Page 40 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

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If you do any simple research you will find that cremation has its roots firmly entrenched in pagan
religions. It is still practiced today by Buddhists and Hindus. It was the religious practice of some early
North American Indians. It was practiced by the Hawaiian race prior to it becoming “Christianized” by
American missionaries. Europe, prior to Christianity, practiced cremation. It was widespread among the
Grecian (800 BCE) and Roman empires (600 BCE). Cremation was never accepted by either Judaism or
its offspring, Christianity.

Why the increase in cremation vs. burial?
This is but one of many surveys
posted on the internet that have been taken
in an attempt to answer that question.
The initial statement recorded in this survey
is the primary reason given for preferring
cremation over burial, it “saves money.”

This is how THE WORLD views cremation,
but it is not how THE WORD views it!
As followers of Jesus Christ, as those who
profess to believe the Word of God to be
infallible truth that is applicable for directing
the decisions of today’s believers, we must
be able to list a completely different set of
reasons for rejecting cremation and
accepting what has been recorded about
burial! This survey proves the unregenerate
world does not have a clue about the
importance of the body in the eyes of God.

For the Christian, life’s decisions must always be determined from the costly perspective, not from a
worldly view such as opting for cremation simply because it “saves money.” It is not money that is the
issue but rather it is the reverent truth that the body of the believer has been “bought at a price” (1 Cor.
6:19), and I must add, at a costly price! Consider the fullness of what Paul states in this passage:

“OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU,
WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD, AND YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE:

THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S (PROPERTY).”
1 Cor. 6:19-20

The body of a Christian is God’s property – not our own! Should we then not rely on God’s Word to tell us
what He wants done with our body after we have finished using it as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Is it
now just to be considered some useless thing to be instantly consumed by a destroying fire such as is
done with trash? Perhaps I’m being too harsh with my words, but we must think this thing through.
Having been the temple of God in life, should the body not be likewise honored in death as long as it is
within our power to do so? For a believer, should “saving money” be a deciding factor at all?

“I BESEECH YOU Consider also these words of Paul: “NOW MAY THE
THEREFORE, GOD OF PEACE
Our life on earth as a follower of Christ is to be one in which
BRETHREN, BY our bodies become a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice to God. HIMSELF
THE MERCIES OF At the coming of Christ, the believer is to be found sanctified SANCTIFY YOU
GOD, THAT YOU completely, not just in our spirit or in our soul, but also in our COMPLETELY;
PRESENT YOUR body. Most of us will perhaps die before the coming of Christ. AND MAY YOUR
BODIES A LIVING Then as an act of faith in the plan of God to resurrect our WHOLE SPIRIT,
SACRIFICE, HOLY, physical body, should we not bury it with reverence in SOUL AND BODY
ACCEPTABLE TO anticipation of that great event? Is this not the very crux of our BE PRESERVED
GOD, WHICH IS faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Take BLAMELESS AT
the time to read the 15th Chapter of 1st Corinthians! THE COMING OF
YOUR OUR LORD JESUS
REASONABLE
CHRIST.”
SERVICE.” 1 Thess. 5:23
Rom. 12:1