CREMATION IN GOD'S EYES
Since the creation of man death has been a part of man's vocabulary. This term became more meaningful upon the fall of mankind, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, violating God's commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, the tree of knowledge. God had instructed Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit he would surely die.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.-Genesis 2:15-17 KJV
Once they (Adam and Eve) partook of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3:6 spiritual death (separation from God) began and the process of physical death started working in their bodies. In Adam all die!-1 Corinthians 15:22 The word of God tells us that Adam (meaning-of the ground; firm; red earth man, or mankind) was taken from the dust of the earth and unto the earth's dust shall the carnal man (the flesh) return as stated in Genesis 3:19. Therefore originally the body of man and woman is only a product of the components of the earth. Even our internal origins are only a combination of elements. Once the Lord breathed the breath of Life upon mankind, He (Adam) became a living soul.-Genesis 2:7 In the days of old only the soul of righteous people would go to Abraham’s bosom while the souls of the ungodly would go to the place of unquenchable fire, what we commonly refer to as hell (eternal tormenting punishment for rejection of God's salvation).
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.-Luke 16:22-24 KJV
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.-Psalm 55:15,16
We can see even from the Book of Beginnings, Genesis, that the Lord only made mention of the natural occurrence of death when it was for a purpose. In the death of Abraham's wife Sarah we are told that Abraham desired a special burying place to bury his dead out of his sight, and special observance was given to a set time of mourning in or to express grief and sorrow for the departure of a loved one.-Genesis 23:1-4 This principal was observed by all the descendants of Abraham that buried their love ones in a sacred (special) place. Notice Isaac burial for Abraham was nigh unto Sarah in Genesis 25:8-10, Isaac burial for Leah and Rebecca with the same site:
In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.-Genesis 49:30 KJV
and the burial for Israel (Jacob) for a third witness in Genesis 50:4-6,12-13;
And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. KJV
These witnesses recorded in Genesis set up a precedence for burying the dead out of your sight on sacred ground, thus cemeteries are now a modern day result.
However Rachel, Jacob's other wife, needed to be buried in a specific location to fulfill scripture. This type of burial was different because it has future spiritual signification concerning the prophecy of Jesus. Rachel, Joseph's first love and second wife was buried at Bethel (the place of God) which later became known as Bethlehem. One prophecy concerning her place of burial is in Matthew 2:16-18
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Joseph's bones were carried out of Egypt to signify a restoration of Israel to God's promise land. Jesus death, the most significant death ever, was at Calvary on the cross, signifying public death to selfishness with crucifixion (by the world system of political pressure or government), ungodly religion without Jesus (those who cried crucify him) and as a penalty for the sins of man (the wages of sin is death according to Romans 6:23). This marked once and for all, the holy ground in the earth to eternally stand as a testimony of the Divine Justice of God. Jesus stated for all mankind to first come, then take up the cross and after that follow him. Primarily meaning to receive Him as Lord first, then take up the message of His Gospel and after that follow Him into eternity through believing and obeying His Commandments.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him,One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.-Mark 10:21 KJV
Judas’ place at the bottom of the cliff (the field of blood) stands as an example of all who willfully chose to follow wickedness through forsaking Christ Jesus our Lord.-Acts 1:16-20 In the examples given the bodies of the individuals were treated differently. We have no record of anything special being done to prepare the body of Sarah, while the body of Joseph which was embalmed and placed in a coffin as an Egyptian practice to preserve the body in the process of death.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.-Genesis 50:24 KJV
Man has always thought of another life, but exactly how to handle death is not one of mankind's strong points. We do see some extremes of handling the body in death throughout the Holy Bible. The dignified burial of Abraham is a honorable burial as opposed to the disgusting martyring death of John the Baptist. However in the New Testament we are not only admonished to take a new look at life, but we are commanded to sorrow not in the face of death. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tells us to sorrow not as those who have no hope.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Corinthian 15:54 tells us that death is swallowed up in victory.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. KJV
Romans 8:6 tells us to be carnally minded is death and to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Paul said Romans 7:18 in my flesh dwells no good thing. Jesus said in Luke 9:59,60 Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God. Therefore it is evident for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to focus on who they are in Christ Jesus, a reborn spirit possessing a soul, alive in Christ Jesus and unto our Heavenly Father God. For our new spirit is full of life and love but the nature of our flesh is weak and contemptible.
Therefore we must major on His eternal life abiding within us, to negate the sorrow of thinking about what would become of us without Christ, which is death spiritually. For once we leave our earthly body we are present with our Lord, therefore Christians can rejoice for their brethren who precede them in going home to God.
As martyrs were tortured and dismembered we know that man can not hurt their spirit (fear not man who can only hurt the body but fear Him who has power to cast into hell.-Luke 12:4,5). Jesus said nothing shall by any means hurt you.-Luke 10:19 Spiritually speaking no matter what happens in the earth, man's heart is in the palm of God's Hand and no man can pluck it out. Jesus said:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.-John 10:27 KJV
We know by the laws of nature that man's body is decaying due to the curse of death. 1 Corinthian 4:16 affirms this fact with the statement, “Though our outward man perish (decays), yet the inward man is renewed day by day. This decay given enough time and natural conditions will erode into dust (elements, particles). The word states from dust thou art taken to dust though shall return in Genesis 3:19
Therefore cremation hastens the natural process but is not recorded in the Bible as sinful, just like embalming delays the natural process but is not sinful.
Therefore our (Eric and Angela) thoughts on the subject of how to prepare the natural body for burial is solely a choice of the departed person as in a legal will, or at least a formal written document. If no document is present the next of kin would bear the responsibility of choosing how to dispose of the body. In case where there is no immediate family member to decide the funeral arrangements the statues of the state prevails or it may be decided by the executive of the estate. For the sake (or reason) of unity we have found it better to follow the normal church beliefs of the individual so that they would bear some of the responsibility. In the sad event that the individual did not attend church or profess any faith, then the individual making the decision should follow what they believe in their heart for their own peace sake.-Colossians 3:15 Bearing in mind to always have a clear conscience before God, void of offense as the Apostle Paul witnessed in Acts 24:14-16
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. KJV
In conclusion it is not the responsibility of the nearest family member or Estate Executive as to what happens to the remains of the person because ultimately their body will turn to dust, but it is our responsibility to give a good testimony about the Love of God and eternal judgement to all who have an open ear to hear what the Holy Spirit of God is saying unto the world via the Voice of His Church. Amen!
Angela and I hope this document gives you some background about the subject of cremation and embalming with the scripture insight as to how our Heavenly Father considers it. A word to the wise is sufficient - If God doesn't make a big deal about it in the mouth of two to three witnesses recorded in His Counsel and Rule Book for Mankind (alas: Holy Bible) then it is definitely not as big a deal as some men would prefer to make it. Therefore where God has given us liberty let us not be foolish enough to entangle ourselves into religious bondage while being wise enough to not let our liberty be a stumbling block for a weaker brethern.
Jesus placed His time and attention on subjects of life, because he came that we might have life and His life more abundantly.-John 10:10 Knowing that Romans 8:5,6 would be recorded for the church as a principle to live by:
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. KJV
Therefore let us remember to look up for our redemption draws nigh in Christ Jesus our soon coming King. For those who look for Him will he appear a second time without sin unto salvation.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.-Hebrews 9:28 KJV
We know that the outward man, the physical body, is the least most important part of man when it comes to eternity. We firmly believe that the soul should be renewed (restored) according to the Word of God and that is part of receiving a new spirit from God. Being Born Again guarantees that you will receive a new body according to 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. KJV
Therefore it is much better for us and all mankind that they focus on the heart of man to be sure that he is right with God by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, then and only then will they realize that the natural man (the body) is already spoken for by being scheduled for a replacement, a brand new spiritual body. Yes, this new spiritual body will not be subject to death or the penalties of sin, therefore it is all around better and more enduring. We rejoice in this fact and leave the natural consequences of death in our physical body to the earthly minded because it is not our concern in Christ Jesus. Amen!
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.-2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV
In His Love, Eric & Angela Foster