Burial or cremation

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
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#21
This is just an emotional response and I know the person is dead, but I feel like burning the body is irreverent to God somehow ..... the Jews did bury their dead mostly, I know there were a few exceptions.

Can you elaborate on why the matter is important?
Yes. And this is for Bible-believing Christians with spiritual discernment.

1. GOD SPECIFICALLY TOLD MANKIND THAT BURIAL WAS HIS WILL FOR MAN
Adam -- as we know from Scripture -- was the progenitor of all mankind, and what he did impacted the whole human race. Therefore what God said to Adam as an individual applied to all humans: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen 3:19) We know Adam was created from the dust of the ground, therefore this was fitting and appropriate.

2. ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SINCE ADAM WERE BURIED IN CAVES OR GRAVES
Ever since Adam all the patriarchs and saints of God were buried in graves (other than Enoch and Elijah). They believed God, obeyed God, and did God's will regarding their bodies after death. Abraham and Sarah are primary examples: And his [Abraham's] sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. (Gen 25:9,10)

3. GOD PERSONALLY BURIED MOSES IN A SEPULCHRE IN THE LAND OF MOAB
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he [THE LORD] buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. (Deut 34:5,6)
[Note: This may have been in a cave which could not be easily accessed]

4. THE BOOK OF DANIEL APPLIES BURIAL TO ALL (RIGHTEOUS OR UNRIGHTEOUS)
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan 12:2,3)

5. CHRIST'S ENTOMBMENT IS CALLED "BURIAL" BY PAUL
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Cor 15:3,4)

6. PROPER CHRISTIAN BURIAL WAS DONE WITH RESPECT AND MOURNING FOR THE DEAD
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep... And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. (Acts 7:59,60; 8:2)

7. EVER SINCE THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN CHRISTIANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BURIED
'In the light of the dogma of the resurrection of the body as well as of Jewish tradition, the burial of the mortal remains of the Christian dead has always been regarded as an act of religious import. It is surrounded at all times with some measure of religious ceremony.' -- Wikipedia


8. CHRISTIANS ARE METAPHORICALLY BURIED WITH CHRIST IN BAPTISM
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Rom 6:3-5)

9. BURIAL HAS TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE FOR CHRISTIAN RESURRECTION

1 CORINTHIANS 15: "IT IS SOWN" IS A METAPHOR FOR BURIAL
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.


10. CREMATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PAGAN PRACTICE
Cremation has been practiced in pagan and polytheistic India for several thousands of years. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism (Eastern religions) all follow this practice. The corpse is offered to the Hindu god of fire, Agni, and this is what is written in one of their sacred scriptures (the Rig Veda): “Agni, consume not this body to cinders neither give it pain nor scatter about its skin or limbs. When the body is fairly burnt, convey the spirit to the ancestors. May the five elements be merged with their basic forms.” This is tied in with the pagan doctrine of reincarnation.

The Aztecs, ancient Greeks, and Romans also practiced cremation, as did the Canaanites and others. God says to Christians "Learn not the way of the heathen"

JEREMIAH 10: 1,2
Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,465
6,722
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#22
Many over the centuries have died leaving the bodies without a trace. Fires, the sea taking them, and just drying up and crumbling from the elements.

Our Father will bring us back from dust or ash no matter where we have gone physically. He knows and does all that pleases Him, and all that pleases Him is pleasant to His children. God bless you.
 
R

Rasputin_OZ

Guest
#23
1. Still didn't see any scripture that says we must be buried.
2. if people are burned to death in accident are they not Christians anymore.
3. which law are we under.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#24
1. Still didn't see any scripture that says we must be buried.
2. if people are burned to death in accident are they not Christians anymore.
3. which law are we under.
Thought it was in Corintihians. You dont burn seeds, you bury them, so they can sprout to life again. Same with bodies
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#25
and the part where it says we cannot Cremate is where ?
Isnt that the part where people go to hell to be burned up and Jesus doesnt want anyone to perish.

Unless you just dont believe in the resurrection.
 
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Rasputin_OZ

Guest
#26
Thought it was in Corintihians. You dont burn seeds, you bury them, so they can sprout to life again. Same with bodies
many trees in Australia, the seed doesn't sprout until after a fire. The fire of the holy spirt I guess for people
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,191
30,325
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#27
Isnt that the part where people go to hell to be burned up and Jesus doesnt want anyone to perish
Hell is thrown into the lake of fire to be destroyed. This is the second death.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#28
many trees in Australia, the seed doesn't sprout until after a fire. The fire of the holy spirt I guess for people
Its cos their seed coat is really tough. But note, the seeds arent ground up to powder or pulverised like in cremation. Aparently the first crematorium was unveiled at rhe worlds fair in vienna and hailed as a convenent way to dispose of dead bodies. Then the nazis took on themselves to build special ones for thier concentration camps. They didnt want any graves for their victims. They wanted them totally destroyed. Thats what the holocaust was about, those ovens. It wasnt that anyones homes got burned. It was their bodies.
 
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Rasputin_OZ

Guest
#30
You were given the Scriptures which teach Christian burial. No need to obtuse about it.
when it says you MUST then I have seen it.. If it just gives examples of past customs then it is not a requirement.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#32
Sure.

King James Bible
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29)

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:2)

Sleep is a metaphor for physical death. The corpse gives the appearance of someone in sleep or repose, but for Christians, their souls and spirits are alive and awake in Heaven with Christ. Soul Sleep is false doctrine.
Isn't there something in the Bible that tells us, when Christ returns he will come from the east?
This is why, in our local grave yard, the graves face east.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#33
Not true at all; bones just take longer to decay.
Just to say, people are finding skeletons thousands of years old.
And what about dionsoures? They are millions of years old.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#34
Well unless you plan on dying and being resurrected for the sins of the world I don't see how this point has any relevance to the rest of the world.
Isolating one specific instance with a set of special circumstances does not present a favorable argument. It's nothing more than grasping at straws to prove a point you want verified.
What about at the ressurection? Or is it just our spirit?
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#35
and the part where it says we cannot Cremate is where ?
The Israilites were sacrificing their children as burnt offerings in the Valley of Himon (spelling?). I want nothing to do with it. Burial for me.
 
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Rasputin_OZ

Guest
#36
umm sacrifice is live children. not the dead..
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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#37
umm sacrifice is live children. not the dead..
That is what they were doing. The priests blew trumpets and banged symbols to blot out the screams.
 
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Rasputin_OZ

Guest
#38
yes ,many nations killed people in olden days..
 

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
4,102
3,200
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#39
What about at the ressurection? Or is it just our spirit?
So God is not powerful enough to provide us with a body at resurrection? Our bodies are just a shell to house our spirit and they do not make up who we are.
And we will be given New bodies, who says it has to be the exact same dust our old ones were made of?
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,605
3,628
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#40
What is biblical? What do believers choose? Burial or cremation. Cremation is burning right?
For the dead.

I would like to know. Thanks.
Either for me.. Our remains return to dust anyway.. And the bodies we shall be given in eternity will be eternal,, far and away superior to the current corrupt flesh bodies we exist in.. :)