Results 1 - 3 of 3
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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 | 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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2 | Cremation after death? Go to heaven? | Ezek 37:4 | John Ryals | 228397 | ||
Genises 2:7; "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." I,m not as formal or educated as most, but if God did this, I beleive He can do all! We can use all of the Philosophical wisdom we want too, but the truth of the matter, God Created! May God be With You, John Ryals |
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3 | Cremation after death? Go to heaven? | Ezek 37:4 | DocTrinsograce | 228401 | ||
Dear John, As I wrote my post, that thought was in my mind. Hence, I wrote "Given the incredible power of our sovereign God in all its myriad manifestations, nothing will interfere with His eternal purpose." His power in creation is a significant argument that He can surely manage this resurrection easily. I believe you mentioned something similar in another post. Every time I am mindful of God's awesome work in creation, it occurs to me that His work of redemption is far more incredible. Making butterflies and galaxies is really peanuts, compared to His sovereign work in the salvation of sinful men. In Him, Doc |
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