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Why Cremation Is Unscriptural
(continued)
Burial, asleep in the grave
Natural sound sleep, where there is no apparent consciousness until awakened, is surely wonderfully expressive of the condition of those that "sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14), that "die in the Lord" (Rev. 14:13). To lay one's body in the grave honors this belief and strengthens one's conviction of the hope of resurrection at the coming of our Lord, when "the dead in Christ shall rise first"
(1 Thess. 4:16).
The whole tenor of the Bible favors the burial of the body of the believer, not its burning. The body awaits the time when the trump of God
sounds, and "all that are in the grave, shall hear his voice, and shall come forth" (John 5:28,29). This certainly, and the pattern it will follow, complete the picture presented; "if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thess. 4:14).
| Just as we are "buried with [Christ] by baptism into death" (Rom. 6:4), let it also likewise in figure be said of our final
resting place, as it was of Jesus: "Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Mt. 28:6). By so doing we are declaring before others that "my flesh also shall rest in hope" (Psa. 16:9; Acts 2:26), words that expressed fully David's own yearnings, although primarily they signified beforehand the glory that should follow in the resurrection of Christ (1 Pet. 1:10,11). |
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The day is near when death will lose its sting and the grave does not have the victory. Though "it is sown in
dishonour" (1 Cor. 15:43), let us honor the Lord in death as in life, so that when our body is raised and, God willing, we are found acceptable to our Lord, we can also share his excellency and be fashioned like onto his body of glory.
Let us follow the more excellent way and firmly repudiate cremation.
Why Cremation Is Unscriptural - Part
1, Part 2
Author: Paul P. Maher
Source: The Testimony - February 1997
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Choose you the place before you die where you prefer in death to lie,
Or do at least let loved ones know that you abhor cremation so.
Thou shalt be buried, saith the Lord; what right have we to change God's Word?
"For dust thou art, to dust return". How can it mean that we should burn?
"Yes, in the grave that I digged for me", said Jacob, "let my burial be".
And Joseph, "Take my bones from here, and bury me in land more dear".
God buried Moses, none knows where; Divine the choice and preference there.
And Jesus, he was buried too, then rose from death to life anew.
Has God of scientists much to. learn? Why say they it is best to burn?
Does not our God reserve the flame for those unworthy of Christ's name?
Say not, "I doubt God's power and skill". Is not our God omniscient still?
As when three men walked from the fire, no smell of scorch on their attire.
It may be asked, "Those lost through war, how will they be accounted for?"
We safely leave them in God's hands, His key unlocks, He understands.
No saint of God sincere and true is lost through what the wicked do.
But thoughts and actions of our own, may these in harmony be shown.
Can we in Christ new saints baptize, or hope in him ourselves to rise,
If types and symbols held most dear must by cremation disappear?
When Jesus comes may we be found alive, or buried in the ground.
May we, approved, receive his smile. White raiment fire cannot defile.
Author: Mary Bellamy |
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