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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Cremation after death? Go to heaven? | Ezek 37:4 | Sandra Dee | 228375 | ||
A friend of mine recently asked a question regarding what the bible says about the condition of our human bodies after we die. Should we be cremated after death or buried in our human body after death. My friend referred to a chapter in Ezekiel talking about this but could not refer to the exact chapter. I looked it up and found that this chapter (Dry Bones) talked about the spiritual aspect of our souls, not our bodies. Could you help point me in the right direction so I can mentor my friend who is searching for answers. Thank you. Yours in Christ Jesus, Sandra Dee |
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2 | Cremation after death? Go to heaven? | Ezek 37:4 | DocTrinsograce | 228376 | ||
Dear Sandra Dee, Welcome to the forum! You are correct about the proper passage in Ezekiel. The Bible does not give explicit instruction for the disposition of the human body after death. We know that humans were created to be a union of physical and spiritual being. We know that death is a consequence of the fall. Furthermore, we know that these same bodies will be raised again in the resurrection -- although we do not understand all the particulars of these facts. Nevertheless, we see in Scripture narrative the respectful and honorable handling of bodies. For example, in the OT, think of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, etc. Even the handling of the body of our Savior in the New Testament was a careful act of honor. The Jews in the time of Jesus practiced excarnation. They would wash the body, apply a variety of materials to aid desiccation, along with linen wrapping. As part of the funerary activities, the body would them be placed in a stone slot of the family tomb, sealed against scavenging animals. A year later the family would return to the tomb, in a kind of second funeral. At that time, the bones of the dead family member would be cleaned and placed in one of the family ossuaries. The ossuaries, containing many other family members, would be placed in a deeper niche within the tomb. In Western culture, of course, the dead are generally interred. In modern Jewish practice, embalming is regarded as interfering with the process of the body returning to the earth from which man was created. I am uncertain as to the reasons behind the Western tradition to preserve the body from decay. Nevertheless, cremation is an old practice used throughout our history. In the United States, during the Unitarian debate, the non-Christians actively denied the vast majority of Biblical doctrine. They denied the fall, judgment, and the resurrection. In order to hedge their bets, though, many chose cremation rather than burial, in the belief that this would make their resurrection impossible. :-) Nowadays, I do not think that many Christians regard the final disposition of the body as a crucial matter. Given the incredible power of our sovereign God in all its myriad manifestations, nothing will interfere with His eternal purpose. Note that it is not a matter of our not caring about the body, but rather an understanding that God will effect the resurrection regardless of what we do. I hope that these few thoughts are helpful to you. In Him, Doc |
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3 | Cremation after death? Go to heaven? | Ezek 37:4 | justme | 228384 | ||
Doc: I have had a hard time dealing with the subject of cremation. I believe cremation is a rather sad thing to read about in the news paper. In our community when a person is cremated, it reads that such a person died on the date and place. Then it say no services are planned at this time becaues at the persons request a service will be held later. Ofter just a private for the spreading of the ashes and that's it. No record for future family to make, or way of fimding what happened to the ashes. It is almost as if the persons life just ended and that's it. A memorial service with a casket or urn really helps with natural grief for those who knew the deceased. Even with those deceased who have no one to contact, and are basicly paupers have a clergy to say a prayer before being burried in places where I have been. I think it's important to at give recognition to God who gives all persons life. We have had family members choose cremation. There was no memorial service for several months. This was like the person just stopped existing. This left an empty feeling and a deeper feeling of loss. Again this is just what I have observed, and personally felt. Blessings Doc. justme |
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