Funeral question

[stevef]

Does the Bible say anything specific on how we're to be buried? I know Christ's body was dealt with in the Jewish tradition but obviously that was a special situation. I'm not talking about customs or traditions but actual instructions on how we're to be buried. I ask because I'm seeing more cremations including at church funerals, and my wife and I are also thinking about cremation. I'm not aware of any New Testament teachings against it. Anybody knowledgeable about this?

 

[Tintin]

Our earthly bodies will return to dust, it's our spirits that live on, so cremation would be perfectly acceptable to God.

 

[KohenMatt]

What are other Scriptural examples besides Jesus? And do you see a pattern there?

 

[Mo0448]

What are other Scriptural examples besides Jesus? And do you see a pattern there?

Well some people use the scriptures our body is the temple of God, as a reason to not defile ourselves, that is no Organ transplant etc the body is not to be messed with in any way. I find this very irrelevant and ridiculous. We aren't going to use them anyways, everyone should be organ donors. You call sell a kidney on ebay for 250,000 dollars.

 

[crossnote]

Think of the martyrs...burned,sawed,fed to lions, drowned etc...not exactly Forest Lawn Funerals.

 

[4enlightment]

Does the Bible say anything specific on how we're to be buried? I know Christ's body was dealt with in the Jewish tradition but obviously that was a special situation. I'm not talking about customs or traditions but actual instructions on how we're to be buried. I ask because I'm seeing more cremations including at church funerals, and my wife and I are also thinking about cremation. I'm not aware of any New Testament teachings against it. Anybody knowledgeable about this?

Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

 

[Tintin]

Well some people use the scriptures our body is the temple of God, as a reason to not defile ourselves, that is no Organ transplant etc the body is not to be messed with in any way. I find this very irrelevant and ridiculous. We aren't going to use them anyways, everyone should be organ donors. You call sell a kidney on ebay for 250,000 dollars.

I seriously doubt that a kidney can be sold on eBay. It would be against their rules. That said, everyone should be organ donors. We don't need them once we're dead and they could save a life. Jesus would be all for that.

 

[MaggieMye]

Genesis 50:5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’”
Acts 5: 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

5:9b Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.


Scripture does NOT say that that is what they HAD to do but only that that is what they did. Cultures other than the Jewish, had other methods of disposing of the body: Some who had access to rivers or the ocean would built a raft, light it on fire and send it down the river or out to sea.
I really don't think it matters. ALL things are possible with God. And...He IS GOD...so HE can refurbish and reconstruct a body out of ashes/dust.
Maggie

 

[OwenHeidenreich]

Yeah I think God cares about love more than works... works being... trying to follow the law even after your body is already dead.

 

[4enlightment]

[h=2]Answer[/h]What happens to a body after it is buried depends on a few factors. If it is buried directly in the ground, and have not been embalmed, then insects will soon find it and start eating the flesh. Decomposition would also be hastened.
What Happens to a Body after It Is Buried? - Ask.com

 

[Tintin]

Someone didn't read the question put forward in the original post.

 

[crossnote]

Someone didn't read the question put forward in the original post.

That's a common problem of mine as well

 

[notconformed2theworld]

Our earthly bodies will return to dust, it's our spirits that live on, so cremation would be perfectly acceptable to God.

I used to wondered about cremation...how can we be resurrected without our bodies then I thought about Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, how God raised them...so I then I thru out my doubt about cremation.

 

[4enlightment]

I used to wondered about cremation...how can we be resurrected without our bodies then I thought about Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, how God raised them...so I then I thru out my doubt about cremation.

Answer

What happens to a body after it is buried depends on a few factors. If it is buried directly in the ground, and have not been embalmed, then insects will soon find it and start eating the flesh. Decomposition would also be hastened.
What Happens to a Body after It Is Buried? - Ask.com

I've posted this early, but I guess no one didn't caught on. When our bodies goes into the ground, it becomes food for the worms and turn into worm's feces. So now we know that God can raise up our bodies from worm's feces, shouldn't He be able to raise our bodies from ashes?

 

[Tintin]

Ah, you didn't post the context, only the question and the link. The last sentence offers context and makes sense now. Thanks

 

[stevef]

Thanks for all your input, you've eased any doubts I had about cremation, which I don't know why I had in the first place. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We are thru with our bodies and our souls are resurrected with Christ.