For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Rita Njenga
I would like to be cremated however, I would like to be sure it is Gods will.
So, I will pray for wisdom!
Arun Kumar
Cremations could be a best option in highly populated countries like India. Because the increasing population demands more space for living. Simultaneously, Churches here are acquiring more land for the burial of the deceased members, which in turn creates more demand for lands and acres of lands are rendered waste by just having coffinated bodies buried in them. Moreover, is would not be a great problem if the bodies are buried without a coffin which might catalyse decompostiion process. But using a coffin elongates the decomposition to a great extent.
We need not worry about the earthly bodies when we die, because they are formed from earth and meant for earth and shall ultimately return to earth. Our glorious bodies are awaiting us and they shall be given to us when our Lord returns.
Cremation and burial without dress and coffin are best options and environment friendly. Being an Indian, I should consider these options.
Sarah Bell
The Bible tells us many times to not do like the other nations or follow the ways of the heatherns who creamed their dead. The point is not if The Lord can give us new bodies , of course He can ! Some have to be buried at sea others are burned up in fires and The Lord will give them new bodies but that is not the same as choosing the way of the pagans.
Arun Kumar
Sarah, where does the Bible command us not to cremate the bodies as the heathens do? please provide scriptural evidence.
Amy Kruger
I am being cremated because it is something that is done after my death occurs. I made sure a long time ago that it was okay with God to do this. I paid for my funeral the smart way in 1999 at my family owned cemetary. But I am really excited for Jesus' return and I hope he comes back before I die. It will be so glorious for me and my faith in Jesus and God. We all need to take into consideration of the environment is every country around the world, that it is best to be cremated. Putting ourselves in coffins that are not made of wood would never disolve. I have worked in several funeral homes/ morgues and that is why I know that about the environment with coffins.
Arun we actually are cremated in cardboard paper coffins, I thought you would like to know that.
Sarah whether Jesus comes first or you die first, we are in fact given new bodies no matter what as long as we have faith.
Frank Scimeca
Muyiwa... aren't you inventing a concept by virtue of implying something that is NOT found in scripture by saying that it took six days to create everything so we should take time in decomposing the body. Sorry but that is inventing something out of the blue".
Rafael Vazquez
I always believed that cremation was not to be the way of the New Testament believers. I agree with Sarah. Even though the Bible doesn't explicitly prohibit cremation, the idea of the sacredness of the body; the hope of the resurrection; the command to keep our bodies free from defilement while we are still living; and because of God's intention to "first" resurrect the body, death being absolved by the Life, then transform it; gives me a pretty good reason why I would rather not go for cremation. Instead, I will wait patiently for that glorious day. Respectfully.
Bev Rollins
I believe that all will be resurrected before the Judgment, which will include those who died at sea, or were burned up by accident or purposely, will be "alive" in some way for judgement, so what happens to our body AFTER OUR SOUL leaves it does not matter, but should be the way the family wishes. The Lord will supply bodies to be burned with Satan, or when the rest are taken to live with Jesus. Our soul will sleep until that day comes. Our bodies will certainly have been done away with in one way or another by then--no matter where they are.
Deryck Venter
• Abraham was buried – "Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ismael buried him in the cave of Machpelah..." (Gen. 25:8-10).
Sarah was buried – "And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old...And Sarah died in Kirjatharba...And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight" (Gen. 23:1-4).
Rachel was buried – "And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath...And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day" (Gen. 35:19-20).
Isaac was buried – "And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him" (Gen. 35:29).
Jacob was buried – "And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people...And when the days of his mourning were past...his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah..." (Gen. 49:33; 50:4-13).
Joseph was buried – "So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt" (Gen. 50:26).
James Pool
Not addressed here is the practice of embalming as practiced in western countries. This practice clearly originated in Egypt. Let’s not even mention what happens during an autopsy. Neither are for me. Get my remains in the ground in a wooden coffin within 4 days, (see John 11:39) without autopsy or embalming, and rejoice that I heard “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into your rest, behold the place I have prepared for you,” spoken by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.