I think the issue we're discussing here isn't if God can resurrect ashes as opposed to dust. The question is whether we as christians are subject to the rudiments of the world, and the shadows of things to come, or are we the spiritual fulfilment of these things in Christ?
Amanda's
Quote:
But considering what the Bible has to say, if anything about a certain topic. We should do that with any decision we make. While we may have our liberty as Christians to do as we please in this matter, it is a good thing to compare Scripture with Scripture. The Bible is not completely silent on this matter...The example is there. You will not find a positive Scripture verse in regards to a body being burned.
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My concern is that we consider what the Bible has to say
specifically about rightly dividing, if we don't then we can subtlely bring ourselves back under the law.
Amanda's
Quote:
As Wingwiper stated it is a stumbling block for a lot of Christians. For me that is also a good reason to avoid cremation. Perhaps it is ok to cremate, but I feel we should use our Christian liberty to not be a stumbling block to a weaker brother.
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I believe Paul takes a
hard stand against christians turning back again to bondage to the law or to the weak and beggerly elements.
Galatians 4:1-11
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a
servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the
time appointed of the father. Even so we,
when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world: But when the
fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a
servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit
then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are
no gods.
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of
God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye
desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and
years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Amanda, you are right when you say we should not use our liberty to cause weaker brothers and sisters to stumble. But I believe you agree it is when we recognize we have only Christ's righteousness, not our own by fulfilling any law, that can we really manifest Christ's love for each other and the lost.
Windpiper's
Quote:
However.......knowing the heathen religions out there practice cremation-- Hinduism, etc. who burn the body because they believe in reincarnation, yet knowing at the same time I can't find anything doctrinally that would cause a Christian not to.
Comparing spiritual things with spiritual things it is evident that God's people practiced burial which would be an example, although not a commandment.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
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I think arguing that since the heathen practice cremation and Israel practiced burial therefore christians should follow the example of Israel's practices is not comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. These things are shadows and similitudes and pagan practices.
Paul doesn't teach that we are to
live by these ensamples, shadows of things to come. We are to
learn from them.
Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: a
nd the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
That said, I would definitely choose burial for myself and my loved ones. I agree with Amanda that I choose, in the liberty that I have in Christ, to follow the example of the children of Israel and the people of God that came before. I think the burning of a body is symbolic of God's judgement and
I want no part of that even if it is symbolic. But that is just my personal conviction and I don't apply it to any other christian.
That's my take on it, anyway.