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?
Can you elaborate on why the matter is important?
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.
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