burn or not to burn....

For me, personally, the Bible is filled with references to people being buried when they die. Including land being purchased for burial and bones being transported until they could be buried. My Saviour was buried in a tomb. One day the graves will open.

And, for me personally, fire represents the wrath of God. Yes, He appeared in a burning bush and led the Hebrews with a pillow of fire. Yet, these verses also come to mind. (Representative samples)

Jeremiah 19: KJB
4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;

5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

Jeremiah 32:28-30
Jeremiah 32:34-36

Revelation 19: KJB
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

[Amy.G]

And, for me personally, fire represents the wrath of God.

I respect you OT and enjoy your posts, but there have been many Christians put to death by fire. Nero lighting the streets of Rome with the burning bodies of Christians comes to mind. William Tynedale was burned at the stake as well, to whom we owe much for having our Bibles in English.

As for me, I have given instructions to my son to dispose of my body in whatever way is cheapest. I would much rather he keep whatever money I have than to give it to the funeral home.

If God can raise those faithful martyrs from ashes, then He can raise me as well!

 

[USN2Pulpit]

I put "no opinion," because I will have very little control over what happens to my body after I'm dead.

 

[salzer mtn]

I would like to be pulled to the cemetery by six black stud horses with plums in their main's in a black horse hurst with all the bells and whistles. I would like the pall bearers to hoist me up on their shoulders and carry me to the grave sight. I would like the preacher to read Job 1:21 Naked came i out of my mothers womb, and naked shall i return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. as the funeral directer slowly cast all of my life savings in a fire lit barrel. This way i will know my descendants are crying real tears and not fake ones.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Cremation - just hastens the natural process and saves money to be spent on more important things like missions.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I respect you OT and enjoy your posts, but there have been many Christians put to death by fire. Nero lighting the streets of Rome with the burning bodies of Christians comes to mind. William Tynedale was burned at the stake as well, to whom we owe much for having our Bibles in English.

As for me, I have given instructions to my son to dispose of my body in whatever way is cheapest. I would much rather he keep whatever money I have than to give it to the funeral home.

If God can raise those faithful martyrs from ashes, then He can raise me as well!

Amen!

Not to mention, many believers were never "buried" in the North American sense of the word, regardless of how they died.

 

[preachinjesus]

If God cannot raise up men and women from their ashes into everlasting life then He isn't God.

 

[righteousdude2]

Thanks OT

Yep, some of us have reached the age when we pray: Lord thank you for another day.

Wrap me in a quilt.
Put me in a plain wooden box.
Put me in a hole and cover it up.

1 rose on my casket at a simple graveside service.

That's it. I'm gone. He has called me home.

No vaults. No fancy caskets. No wreaths of real or fake flowers.
No long funeral service or formal "visitation".

Just friends and extended family to help the loved ones I leave behind. Only to the extent they need and want it. Not a housefull of "company" and a steady stream of visitors for 3 days. Don't put the burdon of being host and hostess upon them.

To burn or not to burn....

For me, personally, the Bible is filled with references to people being buried when they die. Including land being purchased for burial and bones being transported until they could be buried. My Saviour was buried in a tomb. One day the graves will open.

And, for me personally, fire represents the wrath of God. Yes, He appeared in a burning bush and led the Hebrews with a pillow of fire. Yet, these verses also come to mind. (Representative samples)

Jeremiah 19: KJB
4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;

5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

Jeremiah 32:28-30
Jeremiah 32:34-36

Revelation 19: KJB
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

I've been waiting to hear a response similar to yours. It has helped me a lot more than you'll ever know. Shalom!

 

[Arbo]

Burial, marked with an upright headstone. Not one that is flush with the ground. I want to be remembered every time the poor sap who mows the lawn has to trim around me.

 

[saturneptune]

I have no desire either way. For the Christian, what difference does it make how a body is disposed of? You are not there. I have read through the Bible several times, and nothing strikes me as pro burial or pro cremation. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[Salty]

Looks like this thread is getting everyone all fired up! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Jedi Knight]

I would like to see the Christians that were cremated raised on the last day to be a little charred still ....just to see the looks on their faces! Then you hear "just kidding". :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Oldtimer]

I respect you OT and enjoy your posts, but there have been many Christians put to death by fire. Nero lighting the streets of Rome with the burning bodies of Christians comes to mind. William Tynedale was burned at the stake as well, to whom we owe much for having our Bibles in English.

As for me, I have given instructions to my son to dispose of my body in whatever way is cheapest. I would much rather he keep whatever money I have than to give it to the funeral home.

If God can raise those faithful martyrs from ashes, then He can raise me as well!

Thank you for your kinds words Amy.

Been thinking about this for awhile before replying.

First, I agree 100% that God can raise the faithful from ashes and from the sea. To think otherwise is to diminish the awesome power of our Creator.

Next, we probably have a different reaction to Nero and the deaths of Tynedale and others. Yes, many people have died by fire. Either by accident or by the power of satan's influence on Nero and other men. Regardless of how they died, God will raise the faithful and give them glorified bodies.

Don't know quite how to word this to convey my reaction..........

We know that God will use fire to bring about destruction and eternal punishment. We know that satan has used and will continue to use fire to end human lives. For example, an arsonist sets fire to a home and kills everyone in it. A drunk driver ends lives in a firey crash. Terrorists fly planes into buildings.

Why would I agree to submit my dead body to a tool that satan uses against the faithful? Especially, when I know that God will use the same thing against him?

When I go, spend only the money needed to fulfill Caesar's "regulations". Dig a hole and put me in it. Instead of flowers buy a needy kid a pair of shoes. Instead of a vault, and there's money to be spent, send it to a missionary who needs shoes for his feet.

Again, this is just my personal opinion. Everyone has to make their own decisions based on the circumstances within their lives and their walk of faith.

 

[righteousdude2]

I Appreciate All the Input on this subject....

....I am at a crossroad in regard to cremation or burial. I do know that if I am buried, I do not want to be embalmed. I do not want my body tampered with in any way, and I've observed enough embalming's to know that it is not what I want this body that served me so well in this life to go through.

As for cremation, I feel as OTA. It seems that while I know God can raise up anything; cremation carries with it many negative references in Scriptures, which causes me to pause.

And while cremation is less expensive, the choice is still up in the air.

Which is why I hope God will make the decision for me and just rapture the church [chicken way out LOL].

Again, thanks for the input, and please don't stop. I know there are many more opinions waiting to be shared, so please SHARE!

 

[saturneptune]

....I am at a crossroad in regard to cremation or burial. I do know that if I am buried, I do not want to be embalmed. I do not want my body tampered with in any way, and I've observed enough embalming's to know that it is not what I want this body that served me so well in this life to go through.

As for cremation, I feel as OTA. It seems that while I know God can raise up anything; cremation carries with it many negative references in Scriptures, which causes me to pause.

And while cremation is less expensive, the choice is still up in the air.

Which is why I hope God will make the decision for me and just rapture the church [chicken way out LOL].

Again, thanks for the input, and please don't stop. I know there are many more opinions waiting to be shared, so please SHARE!

Well, since you asked, the subject is very emotional. In fact, the longer I think about it the more it burns me up.

 

[saturneptune]

I would like to see the Christians that were cremated raised on the last day to be a little charred still ....just to see the looks on their faces! Then you hear "just kidding". :smilewinkgrin:

Now that is funny.