Lilbro.net

Does the Bible say anything against cremation ? I have often wondered if that is acceptable.
---
Lead me Lord and I will follow

Ha, how did that topic come up? Our bodies are subject to decay once placed in the ground (and even before that) so that one who has been buried several thousand years ago (and perhaps turned up with new construction, who knows) really has a "physical constitution" identical to one who has been burned. What if a person had all his limbs cut off, then died many years later? Quite obviously that won't affect his resurrection body! Augustine believed that every part, hair follicle, toenail, etc that had ever been lost would somehow join itself back into the resurrected or new body, but regardless, we do know that God will use our current body as the "seed" for a new, resurrected body which is the full flower.

As far as cremation or any other thing that is done (really, all dust is pretty much the same as ashes), nothing can stop God from making the new heavenly body from what has been before. In fact, during the time of Paul, Nero would take Christians, tie them up to stakes in his garden, cover them with tar, and then set them on fire as human torches. Perhaps this is what Paul had in mind when he said in1Co 13:3 "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

Here, the burning of a person as a martyr, is seen as a noble act (like all the other things in the list mentioned), not something horrendous because they will never be able to be resurrected! If someone dies as a martyr by burning, it's noble. As far as voluntarily giving one's body to be burned after he or she dies, I see no reason to think that it would pose any kind of a problem, after all, "to dust we return" anyway and trying to preserve one's body for the resurrection is rather a fruitless pursuit in my opinion.

Does that help at all? My mother has wanted to be cremated by the way, and my grandfather was because he was buried in Texas at the family plot and it was several months before we took a trip out there (and I don't think anyone wanted to ride all that way with a uh... body... anyway).
---
As we learned in Narnia....

Thank you so very much Logan, I really needed to see your complete and very very helpful answer. I can not tell you what peace that gives me. You are very kind to take so much time to answer. It means a great deal to me.

I knew you would know what is right.

AL


---
Lead me Lord and I will follow

Now be careful please, I don't necessarily know what is right, I can only tell you what I've observed. Meaning, I'm certainly not an authority!

Logan
---
As we learned in Narnia....

I am at peace with it now, I turst your "obsevations," my trust in you has always been well placed. :)
---
Lead me Lord and I will follow

Say for instance, a great king (say Robert the Magnificent) comes from a far-away land to visit his people and invites you to come into his throne room and then says "please, don't be afraid, tell me everything that is on your heart." This is a kind and caring king, but does the subject, the poor, unlearned peasant suddenly say "Okay Bob. Just had to tell yas that I think yer doin' a great job and hey Bob, I'm just gonna give ya a big hug, okay?" This would not be the peasant's right, it is his place to still show submission as a subject, and reverence out of respect, and yet, he doesn't need to be frightened (in a bad sense) because he knows his king is loving.

Hrm. I try to think of our relationship with God in a similar fashion. I believe that we can ask for help, guidance, strength, comfort (the list goes on) but that we cannot take the liberty of assuming that because God has given us this, He also intends us to run into the throne room to tell Him when everything isn't going the "right" way, or that we can treat Him like a close friend (per say of the same age). I have very good friends in our church, that happen to be 70 years older than me. I know that they care about me, and I know I can ask for advice and counsel at all times. But I also do NOT treat them in the same way that I interact with younger children, or (again) close friends. Respect at all times, but it does not change that they truly care about me.
---
Life is a ride. Pinnit.