Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Is Cremation a Sin?

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." isn't found anywhere in the Bible! However, it is found in the 1662 version of the Book of Common Prayer.

The Bible does make mention of us returning to dust but nothing about ashes:

Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

I prearranged my cremation and found it morbid but mature. Why leave funeral arrangements for others to do?


Having been a former Hindu, the idea of cremation initially troubled me - as well as the fact the wicked will ultimately be consumed by fire. However, now I agree with this:

The United Church of God recognizes that cremation in no way interferes with God's ability to resurrect the dead. Additionally, pagan religious customs about death or the afterlife are not linked to modern cremation methods. - Does the Bible say anything about cremation?

Ideally, I believe it's best to be buried.

I was meditating about this and thought of:

Ecc. 7:16
16 Do not be overly righteous,
Nor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?

How far do we want to go? Isn't embalming pagan? Yahshua wasn't "shown" or embalmed. Should we all be done up in the traditional Jewish way?

John 19:39
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they [Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus], took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

(Sounds like he was dressed as a mummy - strips of linen - rather than simply a white shroud).

Personal decisions, I reckon.



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