Burial - An IFB View

[trc123]

So, what is an IFB view of end of life disposal? How, where, when and what?

[Brother Rick]

From what I've heard, cremation is pagan and unbiblical. I haven't studied it out though.

[JerryNumbers]

Many different opinions of this, and some get pretty heated over it. Yet to me a Christian burial is the example we have in the Bible, and if we follow it we can't go wrong.

If course with each new year there be many Christians that become more accepting of the pagan ways, and I feel assure if you study history you will find cremation was a pagan pratice.

[John81]

The biblical model is burial. That's really all that should matter to a Christian.

[chev1958]

I would agree with everything that's been posted thus far.

I have wondered sometimes, though, if embalming should be practiced by Christians. It's simply something I've thought about - nothing I've studied. I do know it was practiced by the Egyptians, but Lazarus and Jesus weren't embalmed (at least not by modern standards).

[Saved IFB]

Very interesting subject...I am keeping an eye on this thread.

[trc123]

Examples in the Scriptures include caves and tombs and ????????????

[HappyChristian]

Examples in the Scriptures include caves and tombs and ????????????

Yeah, I don't recall anywhere that the Bible indicates someone was buried in the ground - except maybe Moses? Although, I don't know if God buried him in the ground or if there were caves on the mountain. I know it was somewhere that the people couldn't find. Most bodies were actually interred (to use our language today).

[Brother Rick]

So if cremation is a sin, and I want to be cremated, am I sinning now or am I sinning once the deed has been done? Can a dead guy sin?

Sorry, I'm just being stupid.

[John81]

I would agree with everything that's been posted thus far.

I have wondered sometimes, though, if embalming should be practiced by Christians. It's simply something I've thought about - nothing I've studied. I do know it was practiced by the Egyptians, but Lazarus and Jesus weren't embalmed (at least not by modern standards).

I've never studied this either, but as you mentioned Egypt I recall that Joseph was embalmed.

[chev1958]

Gen 50:2 - And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Gen 50:26 - So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Joseph had JacOB/Israel embalmed as well. But that was the custom of the Egyptians. The practice doesn't seem to have carried over when the children of Israel left Egypt.

Something to study, I reckon.

[John81]

Joseph had JacOB/Israel embalmed as well. But that was the custom of the Egyptians. The practice doesn't seem to have carried over when the children of Israel left Egypt.

Something to study, I reckon.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. There is no condemnation of the practice, but there is also no endorsement of it in these cases either.

For the Jews, who practiced quick burials, there would be no practical benefit to embalming.

For the Egyptians, who took a long time before burying their dead, there were practical considerations.

Today, in America, it typically takes a few to several days before burial which gives it practical application here. Previous generations of Americans would most often bury their dead within 24 hours.

[JerryNumbers]

I think, at least I know my state, requires embalming, I feel many of the other states require it to, unless the person is buried within 24 hours.

I do know of a few cases where the person was buried within 24 hours, yet they did not have family a long ways from home, so it caused no long wait.

More and more its common to have family long distances from home, so if they wait for them to make it in for the burial it will have to be put off for 2 or more days. I have not studied it out either, yet I can't think of anything that would hinder embalming and I've never have heard anyone else speak of anything in the Bible that says it would be wrong.

In the last several years cremations has been getting much more popular, it really has not been that many years ago that in Christian circles you never heard of them using it.

Some seem to think we will run out of places to bury people, therefore they feel we ought to use cremation. With my faith in God, and the promises He has given us, I don't believe we will run out of room to bury our loved ones before He comes for His own.

Plus, some use cremation because its cheaper. I would not say its a sin, yet I still think it difficult to argue against the Christian burial.

In burying people it seems the trend of this world is to out do your neighbor, making it fancy as possible. As for me I feel its silly to spend much money on a funeral service. And I feel some spend much money of funeral services out of guilt. And with much money spent of a funeral service only benefits those left behind. And truth is, what ever priced funeral we have, what we are buried in, its not going to be that many before we are taken from the grave, either at Jesus' coming and or the last judgment. Yes, I know, many of the world call it the finally resting place, yet its far from that.

As for me, just wrap me in a blanket, put me in the grave, then cover me up. Jesus was not cremated, so I do not want to be cremated either.

[chev1958]

I have woodworking plans for plain, pine caskets that you can use as bookcases until the time comes. That's a project my wife's not too excited about.

[Brother Rick]

I must be pretty neat how the ashes and dust reform into a body once again at the rapture.